Opinion ID: 457777
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: facts

Text: 3 Danon produced and owns rights in the motion pictures La Cage Aux Folles and La Cage Aux Folles II. Both films depict a nightclub featuring female impersonators. This action arose in 1981 when defendant Paciocco opened a nightclub in Los Angeles known as La Cage Aux Folles. The club's featured entertainment includes a floor show by female impersonators. Danon, along with two corporations not parties to this appeal, brought suit against Paciocco, La Cage and a subsequently dismissed individual, contending that they violated federal and state unfair competition, trademark, and copyright laws by copying the name, characters, and distinctive features of the films. 4 On February 3, 1983, La Cage served Danon with its first set of interrogatories. Responses were due on March 8. On that date, Danon's counsel sent a letter requesting an extension. Although the letter was received after responses were due, Danon was granted an extension until April 11. 5 Danon failed to respond by the extended due date, and on April 15, 1983, La Cage filed a motion to compel answers to interrogatories or, alternatively, to dismiss the complaint. At the April 27 hearing, the motion to compel was granted and monetary sanctions were imposed against Danon. In addition, Danon's counsel was warned that Danon's action would be dismissed if answers were not in strict compliance with the court's order. 6 Danon paid the $2,000 fine levied by Judge Hill, and on May 4, responded to the interrogatories and produced requested documents. La Cage found deficiencies in the responses and brought a second motion, this time requesting the court to dismiss with prejudice plaintiffs' complaint or, alternatively, to compel further answers to interrogatories and further production of documents. At the May 31, 1983 hearing, the court dismissed Danon's action with prejudice. Danon then retained new counsel, and on June 29, 1983, filed both a request for extension of time to file a notice of appeal pursuant to Rule 4(a)(5), Fed.R.App.P., and a motion for reconsideration of and relief from the order of dismissal pursuant to Rule 60(b), Fed.R.Civ.P. 7 Due to a potential conflict of interest involving Danon's new counsel, the case was reassigned from Judge Hill to Judge Marshall. On June 29, the same day the request was filed, Judge Marshall granted a 60-day extension of time within which to file a notice of appeal. The extension was suggested by Judge Marshall because of conflicts in her schedule. On August 22, Judge Marshall denied the Rule 60(b) motion. The court entered the denial on August 29, 1983, and granted a 10-day extension for the filing of an appeal from the dismissal. On September 6, Danon appealed from Judge Hill's order of dismissal. On September 28, Danon appealed from Judge Marshall's denial of his Rule 60(b) motion. 8