Foreclosure Consultants, Inc. v. ASL Investments (Moulton Parkway) Inc.
This text of 185 Fed. Appx. 639 (Foreclosure Consultants, Inc. v. ASL Investments (Moulton Parkway) Inc.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.
Opinion
MEMORANDUM
Theodor C. Albert1 appeals the district court’s award of the surplus funds from a foreclosure sale to Chevron Products Company. We have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291 and we affirm.
Because the Internal Revenue Service was a party to the case, the interpleader action was properly removed to federal court under 28 U.S.C. § 1442(a)(1) and 28 U.S.C. § 1444. The district court did not abuse its discretion under § 1442(a)(1) and § 1444 in retaining jurisdiction after the IRS and Shockers, Inc. were dismissed from the case. United Mine Workers of America v. Gibbs, 383 U.S. 715, 726, 86 S.Ct. 1130, 16 L.Ed.2d 218 (1966).
The district court did not improperly deny Rastegar’s demand for a jury trial. [640]*640Rastegar’s attorney expressly consented to the district court’s bifurcation of the trial into two phases, and Rastegar participated in the bench trial without objection. See Thompson v. Mahre, 110 F.3d 716, 721 (9th Cir.1997); White v. McGinnis, 903 F.2d 699, 703 (9th Cir.1990) (en banc) (“[Kjnowing participation in a bench trial without objection is sufficient to constitute a jury waiver.”)
The district court did not improperly deny Rastegar’s due process right to call Paula Bailey and Adrien Labi as witnesses. As an attorney employed by Chevron, Bailey’s legal impressions are protected by the attorney-client privilege and work product doctrine, and the district court properly disallowed such questioning. Rastegar and the court agreed Labi’s attendance at trial would only be an issue if the court did not award the entire amount of the surplus fund to Chevron.
The district court did not err in awarding Chevron all of the surplus funds because Chevron presented evidence to establish the amount of its claim. Kisor v. Johns-Manville Corp., 783 F.2d 1337, 1340 (9th Cir.1986).
Nothing in the record indicates that the district court was biased against Rastegar or her counsel.
AFFIRMED.
This disposition is not appropriate for publication and may not be cited to or by the courts of this circuit except as provided by 9th Cir. R. 36-3.
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185 Fed. Appx. 639, 185 F. App'x 639, 2006 U.S. App. LEXIS 15487, 2006 WL 1674450, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/foreclosure-consultants-inc-v-asl-investments-moulton-parkway-inc-ca9-2006.