Johnson v. Altamirano

          ORDER DENYING PLAINTIFF'S MOTION TO STAY [DOC. NO. 63.]

          MARILYN L. HUFF, DISTRICT JUDGE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

         On October 21, 2019, Plaintiff Anthony Johnson filed a motion (1) to stay the present action pending resolution of his petition for writ of mandamus filed with the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, and (2) to stay the resolution of Defendants' motions to dismiss and to strike Plaintiff's malicious prosecution claim pending Plaintiff's state court appeal of the judgment in the underlying lawsuit. (Doc. No. 63.) On October 25, 2019, the Court took the motion to stay under submission. (Doc. No. 65.) On November 8, 2019, Defendants Storix Inc., Paul Tyrell and Sean Sullivan filed a response in opposition to Plaintiff's motion to stay. (Doc. No. 68.) On November 18, 2019, Plaintiff filed his reply. (Doc. No. 70.) For the reasons below, the Court denies Plaintiff's motion to stay.

         Background

         I. The State Court Actions

         On August 20, 2015, Storix filed a complaint in state court, Case No. 37-2015-28262-CU-BT-CTL, against Anthony Johnson and Janstor Technology, alleging claims for: (1) breach of fiduciary duty against Johnson; and (2) aiding and abetting breach of fiduciary duty against Janstor. (Doc. No. 34-2, RJN Ex. 8.) On October 13, 2015, Anthony Johnson along with Robin Sassi filed a derivative complaint on behalf of Storix in state court, Case No. 37-2015-34545-CU-BT-CTL, against David Huffman, Richard Turner, Manuel Altamirano, David Kinney, and David Smiljkovich, alleging claims for: (1) breach of fiduciary duty; (2) abuse of control; (3) corporate waste; and (4) an accounting. (Doc. No. 34-3, RJN Ex. 14.) The two actions were subsequently consolidated by the state court.

         On March 14, 2016, Storix filed a first amended complaint in Case No. 37-2015-28262, alleging the same two causes of action. (Doc. No. 34-2, RJN Ex. 9.) On April 13, 2016, Johnson filed a cross-complaint in Case No. 37-2015-28262 against David Huffman, Richard Turner, Manuel Altamirano, David Kinney, and David Smiljkovich, alleging claims for: (1) breach of fiduciary duty; (2) civil conspiracy; and (3) fraud. (Id. Ex. 13.) On June 2, 2016, Johnson and Sassi filed a first amended complaint in the derivative action, alleging the same four causes of action. (Doc. No. 34-3, RJN Ex. 15.) On September 6, 2016, Storix filed a second amended complaint in Case No. 37-2015-28262, alleging the same two causes of action for: (1) breach of fiduciary duty against Johnson; and (2) aiding and abetting breach of fiduciary duty against Janstor. (Doc. No. 34-2, RJN Ex. 11.)

         Following a jury trial, on February 20, 2018, a jury returned a verdict in Case No. 37-2015-28262 in favor of Storix and against Johnson on Storix's claim for breach of fiduciary duty and against Johnson on all of his cross-claims. (Doc. No. 34-4, RJN Ex. 17.) Specifically, in the verdict, the jury found that “Anthony Johnson breach[ed] his duty of loyalty by knowingly acting against Storix, Inc.'s interests while serving on the Board of Directors of Storix, Inc.” (Id. at 1.) In addition, the jury award Storix $3, 739.14 “as a result of Anthony Johnson's acts or conduct in breach of a fiduciary duty or duties owed to Storix, Inc.” (Id. at 2.)

         On May 16, 2018, after a bench trial, the state court issued a decision and order on the claims in the derivative action, finding in favor of the defendants and against the plaintiff on all four causes of action. (Doc. No. 34-4, RJN Ex. 20.) On September 12, 2018, the state court entered a consolidated judgment in the two actions as follows: (1) “[i]n favor of plaintiff Storix, Inc. and against Defendant Anthony Johnson on Storix Inc.'s complaint for breach of fiduciary duty;” (2) “Cross-Complainant Anthony Johnson shall take nothing from Cross-Defendants David Huffman, Richard Turner, Manuel Altamirano, David Kinney, and David Smiljkovich, or any of them, on the Cross-Complaint filed in Case No. 37-2015-00028262-CU-BT-CTL;” (3) Plaintiffs Anthony Johnson and Robin Sassi shall take nothing from Defendants David Huffman, Richard Turner, Manuel Altamirano, David Kinney, and David Smiljkovich, or any of them on the First Amended Derivative Complaint filed in Case No. 37-2015-00034545-CUBT-CTL.” (Id. Ex. 22.) In December 2018, Plaintiff appealed the September 12, 2018 consolidated judgment to the California Court of Appeal. (Doc. No. 63-1, Exs. C, D.) Plaintiff's appeal is currently pending before the California Court of Appeal.

         III. The Present Action

         On June 24, 2019, Plaintiff Anthony Johnson, proceeding pro se, filed a complaint against Defendants Manuel Altamirano, Richard Turner, David Kinney, David Huffman, Paul Tyrell, Sean Sullivan, and Storix, Inc., alleging causes of action for: (1) malicious prosecution; (2) breach of fiduciary duty; (3) conversion; (4) economic interference; (5) breach of contract; (6) rescission; and (7) indemnification. (Doc. No. 1, Compl.) On August 29 and 30, 2019, Defendants filed motions to dismiss Plaintiffs' complaint pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6) along with anti-SLAPP motions to strike certain claims in Plaintiff's complaint under California Code of Civil Procedure § 425.16. (Doc. Nos. 29, 30, 31, 32, 33.)

         On September 30, 2019, the Court denied Plaintiff's motion for recusal under 28 U.S.C. §§ 144 and 455(a). (Doc. No. 51.) On October 2, 2019, Plaintiff filed a petition for writ of mandamus with the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, challenging the Court's denial of his motion for recusal. (Doc. No. 60.) On November 22, 2019, the Ninth Circuit denied Plaintiff's petition for writ of mandamus and closed the case. In re Johnson, No. 19-72507, Docket No. 3 (9th Cir. Nov. 22, 2019). By the present motion, Plaintiff moves (1) for a stay of the action pending the resolution of his petition for writ of mandamus and (2) for a stay of his malicious prosecution claim pending the resolution of his state court appeal. (Doc. No. 63 at 2.)

         Discussion

         I. Plaintiff's Motion to Stay Pending His Writ of Mandamus

         Plaintiff moves to stay the entire action pending the resolution of his petition for writ of mandamus filed with the Ninth Circuit. (Doc. No. 63 at 4-5; Doc. No. 70 at 2-3.) On November 22, 2019, the Ninth Circuit issued an order denying Plaintiff's petition for writ of mandamus and closing the case. In re Johnson, No. 19-72507, Docket No. 3 (9th Cir. Nov. 22, 2019). As such, Plaintiff's request to stay the action pending the ...