Williamson Family Trust v. CIT Group/Consumer Finance, Inc.

MEMORANDUM **

Thomas Spielbauer, a licensed attorney, appeals pro se from the district court’s order requiring him and his clients to reimburse appellees $77,306.56 in attorney’s fees and $1,306.56 in costs incurred by appellees in defending against a series of frivolous complaints 1 prepared and filed by Spielbauer on his clients’ behalf. 2 We have jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1291 . We review for abuse of discretion a district court’s imposition of sanctions pursuant to its inherent authority. See F.J. Hanshaw Enters., Inc. v. Emerald River Dev., Inc., 244 F.3d 1128 , 1135 (9th Cir.2001). We affirm.

Spielbauer’s contention that the district court lacked jurisdiction to sanction him because he had previously filed notices of voluntary dismissal in the underlying actions is unavailing. See Cooter & Gell v. Hartmarx Corp., 496 U.S. 384, 396 , 110 S.Ct. 2447 , 110 L.Ed.2d 359 (1990) (determination of a collateral issue, such as the imposition of costs and attorney’s fees, “may be made after the principal suit has been terminated”).

The record does not support Spielbauer’s assertion that he was denied due process because he was not “formally” advised of the reasons for the…