Court Opinion

ID: 7127084
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-07-24 14:51:32.076931+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:14:19.105256
License: Public Domain

MEMORANDUM ***
Appellants (“Suters”) appeal dismissal of their action in federal district court asserting constitutional claims arising from alleged “litigation fraud” perpetrated upon them in the course of state court proceedings. Judge Hagen dismissed the Suters’ federal action for lack of subject matter jurisdiction, citing the Rooker-Feldman doctrine. Finding no jurisdiction for the federal claims, Judge Hagen also dismissed the Suters’ supplemental claims. We affirm.
Dismissal for lack of subject matter jurisdiction is reviewed de novo. La Reunion Francaise SA v. Barnes, 247 F.3d 1022, 1024 (9th Cir.2001). This court reviews the district court’s findings of fact relevant to its determination of subject matter jurisdiction for clear error. Id. A district court’s decision whether to retain jurisdiction over supplemental claims when the original federal claims are dismissed is reviewed for abuse of discretion. Brown v. Lucky Stores, Inc., 246 F.3d 1182, 1187 (9th Cir.2001).
Under the Rooker-Feldman doctrine federal district courts have no jurisdiction to review state court civil judgments. D. C. Court of Appeals v. Feldman, 460 U.S. 462, 482, 103 S.Ct. 1303, 75 L.Ed.2d 206 (1983). “[I]f the constitutional claims presented to a United States district court are inextricably intertwined with [a state court’s decision], then the district court is in essence being called upon to review the state court decision” and is without jurisdiction. Worldwide Church of God v. McNair, 805 F.2d 888, 892 (9th Cir.1986) (quoting Feldman, 460 U.S. at 483-84 n. 16, 103 S.Ct. 1303).
Judge Hagen was clearly correct in dismissing the Suters’ federal claims. The claims presented to the federal district court are factually inextricably intertwined with the Nevada state courts’ determinations in the Suters’ state court litigation. The Suters’ argument for a fraud exception, based upon allegedly newly acquired evidence that was not available at the time their state court proceedings were underway, is unavailing. The proper court in which the Suters should have asserted fraud in the procurement of the judgment against them is the Nevada court that rendered the judgment. Nevada provides litigants ample opportunity to set aside judgments procured by fraud upon the *485court. Price v. Dunn, 106 Nev. 100, 787 P.2d 785, 787 (Nev.1990).
We find the Suters’ other arguments attempting to escape application of the Rooker-Feldman doctrine and other claims of error below likewise unavailing. Having properly dismissed the federal claims, Judge Hagen did not abuse his discretion in dismissing the supplemental claims.
AFFIRMED.

 This disposition is not appropriate for publication and may not be cited to or by the courts of this circuit except as may be provided by Ninth Circuit Rule 36-3.