BARTHOLOMEW v. FINKE (2020)

MEMORANDUM **

Marilyn Bartholomew appeals pro se from the district court’s judgment in her action alleging federal and state law claims arising from prior state court proceedings. We have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291. We review de novo a dismissal under the Rooker-Feldman doctrine. Noel v. Hall, 341 F.3d 1148, 1154 (9th Cir. 2003). We affirm.

The district court properly dismissed Bartholomew’s action for lack of subject matter jurisdiction under the Rooker-Feldman doctrine because it amounted to a forbidden “de facto appeal” of state court decisions and raised claims that were “inextricably intertwined” with those state court decisions. See id. at 1163-65; see also Cooper v. Ramos, 704 F.3d 772, 782 (9th Cir. 2012) (explaining that the Rooker-Feldman doctrine bars “inextricably intertwined” claims where federal adjudication “would impermissibly undercut the state ruling on the same issues” (citation and internal quotation marks omitted)). Contrary to Bartholomew’s contention, she could not have proceeded solely on her requests for damages because they were also barred under the Rooker-Feldman doctrine. See Cooper, 704 F.3d at 782.

The district court did not abuse its discretion in denying Bartholomew’s Fed. R. Civ. P. 60 motions because Bartholomew failed to establish any basis for relief. See Garamendi v. Henin, 683 F.3d 1069, 1077, 1079 (9th Cir. 2012) (setting forth standard of review and discussing Rule 60(a)); Sch. Dist. No. 1J Multnomah Cty., Or. v. ACandS, Inc., 5 F.3d 1255, 1263 (9th Cir. 1993) (discussing grounds for relief under Rule 60(b)).

We reject as meritless Bartholomew’s contention that the state court decisions were not judicially approved and therefore void.

AFFIRMED.