Edward Durney v. Magna International, Inc.

MEMORANDUM

Edward Durney, an attorney, appeals pro se from the district court’s judgment dismissing his copyright infringement action on the basis of res judicata. We have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291 . We review de novo. Holcombe v. Hosmer, 477 F.3d 1094, 1097 (9th Cir.2009). We affirm in part, and vacate and remand in part.

The district court properly dismissed the claims against the Magna defendants as barred by the doctrine of res judicata because Durney voluntarily dismissed two earlier lawsuits against the Magna defendants that were based on the same claims. See Fed.R.Civ.P. 41(a)(1)(B) (specifying when voluntary dismissal of action operates as “an adjudication on the merits”); Owens v. Kaiser Found. Health Plan Inc., 244 F.3d 708, 713-14 (9th Cir.2001) (describing elements of res judicata); Lake at Las Vegas Investors Grp., Inc., v. Pac. Malibu Dev. Corp., 933 F.2d 724 , 728 (9th Cir.1991) (closely related entities may invoke Rule 41(a)(1)(B) res judicata).

However, judgment was not properly entered as to defendants Paperboy Ventures and Jaime Lewis, who have not yet appeared in this action and were not party to both of the earlier lawsuits for purposes of res…