Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-azd-2_19-cv-00256/USCOURTS-azd-2_19-cv-00256-2/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 220
Nature of Suit: Foreclosure
Cause of Action: 28:1331(a) Fed. Question: Real Property

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WO

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE DISTRICT OF ARIZONA

Cherie A. Fishburne,

Plaintiff,

v. 

CitiMortgage Incorporated, et al.,

Defendants.

No. CV-19-00256-PHX-JJT

ORDER 

At issue are Defendants S. Matt Collins, Carrie Collins, David LaSpaluto, and Sarah 

Sabalos-LaSpaluto’s (collectively, “Attorney Defendants”) Motion for Sanctions (Doc. 43) 

and Motion for Award of Attorneys’ Fees and Non-Taxable Costs (Doc. 49). On 

November 23, 2019, the Court entered an Order (Doc. 47) and Judgment (Doc. 48)

dismissing Plaintiff Cherie A. Fishburne’s claims in this matter but reserved judgment on 

Attorney Defendants’ Motion for Sanctions and permitted them to file a Motion for Award 

of Attorneys’ Fees. After they filed the Attorneys’ Fees Motion, the Court entered an Order 

(Doc. 51) requiring Plaintiff to respond to the Motion and warning Plaintiff that if she failed 

to timely respond, Attorney Defendants would be entitled to summary disposition of the 

Attorneys’ Fees Motion. Plaintiff did not file a Response.

Because the Court warned Plaintiff of the consequences of failing to timely file 

responsive briefs in this matter, Attorney Defendants are entitled to summary disposition 

of their Motion for Award of Attorneys’ Fees and Non-Taxable Costs (Doc. 49) under

Local Rule 7.2(i). See Brydges v. Lewis, 18 F.3d 651, 652 (9th Cir. 1994) (per curiam) 

Case 2:19-cv-00256-JJT Document 52 Filed 01/23/20 Page 1 of 2
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(concluding that the pro se plaintiff’s failure to timely respond to the defendant’s motion 

for summary judgment when the court had warned plaintiff of the consequence of a failure 

to respond warranted granting the motion for summary judgment in the defendant’s favor 

under the applicable Local Rule). In the Motion, Attorney Defendants properly 

demonstrated their entitlement to attorneys’ fees in this matter and substantiated that the 

amount requested is reasonable.

The Court would also grant Attorney Defendants’ Motion for Sanctions (Doc. 43), 

although the sanction would be dismissal of this action and an award of attorneys’ fees and 

costs, which the Court has already found Attorney Defendants are entitled to. The Court 

agrees with Attorney Defendants that Plaintiff had ample opportunity to correct or 

withdraw the Complaint in this matter and, as the Court already stated in its previous Order 

(Doc. 47), Plaintiff already litigated and lost the claims she brought in this lawsuit in a 

previous lawsuit.

IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED granting Defendants S. Matt Collins, Carrie 

Collins, David LaSpaluto, and Sarah Sabalos-LaSpaluto’s Motion for Sanctions (Doc. 43).

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED granting Defendants S. Matt Collins, Carrie Collins, 

David LaSpaluto, and Sarah Sabalos-LaSpaluto’s Motion for Award of Attorneys’ Fees 

and Non-Taxable Costs (Doc. 49).

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED directing the Clerk of Court to enter a Supplemental 

Judgment against Plaintiff Cherie A. Fishburne and in favor of Defendants S. Matt Collins, 

Carrie Collins, David LaSpaluto, and Sarah Sabalos-LaSpaluto, in the amount of $5,463.50

plus interest accruing at the rate of 6.25% per annum from the date of Supplemental 

Judgment until paid in full.

Dated this 23rd day of January, 2020.

Honorable John J. Tuchi

United States District Judge

Case 2:19-cv-00256-JJT Document 52 Filed 01/23/20 Page 2 of 2