Case Name: Edward DURNEY, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. MAGNA INTERNATIONAL, INC.; et al., Defendants-Appellees
Court: United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 2012-09-17
Citations: 479 F. App'x 113
Docket Number: No. 11-16402
Parties: Edward DURNEY, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. MAGNA INTERNATIONAL, INC.; et al., Defendants-Appellees.
Judges: Before: WARDLAW, CLIFTON, and N.R. SMITH, Circuit Judges.
Reporter: West's Federal Appendix
Volume: 479
Pages: 113–113

Head Matter:
Edward DURNEY, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. MAGNA INTERNATIONAL, INC.; et al., Defendants-Appellees.
No. 11-16402.
United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit.
Submitted Sept. 10, 2012.
Filed Sept. 17, 2012.
Edward Durney, Millbrae, CA, pro se.
Bryan K. Anderson, Aaron Bleharski, Sidley Austin LLP, Palo Alto, CA, for Defendants-Appellees.
Before: WARDLAW, CLIFTON, and N.R. SMITH, Circuit Judges.
The panel unanimously concludes this case is suitable for decision without oral argument. See Fed. R.App. P. 34(a)(2).

Opinion:
MEMORANDUM
Edward Durney, an attorney, appeals pro se from the district court's judgment dismissing his copyright infringement action on the basis of res judicata. We have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291. We review de novo. Holcombe v. Hosmer, 477 F.3d 1094, 1097 (9th Cir.2009). We affirm in part, and vacate and remand in part.
The district court properly dismissed the claims against the Magna defendants as barred by the doctrine of res judicata because Durney voluntarily dismissed two earlier lawsuits against the Magna defendants that were based on the same claims. See Fed.R.Civ.P. 41(a)(1)(B) (specifying when voluntary dismissal of action operates as "an adjudication on the merits"); Owens v. Kaiser Found. Health Plan Inc., 244 F.3d 708, 713-14 (9th Cir.2001) (describing elements of res judicata); Lake at Las Vegas Investors Grp., Inc., v. Pac. Malibu Dev. Corp., 933 F.2d 724, 728 (9th Cir.1991) (closely related entities may invoke Rule 41(a)(1)(B) res judicata).
However, judgment was not properly entered as to defendants Paperboy Ventures and Jaime Lewis, who have not yet appeared in this action and were not party to both of the earlier lawsuits for purposes of res judicata. See Lake at Las Vegas Investors Grp., Inc., 933 F.2d at 728. Accordingly, we vacate judgment as to defendants Paperboy Ventures and Jaime Lewis and remand for further proceedings as to those defendants.
The parties shall bear their own costs on appeal.
AFFIRMED in part; VACATED in part; and REMANDED in part.
This disposition is not appropriate for publication and is not precedent except as provided by 9th Cir. R. 36-3.