Case ID: f-appx_300/html/0526-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Joseph ESPOSITO; et al., Plaintiffs—Appellees, v. BOWEN PROPERTY MGMT.; et al., Defendants—Appellants, and Kerrey Lemons, Defendant. Joseph Esposito; et al., Plaintiffs—Appellees, v. Bowen Property Mgmt.; et al., Defendants—Appellants, and Kerrey Lemons, Defendant. Joseph Esposito; et al., Plaintiffs—Appellees, v. Bowen Property Mgmt.; et al., Defendants-Appellants, and Kerrey Lemons, Defendant. Joseph Esposito; et al., Plaintiffs—Appellees, v. Bowen Property Mgmt.; et al., Defendants—Appellants, and Kerrey Lemons, Defendant.
    Nos. 07-35361, 07-35621, 07-35785, 07-35966.
    United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit.
    Argued and Submitted Oct. 23, 2008.
    Filed Nov. 17, 2008.
    Alan L. McNeil, Esquire, Mark Edward Wilson, Esquire, University Legal Assistance, Ivan Kriger, Earl F. Martin, Andrey Samolovov, Joanna Schaefer, Gonzaga University School of Law, Jeffry Keith Finer, Esquire, Law Offices of Jeffry Finer, Leigh N. Talley, Feltman Gebhardt Greer & Zeimantz PS, Spokane, WA, for Plaintiffs-Appellees.
    Ivan Kriger, Spokane, WA, pro se.
    Andrey Samolovov, Spokane, WA, pro se.
    Howard Mark Goodfriend, Edwards Sieh Smith & Goodfriend, PS, Eric M. Steven, Esquire, Seattle, WA, for Defendants-Appellants.
    Michael M. Parker, Esquire, Spokane, WA, for Defendant.
    Before: RYMER and KLEINFELD, Circuit Judges, and HURLEY  District Judge.
    
      
       The Honorable Denis R. Hurley, Senior United States District Judge for the Eastern District of New York, sitting by designation.
    
   MEMORANDUM

It follows from Arnold v. International Business Machines, 637 F.2d 1350 (9th Cir. 1981), that the private actors in this case cannot be liable because there is no evidence that Bowen or Balias exercised “control or power” over the police and prosecutor, or directed their activities. Id. at 1356. Kriger and Samolovov both testified that their damages resulted from the criminal case against them. Their testimony did not establish any damages from protected activity independent of the criminal prosecution. Accordingly, Bowen and Balias were entitled to judgment as a matter of law. Kriger and Samolovov’s activities (which we assume for the sake of this analysis were protected) did not proximately cause the adverse action, arrest and prosecution, which resulted in their damages.

We therefore reverse and remand with instructions to enter judgment in favor of Bowen and Balias. We also direct that the attorney’s fees awards in favor of Kriger and Samolovov be vacated as they no longer are prevailing parties.

REVERSED and REMANDED. 
      
       This disposition is not appropriate for publication and is not precedent except as provided by 9th Cir. R. 36-3.