In re: FRANCKY C. CARUSO v. Francky C. Caruso

NOT FOR PUBLICATION
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE NINTH CIRCUIT
In re: FRANCKY C. CARUSO,
Debtor.
______________________________
DANIEL G. LOPEZ,
Plaintiff-Appellant,
v.
FRANCKY C. CARUSO,
Defendant-Appellee.
No. 17-56578
D.C. No. 2:16-cv-04230-JVS
MEMORANDUM*
Appeal from the United States District Court
for the Central District of California
James V. Selna, District Judge, Presiding
Submitted March 13, 2018**
Before: LEAVY, M. SMITH, and CHRISTEN, Circuit Judges.
Daniel G. Lopez appeals pro se from the district court’s judgment affirming
the bankruptcy court’s order holding Lopez and his attorney in civil contempt and
* This disposition is not appropriate for publication and is not precedent
except as provided by Ninth Circuit Rule 36-3.
** The panel unanimously concludes this case is suitable for decision
without oral argument. See Fed. R. App. P. 34(a)(2).
FILED
MAR 23 2018
MOLLY C. DWYER, CLERK
U.S. COURT OF APPEALS

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imposing sanctions. We have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 158(d). We review
de novo the district court’s decision on appeal from the bankruptcy court and apply
the same standards of review applied by the district court. Motor Vehicle Cas. Co.
v. Thorpe Insulation Co. (In re Thorpe Insulation Co.), 677 F.3d 869, 879 (9th Cir.
2012). We affirm.
The bankruptcy court did not abuse its discretion by holding Lopez and his
attorney in civil contempt and imposing compensatory sanctions because Lopez
and his attorney had notice of the discharge and intentionally filed the state court
action in violation of the discharge injunction. See ZiLOG, Inc. v. Corning (In re
ZiLOG, Inc.), 450 F.3d 996, 1007 (9th Cir. 2006) (a party who knowingly violates
a discharge injunction can be held in contempt under 11 U.S.C. § 105(a)); Knupfer
v. Lindblade (In re Dyer), 322 F.3d 1178, 1191 (9th Cir. 2003) (setting forth
standard of review).
Lopez’s request for judicial notice (Docket Entry No. 9) is denied as
unnecessary.
AFFIRMED.

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