A fraud complaint must satisfy Rule 9(b) by attributing specific fraudulent statements or acts to individual defendants and identifying each defendant's role in the alleged scheme.
Investors sued various professionals for fraud related to the sale of unregistered securities. The district court dismissed claims against accountants and lawyers under section 12(2) of the Securities Act and denied leave to file a third amended complaint containing new claims against stockbrokers, section 10(b) claims, and RICO claims. The court held that under the Pinter standard, professionals are only liable as sellers under section 12(2) if they solicited purchases motivated by financial interest. Furthermore, the court found the section 10(b) and RICO claims failed because they lacked the particularity required by rule 9(b). The court affirmed the dismissals but remanded to determine if leave to amend should be denied against stockbrokers due to undue delay or bad faith.
At page 538 Denying leave to amend when dismissal is certain167 citing cases“the presence or absence of undue delay, bad faith, dilatory motive, repeated failure to cure deficiencies by previous amendments, undue prejudice to the opposing party and futility of the proposed amendment.”
- Aguilar, No. 4:25-cv-00056 (D. Ariz. Mar. 24, 2026).(Leave to amend need not be given if a complaint, as amended, is subject to 26 dismissal.)
- House v. TH Foods, Inc., No. 2:24-cv-01326 (D. Nev. Mar. 25, 2025).(Leave to amend 23 need not be given if a complaint, as amended, is subject to dismissal.)
- Andrich v. Phillis, No. 4:20-cv-00422 (D. Ariz. June 7, 2021).(Leave to amend need not be given if a complaint, as amended, is subject to 28 dismissal.)
- Thompson v. Paul, 657 F. Supp. 2d 1113 (D. Ariz. 2009).published(Leave to amend need not be given if a complaint, as amended, is subject to dismissal.)
- All Terrain Veh. Litig., In re, 978 F.2d 1265 (9th Cir. 1992).unpublished (Leave to amend need not be given if a complaint, as amended, is subject to dismissal.)
- (PC) Trevino v. Burke, No. 2:21-cv-01415 (E.D. Cal. Jan. 17, 2024).(Leave to amend need not be given if a complaint, as 25 amended, is subject to dismissal.)
- Swarm Tech. LLC v. Amazon.com Inc., No. 2:21-cv-00438 (D. Ariz. Aug. 22, 2022).(Leave to amend 26 need not be given if a complaint, as amended, is subject to dismissal.)
- Alvarez v. Univ. of Oregon, No. 6:19-cv-01071 (D. Or. Mar. 29, 2022).(Leave to amend need not be given if a complaint, as amended, is subject to dismissal.)
- Mostre Exhibits, LLC v. Sentinel Ins. Co., No. 3:20-cv-01332 (S.D. Cal. Feb. 2, 2022).(Leave to amend need not be given if a complaint, as amended, is subject to 13 dismissal.)
- Lenzini v. DCM Servs., LLC, No. 4:20-cv-07612 (N.D. Cal. May 26, 2021).(Leave to amend need not be given if a complaint, as 15 amended, is subject to dismissal.)
Show 157 more citing cases
- Alvarez v. Univ. of Oregon, No. 6:19-cv-01071 (D. Or. Aug. 25, 2020).(Leave to amend need not be given if a complaint, as amended, is subject to dismissal.)
- Benedict v. Google LLC, No. 24-6966 (9th Cir. Sept. 22, 2026).unpublishedMoore v. Kayport Package Express, Inc., 885 F.2d 531, 538 (9th Cir. 1989).
- Wesco Ins. Co. v. Sentry Ins. Co., No. 3:25-cv-07584 (N.D. Cal. Aug. 19, 2026).In 13 making this determination, the court should consider factors such as “the presence or absence of 14 undue delay, bad faith, dilatory motive, repeated failure to cure deficiencies by previous 15 amendments, undue prejudice to the oppo…
- Arturo Osiel Valencia Barrera v. Whatcom Cnty. Sheriff's Off., No. 2:25-cv-02129 (W.D. Wash. Aug. 5, 2026).On the other hand, leave to amend need not be granted 20 “where the amendment would be futile or where the amended complaint would be 21 subject to dismissal.” Saul v. United States, 928 F.2d 829, 843 (9th Cir. 1991) (citing 22 Reddy v. Li…
- Bohannon v. Martin McDonald Dev., Inc., No. 24-6886 (9th Cir. July 1, 2026).unpublishedMoore v. Kayport Package Express, Inc., 885 F.2d 531, 538 (9th Cir. 1989).
- Goff, No. 2:25-cv-04537 (D. Ariz. June 30, 2026).“[l]eave to amend need not be given if a complaint, as amended, is subject to 22 dismissal”
- Advantest Test Solutions, Inc. v. AEM Holdings Ltd., No. 3:25-cv-02604 (S.D. Cal. June 30, 2026).“the presence or 5 absence of undue delay, bad faith, dilatory motive, repeated failure to cure deficiencies by 6 previous amendments, undue prejudice to the opposing party[,] and futility of the proposed 7 amendment”
- Ray, No. 2:23-cv-00465 (W.D. Wash. June 1, 2026).The court should freely give leave when justice so requires.” When considering 18 whether to allow leave to amend, the court considers various factors, including “the presence or 19 absence of undue delay, bad faith, dilatory motive, repea…
- Reinbold v. Alaska Airlines, Inc., No. 25-901 (9th Cir. May 20, 2026).unpublished“Leave to amend need not be given if a complaint, as amended, is subject to dismissal”
- G.B. v. United States Env't Prot. Agency, 172 F.4th 1042 (9th Cir. 2026).published“the presence or absence of undue delay, bad faith, dilatory motive, repeated failure to cure deficiencies by previous amendments, undue prejudice to the opposing party and futility of the proposed amendment”
- Ngaruiya, No. 2:26-cv-01331 (D. Ariz. Apr. 7, 2026).See Bonin 11 v. Calderon, 59 F.3d 815, 845 (9th Cir. 1995) (futility alone justifies denying leave to 12 amend); Moore v. Kayport Package Express, Inc., 885 F.2d 531, 538 (9th Cir. 1989) 13 (repeated failure to cure deficiencies is one of…
- Goff, No. 2:25-cv-04537 (D. Ariz. Jan. 16, 2026).“Leave to amend need not be 4 given if a complaint, as amended, is subject to dismissal”
- Bass, No. 2:24-cv-02380 (D. Ariz. Jan. 13, 2026).“Leave to amend need not be given if a complaint, as amended, is subject to 5 dismissal”
- Hernandez, No. 2:23-cv-01400 (D. Ariz. Jan. 8, 2026).“Leave to amend need not be given if a 18 complaint, as amended, is subject to dismissal”
- Preston Eugene Richardson v. Whatcom Cnty. Jail, No. 2:25-cv-00206 (W.D. Wash. Nov. 5, 2025).On the other hand, leave to amend need not be granted 18 “where the amendment would be futile or where the amended complaint would be 19 subject to dismissal.” Saul v. United States, 928 F.2d 829, 843 (9th Cir. 1991) (citing 20 Reddy v. Li…
- NaphCare, No. 2:25-cv-01631 (D. Ariz. Oct. 16, 2025).“Leave to amend need not be given if 22 a complaint, as amended, is subject to dismissal”
- PennyMac Loan Servs. LLC v. Melbye, No. 4:24-cv-00561 (D. Ariz. Sept. 30, 2025).“[l]eave to amend need not be given if a 23 complaint, as amended, is subject to dismissal”
- Hinton v. 1138 East Highland LLC, No. 4:25-cv-00095 (D. Ariz. Aug. 20, 2025).“[l]eave to amend 11 need not be given if a complaint, as amended, is subject to dismissal”
- Brown 235551 v. Maricopa, Cnty. of, No. 2:24-cv-01942 (D. Ariz. Aug. 18, 2025).“Leave to amend need not be given 14 if a complaint, as amended, is subject to dismissal”
- Brown 235551 v. Maricopa, Cnty. of, No. 2:24-cv-02282 (D. Ariz. Aug. 18, 2025).“Leave to amend need not be given if 23 a complaint, as amended, is subject to dismissal”
- Labarge v. Elutia, Inc., No. 3:24-cv-01857 (S.D. Cal. July 21, 2025).Moore v. Kayport Package Express, 19 Inc., 885 F.2d 531, 538 (9th Cir. 1989) (citing Foman v. Davis, 370 U.S. 178 , 182-83 20 (1962)); see also Cervantes, 2019 WL 1129154 at *3 (“Whether to grant a motion to 21 amend depends on five factor…
- King v. Health Care Servs. Corp., No. 4:24-cv-00032 (D. Mont. June 11, 2025).Moore, 885 F.2d at 538; Scott v. Eversole Mortuary, 522 F.2d 1110, 1116 (9th Cir. 1975).
- MacFarlane v. McKean, 4 F.3d 982 (1st Cir. 1993).unpublished
- Schepp v. Fremont Cnty., 900 F.2d 1448 (10th Cir. 1990).published
- Jeffrey A. Saul v. United States Ray Larsen Colleen St. Louis John Doe St. Louis, 928 F.2d 829 (9th Cir. 1991).published
- Ras Adisa Gamba-Oluwa v. Ron Koenig, 942 F.2d 791 (9th Cir. 1991).unpublished
- Keith Nash v. Vancouver Police Dep't, 457 F. App'x 651 (9th Cir. 2011).unpublished
- Hinton v. Pac. Enter., 5 F.3d 391 (9th Cir. 1993).published
- Janicki Logging Co. v. Bruce Mateer Dale Robertson, 42 F.3d 561 (9th Cir. 1994).published
- Frank W. Orlando, Sr. v. Hotel Employees & Restaurant Employees Int'l Union Welfare Fund Am. Benefit Plan Administrators, 46 F.3d 1143 (9th Cir. 1995).unpublished
- Plitt Amusement Co. v. Act III Theatres, Inc., 67 F.3d 308 (9th Cir. 1995).unpublished
- Richard Canatella v. City & Cnty. of San Francisco Contra Costa Cnty. Pamela Wilson Levin Murphy, Pearson, Bradley & Feeney, 74 F.3d 1245 (9th Cir. 1996).unpublished
- In re Westinghouse Sec. Litig.. Margaret Alessi, Gloria Bertinato, Michael C. Christner, Anna Marie Eroshevich, Toby Feuer, Kanwal K. Gupta, M.D., Matthew Harlib, Stanley Hershfang, Arnold M. Jacob, Louise Jacob, David Jaroslawicz, David Kirschner, Nathan Kleinhandler, Gerry Krim, Peter Lagorio, Nelson Lovins, Donald McLennan Jacob Joseph Miller, Dr. Alexander Miller, Thomas Mitchell, Edward Murabito, Michael E. Nogay, Joseph Raschak, Richard Schwartzchild, Dr. Michael Slavin, Dr. Michael Solomon, Selma Solomon, Spring Creek Cardiomedical Ctr., Ruth Stepak, Jim Thompson, Patricia J. Vanartsdalen, Albert Zucker, 90 F.3d 696 (3d Cir. 1996).published
- Est. of Claude Brooks, by & Through Its Adm'r, Clarence "Ed" Brooks v. United States of Am., & Cnty. of Alameda, 197 F.3d 1245 (9th Cir. 1999).published
- United States, Exrel., Insoon Lee v. Smithkline Beecham, Inc. Smithkline Beecham Clinical Labs. Does 1-100, 245 F.3d 1048 (9th Cir. 2001).published
- City of Tenakee Springs v. Clough, 750 F. Supp. 1406 (D. Alaska 1990).published
- Crum v. Blixseth (In re Big Springs Realty LLC), 430 B.R. 629 (Bankr. D. Mont. 2010).published
- In re All Terrain Veh. Litig., 771 F. Supp. 1057 (C.D. Cal. 1991).published
- In re Edwards Theatres Circuit, Inc., 281 B.R. 675 (Bankr. C.D. Cal. 2002).published
- English v. Gen. Elec. Co., 765 F. Supp. 293 (E.D.N.C. 1991).published
- United States v. Brunswick, 476 F. Supp. 2d 1183 (D. Nev. 2006).published
- C.F. v. Capistrano Unified Sch. Dist., 656 F. Supp. 2d 1190 (C.D. Cal. 2009).published
- In re Westinghouse Sec. Litig., 90 F.3d 696 (3d Cir. 1996).
- Frederick Cooley v. R. McNabb, 374 F. App'x 750 (9th Cir. 2010).unpublished
- Desert Prot. Council v. U.S. Dep't of the Interior, 630 F. App'x 705 (9th Cir. 2015).unpublished
- Brian Malnes v. City of Flagstaff, 710 F. App'x 764 (9th Cir. 2018).unpublished
- First Hartford Corp. Pension Plan & Trust v. United States, 54 Fed. Cl. 298 (Fed. Cl. 2002).published
- Hinton v. Pac. Enter., 5 F.3d 391 (9th Cir. 1993).published
- Hart v. Larson, 232 F. Supp. 3d 1128 (S.D. Cal. 2017).published
- Knox v. Yingli Green Energy Holding Co., 242 F. Supp. 3d 950 (C.D. Cal. 2017).published
- Abner v. Compton Unified Sch. Dist., 74 F. App'x 843 (9th Cir. 2003).unpublished
- Lewis v. Newman, 788 F. Supp. 1086 (N.D. Cal. 1991).published
- Burrows v. Redbud Cmty. Hosp. Dist., 188 F.R.D. 356 (N.D. Cal. 1997).published
- State ex rel. Mueller v. Walgreen Corp., 175 F.R.D. 631 (N.D. Cal. 1997).published
- David Khatib v. Toyota Motor North Am., Inc., No. 8:23-cv-00943 (C.D. Cal. Aug. 11, 2023).
- Welch v. Prescott Police Dep't, No. 3:19-cv-08213 (D. Ariz. Oct. 4, 2019).
- Houston v. Penzone, No. 2:19-cv-05563 (D. Ariz. Jan. 29, 2020).
- Benge v. Ryan, No. 2:18-cv-02544 (D. Ariz. Feb. 7, 2020).
- Caraffa v. Maricopa Cnty. Sheriff's Dep't, No. 2:20-cv-00013 (D. Ariz. Mar. 3, 2020).
- Ware v. Phoenix, City of, No. 2:19-cv-02896 (D. Ariz. Mar. 16, 2020).
- Gaines v. Synes, No. 2:19-cv-05621 (D. Ariz. Mar. 30, 2020).
- Caraffa v. Maricopa Cnty. Sheriff's Off., No. 2:20-cv-00227 (D. Ariz. Mar. 30, 2020).
- Schlienz v. Ryan, No. 3:19-cv-08071 (D. Ariz. Apr. 1, 2020).
- Breese v. Corr. Health, No. 2:19-cv-01026 (D. Ariz. Apr. 8, 2020).
- Shreeve v. Arizona Dep't of Pub. Saf., No. 2:19-cv-05864 (D. Ariz. Apr. 29, 2020).
- Dobson 287619 v. Ryan, No. 2:19-cv-05874 (D. Ariz. May 1, 2020).
- McCleve v. Arizona, State of, No. 2:19-cv-05419 (D. Ariz. May 19, 2020).
- Bell v. Maricopa, Cnty. of, No. 2:19-cv-04809 (D. Ariz. Aug. 10, 2020).
- Foote v. Arizona Dep't of Pub. Saf., No. 2:20-cv-00156 (D. Ariz. Sept. 18, 2020).
- Garza 104949 v. Unknown Party, No. 2:19-cv-05190 (D. Ariz. Oct. 13, 2020).
- Rivera v. Sheppard, No. 2:20-cv-01255 (D. Ariz. Nov. 20, 2020).
- Moore v. Unknown Party, No. 2:20-cv-01418 (D. Ariz. Dec. 3, 2020).
- Hill 068563 v. Arizona Dep't of Corr., No. 2:19-cv-05693 (D. Ariz. Jan. 21, 2021).
- Gwen v. Masher, No. 3:20-cv-08225 (D. Ariz. Jan. 29, 2021).
- Franco v. Mesa Pub. Schs., No. 2:20-cv-01129 (D. Ariz. Mar. 15, 2021).
- McCarty v. Egnor, No. 2:21-cv-00473 (D. Ariz. Apr. 15, 2021).
- McCarty v. Egnor, No. 2:21-cv-00473 (D. Ariz. Apr. 29, 2021).
- Blomdahl v. Shinn, No. 2:21-cv-01863 (D. Ariz. Feb. 23, 2022).
- Abeyta v. United States Postal Serv., No. 4:21-cv-00331 (D. Ariz. Mar. 18, 2022).
- Grady v. Sunbeam Motel, No. 4:21-cv-00493 (D. Ariz. Apr. 26, 2022).
- Nails v. Carpenter, No. 4:22-cv-00194 (D. Ariz. May 10, 2022).
- Nails v. Carpenter, No. 4:22-cv-00194 (D. Ariz. June 8, 2022).
- Williams v. Unknown Party, No. 2:22-cv-01779 (D. Ariz. Nov. 17, 2022).
- Stewart v. Arizona, State of, No. 2:22-cv-00712 (D. Ariz. Jan. 25, 2023).
- Radloff 042424 v. Centurion Health, No. 2:22-cv-01094 (D. Ariz. Jan. 25, 2023).
- Cattanach v. Maricopa Cnty. Cmty. Coll. Dist., No. 4:22-cv-00572 (D. Ariz. Mar. 30, 2023).
- Henry v. Bartlett-Tucker, No. 4:23-cv-00142 (D. Ariz. Apr. 5, 2023).
- Wolf Designs LLC v. Five 18 Designs LLC, No. 2:21-cv-01789 (D. Ariz. May 19, 2023).
- Esposito v. Shinn, No. 2:22-cv-00815 (D. Ariz. May 22, 2023).
- Smith 213317 v. Unknown Parties, No. 2:22-cv-02113 (D. Ariz. May 25, 2023).
- Creech v. Barrett Fin. Grp. LLC, No. 2:22-cv-00871 (D. Ariz. July 28, 2023).
- Campbell v. Wexford Health Source Inc., No. 3:23-cv-08063 (D. Ariz. Nov. 9, 2023).
- Becker v. Penzone, No. 2:23-cv-01216 (D. Ariz. Dec. 20, 2023).
- McClure v. Citrenbaum, No. 3:23-cv-08133 (D. Ariz. Feb. 2, 2024).
- Johnson v. Target, No. 4:23-cv-00580 (D. Ariz. Feb. 13, 2024).
- Durr v. Scottsdale, City of, No. 2:23-cv-00752 (D. Ariz. Mar. 27, 2024).
- Sehring v. Smith, No. 3:23-cv-08581 (D. Ariz. Apr. 10, 2024).
- Eiland v. Sigmon, No. 2:23-cv-00926 (D. Ariz. May 8, 2024).
- Munoz 214046 v. Saad, No. 2:23-cv-01428 (D. Ariz. May 23, 2024).
- (PS) Schmitz v. Asman, No. 2:20-cv-00195 (E.D. Cal. Aug. 3, 2021).
- Murphy v. Finish Line, Inc., No. 3:20-cv-05663, 2021 WL 2166875 (N.D. Cal. May 27, 2021).
- Esquibel v. Kinder Morgan, Inc., No. 3:21-cv-02510 (N.D. Cal. June 15, 2021).
- Watkins v. MGA Ent., Inc., 550 F. Supp. 3d 815 (N.D. Cal. 2021).published
- Regents of the Univ. of California v. LTI Flexible Prods., Inc., No. 3:20-cv-08686 (N.D. Cal. Dec. 14, 2021).
- Regents of the Univ. of California v. LTI Flexible Prods., Inc., No. 3:20-cv-08686 (N.D. Cal. Oct. 11, 2022).
- Paschal v. City & Cnty. of San Franisco, No. 3:22-cv-03604 (N.D. Cal. Feb. 10, 2023).
- Saloojas, Inc. v. United Healthcare Ins. Co., No. 3:22-cv-03536 (N.D. Cal. Nov. 8, 2023).
- Soler v. San Diego, Cnty. of, No. 3:14-cv-02470 (S.D. Cal. Mar. 24, 2020).
- Harper Constr. Co. v. Nat'l Union Fire Ins. Co. of Pittsburgh, PA, No. 3:18-cv-00471 (S.D. Cal. Apr. 10, 2020).
- O'Brien v. Murphy, No. 3:19-cv-01496 (S.D. Cal. July 24, 2020).
- D.C. v. Cnty. of San Diego, No. 3:15-cv-01868 (S.D. Cal. Jan. 25, 2021).
- Cordova v. Imperial Cnty. Narcotics Task Force, No. 3:21-cv-00445 (S.D. Cal. July 7, 2022).
- Purpura v. Does Members of the Inmate Classification Comm., No. 3:20-cv-01688 (S.D. Cal. July 22, 2022).
- Buckelew v. Gore, No. 3:21-cv-00810 (S.D. Cal. June 16, 2023).
- Morton v. Cnty. of San Diego, No. 3:21-cv-01428 (S.D. Cal. Jan. 16, 2024).
- Hardman v. Gov't of Guam (Guam Police Dep't), No. 1:10-cv-00010 (D. Guam Aug. 5, 2010).
- Hill v. Majestic Blue Fisheries, LLC, No. 1:11-cv-00034 (D. Guam Apr. 12, 2013).
- Vargas v. City & Cnty. of Honolulu, No. 1:19-cv-00116 (D. Haw. Dec. 2, 2019).
- Blixseth v. Internal Revenue Serv., No. 3:20-cv-00101 (D. Nev. Feb. 11, 2021).
- Morgan 136025 v. Penzone, No. 2:23-cv-01653 (D. Ariz. June 10, 2024).
- Hart v. Granado, No. 2:22-cv-02067 (D. Ariz. June 3, 2024).
- Gwen 332970 v. Degard, No. 2:24-cv-00389 (D. Ariz. Oct. 1, 2024).
- Creech v. Barrett Fin. Grp. LLC, No. 2:22-cv-00871 (D. Ariz. Oct. 28, 2024).
- J.A.V. v. PC Grp. Retail LLC, No. 8:24-cv-01637 (C.D. Cal. Oct. 4, 2024).
- Perez v. Cogburn, No. 2:18-cv-01800 (W.D. Wash. Nov. 8, 2019).
- Chlentzos-Williams v. Burien Dist. Court, No. 3:21-cv-05563 (W.D. Wash. Sept. 29, 2021).
- Countryman v. Sherman, No. 2:19-cv-01767 (W.D. Wash. Oct. 19, 2021).
- Ortiz v. Pierce Cnty., No. 3:22-cv-05947 (W.D. Wash. May 1, 2024).
- Hall 353631 v. Arizona State Prison, No. 4:23-cv-00353 (D. Ariz. Nov. 8, 2024).
- Gwen 332970 v. Cattolico, No. 3:24-cv-08023 (D. Ariz. Feb. 27, 2025).
- Hemminger v. Nelson, No. 2:24-cv-00659 (W.D. Wash. Feb. 20, 2025).
- Dalrada Fin. Corp. v. Bonar, No. 3:24-cv-02166 (S.D. Cal. Sept. 23, 2025).
- Eugene Leon Price v. D. Noone, No. 2:24-cv-02756 (E.D. Cal. Dec. 2, 2025).
- Shepard, No. 4:26-cv-00385 (D. Ariz. Aug. 5, 2026).
- Capitol West Appraisals LLC v. Countrywide Fin. Corp., 467 F. App'x 738 (9th Cir. 2012).unpublished
- James Kroessler v. CVS Health Corp., 977 F.3d 803 (9th Cir. 2020).published
- MedCath Inc. Emp. Health Care Plan v. Stratton, 79 F. Supp. 3d 1046 (D. Ariz. 2015).published
- Flathead Irrigation Dist. v. Jewell, 121 F. Supp. 3d 1008 (D. Mont. 2015).published
- Finn v. Sullivan, 228 F. Supp. 3d 972 (N.D. Cal. 2017).published
- Manger v. Leapfrog Enter., Inc., 229 F. Supp. 3d 1126 (N.D. Cal. 2017).published
- Geovector Corp. v. Samsung Elec. Co., 234 F. Supp. 3d 1009 (N.D. Cal. 2017).published
- Manger v. Leapfrog Enter., Inc., 252 F. Supp. 3d 837 (N.D. Cal. 2017).published
- Zeiger v. Wellpet LLC, 304 F. Supp. 3d 837 (N.D. Cal. 2018).published
- Cline v. Reetz-Laiolo, 329 F. Supp. 3d 1000 (N.D. Cal. 2018).published
- City of S.F. v. Sessions, 372 F. Supp. 3d 928 (N.D. Cal. 2019).published
- Golub v. Gigamon Inc., 372 F. Supp. 3d 1033 (N.D. Cal. 2019).published
- Free Speech Sys., LLC v. Menzel, 390 F. Supp. 3d 1162 (N.D. Cal. 2019).published
- Donahoe v. Arpaio, 869 F. Supp. 2d 1020 (D. Ariz. 2012).published
- Lochridge v. City of Tacoma, 315 F.R.D. 596 (W.D. Wash. 2014).published
- (PC) Bradford v. Usher, No. 1:17-cv-01128 (E.D. Cal. May 28, 2021).
- (PC) Steward v. Pfeiffer, No. 1:22-cv-00746 (E.D. Cal. June 6, 2023).
- (PC) Rabb v. Figueroa, No. 1:23-cv-00843 (E.D. Cal. Feb. 8, 2024).
- Mehta v. Victoria Partners, No. 2:21-cv-01493 (D. Nev. Feb. 6, 2023).
- Bielicki v. USAA Cas. Ins. Co., No. 2:23-cv-01362 (D. Nev. June 24, 2024).
- Northbridge Gen. Ins. Corp. v. Phase II Transp. Inc, No. 3:24-cv-05033 (W.D. Wash. Sept. 3, 2024).
- Jimmy Ray of the Vaughn Fam. v. Tucker, No. 3:23-cv-00326 (D. Or. Aug. 23, 2024).
- Grillo, No. 2:25-cv-02541 (D. Nev. June 1, 2026).
At page 540 Sufficiency of pleading under rule 9(b) for fraud143 citing cases“while statements of the time, place and nature of the alleged fraudulent activities are sufficient, mere conclusory allegations of fraud are insufficient.”
- Keir Milan v. JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., No. 2:24-cv-06323 (C.D. Cal. Nov. 26, 2025).(A pleading 17 is sufficient under [R]ule 9(b) if it identifies the circumstances constituting fraud so that 18 a defendant can prepare an adequate answer from the allegations.)
- Bodenburg v. Apple Inc., 146 F.4th 761 (9th Cir. 2025).published([M]ere conclusory allegations of fraud are insufficient.)
- Keir Milan v. JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., No. 2:24-cv-06323 (C.D. Cal. May 7, 2025).(A pleading is sufficient under [R]ule 9(b) if it identifies 4 the circumstances constituting fraud so that a defendant can prepare an adequate answer 5 from the allegations.)
- Bly-Magee v. California, 236 F.3d 1014 (9th Cir. 2001).published([M]ere conclusory allegations of fraud are insufficient.)
- All Terrain Veh. Litig., In re, 978 F.2d 1265 (9th Cir. 1992).unpublished See Kayport Package Express, 885 F.2d at 538 ("Leave to amend need not be given if a complaint, as amended, is subject to dismissal."); Schmidt v. Herrmann, 614 F.2d 1221, 1223-24 (9th Cir.1980) (failure of amended complaint to comply with…
- Golden Ent., Inc. v. Factory Mut. Ins. Co., No. 2:21-cv-00969 (D. Nev. Jan. 8, 2025).(While statements of the 13 time, place and nature of the alleged fraudulent activities are sufficient, mere conclusory 14 allegations of fraud are insufficient.)
- SinglePoint Direct Solar LLC v. Curiel, No. 2:21-cv-01076 (D. Ariz. Feb. 3, 2022). “Mere conclusory allegations of fraud are insufficient.”
- Hallmark Specialty Ins. Co. v. Mr Luxory Motor Inc, No. 3:21-cv-01149 (S.D. Cal. Dec. 23, 2021).(while statements 14 of the time, place and nature of the alleged fraudulent activities are sufficient, mere 15 conclusory allegations of fraud are insufficient.)
- Niven v. Universal Music Grp., Inc., No. 24-7273 (9th Cir. May 22, 2026).unpublishedMoore v. Kayport Package Express, Inc., 885 F.2d 531, 540 (9th Cir. 1989).
- Kikuyama, No. 1:25-cv-00439 (D. Haw. Jan. 21, 2026).“[M]ere conclusory allegations of fraud are insufficient”
Show 124 more citing cases
- Goodwind Dev. Corp. v. West Bay Corp., 2025 Guam 15 (Guam 2025).publishedWhen analyzing the specificity requirement for fraud-related pleadings, this court has also explained that “[w]hile statements of the time, place and nature of the alleged fraudulent activities are sufficient, mere conclusory allegations o…
- Matsugishi v. Chen, 790 F. Supp. 3d 1007 (D. Nev. 2025).publishedP. 9(b). 47 Semegen v. Weidner, 780 F.2d 727, 731 (9th Cir. 1985). 22 48 Moore v. Kayport Package Express, Inc., 885 F.2d 531, 540 (9th Cir. 1989). 23 49 Swartz v. KPMG LLP, 476 F.3d 756, 765 (9th Cir. 2007) (cleaned up). 50 ECF No. 20 at…
- Craftmatic Sec. Litig. v. Kraftsow, 890 F.2d 628 (3d Cir. 1989).published
- Andresen v. Hunt, 951 F.2d 358 (9th Cir. 1991).unpublished
- United States, Exrel., Insoon Lee v. Smithkline Beecham, Inc. Smithkline Beecham Clinical Labs. Does 1-100, 245 F.3d 1048 (9th Cir. 2001).published
- Hart v. Larson, 232 F. Supp. 3d 1128 (S.D. Cal. 2017).published
- State ex rel. Mueller v. Walgreen Corp., 175 F.R.D. 631 (N.D. Cal. 1997).published
- Shroyer v. New Cingular Wireless Servs., Inc., 606 F.3d 658 (9th Cir. 2010).published
- Shroyer v. New Cingular Wireless Servs., Inc., 622 F.3d 1035 (9th Cir. 2010).published
- Sanford v. MemberWorks, Inc., 625 F.3d 550 (9th Cir. 2010).published
- E&e Co. v. Kam Hing Enter., Inc., 429 F. App'x 632 (9th Cir. 2011).unpublished
- Graue Mill Dev. Corp. v. Colonial Bank & Trust Co. of Chicago, 927 F.2d 988 (7th Cir. 1991).published
- Gregg v. Tague, 959 F.2d 240 (9th Cir. 1992).unpublished
- Bankers Trust Co. v. Old Repub. Ins. Co., 959 F.2d 677 (7th Cir. 1992).published
- Shapiro v. UJB Fin. Corp., 964 F.2d 272 (3d Cir. 1992).published
- D. Neubronner v. Michael R. Milken, 6 F.3d 666 (9th Cir. 1993).published
- Greenwald v. Wells Fargo & Co., 12 F.3d 922 (9th Cir. 1993).published
- William Kaplan, Adm'r of the Est. of Lois Kaplan, on Behalf of Himself & All Others Similarly Situated Thomas Devere v. Freeman Rose Errol Payne Richard Penfil David Radlinski Weeden & Co., L.P. Medstone Int'l, Inc., Georgiane Kramer, on Behalf of Herself & All Others Similarly Situated v. Freeman Rose Medstone Int'l, Inc. Errol Payne Richard Penfil David Radlinski Weeden & Co., L.P., 49 F.3d 1363 (9th Cir. 1995).published
- Decker v. GlenFed, Inc., 60 F.3d 591 (9th Cir. 1995).published
- Wegbreit v. Marley Orchards Corp., 793 F. Supp. 957 (E.D. Wash. 1991).published
- A.I. Credit Corp. v. Hartford Comput. Grp., Inc., 847 F. Supp. 588 (N.D. Ill. 1994).published
- Steiner v. Southmark Corp., 734 F. Supp. 269 (N.D. Tex. 1990).published
- In re Catfish Antitrust Litig., 826 F. Supp. 1019 (N.D. Miss. 1993).published
- Spiegler v. Home Depot U.S.A., Inc., 552 F. Supp. 2d 1036 (C.D. Cal. 2008).published
- Lui Ciro, Inc. v. Ciro, Inc., 895 F. Supp. 1365 (D. Haw. 1995).published
- South Broward Hosp. Dist. v. Medquist Inc., 516 F. Supp. 2d 370 (D.N.J. 2007).published
- Rolex Employees Ret. Trust v. Mentor Graphics Corp., 749 F. Supp. 1042 (D. Or. 1990).published
- Multimedia Pat. Trust v. Microsoft Corp., 525 F. Supp. 2d 1200 (S.D. Cal. 2007).published
- In re Midlantic Corp. Shareholder Litig., 758 F. Supp. 226 (D.N.J. 1990).published
- Swanson v. First Wisconsin Fin. Corp. (In re Universal Foundry Co.), 163 B.R. 528 (E.D. Wis. 1993).published
- Davis v. Coopers & Lybrand, 787 F. Supp. 787 (N.D. Ill. 1992).published
- Centier Bank v. Young (In re Young), 428 B.R. 804 (Bankr. N.D. Ind. 2010).published
- In re Syntex Corp. Sec. Litig., 855 F. Supp. 1086 (N.D. Cal. 1994).published
- Lazzaro v. Weichman (In re Weichman), 422 B.R. 143 (Bankr. N.D. Ind. 2010).published
- Gonzales v. Lloyds TXB Bank, PLC, 532 F. Supp. 2d 1200 (C.D. Cal. 2006).published
- Rodriguez v. JP Morgan Chase & Co., 809 F. Supp. 2d 1291 (S.D. Cal. 2011).published
- Facciola v. Greenberg Traurig, LLP, 781 F. Supp. 2d 913 (D. Ariz. 2011).published
- Lee Myles Assocs. Corp. v. Paul Rubke Enter., Inc., 557 F. Supp. 2d 1134 (S.D. Cal. 2008).published
- In re Gupta Corp. Sec. Litig., 900 F. Supp. 1217 (N.D. Cal. 1994).published
- Genna v. Digit. Link Corp., 25 F. Supp. 2d 1032 (N.D. Cal. 1997).published
- In re MDC Holdings Sec. Litig., 754 F. Supp. 785 (S.D. Cal. 1990).published
- Fortaleza v. PNC Fin. Servs. Grp., Inc., 642 F. Supp. 2d 1012 (N.D. Cal. 2009).published
- Andrews Farms v. Calcot, Ltd., 527 F. Supp. 2d 1239 (E.D. Cal. 2007).published
- Delino v. Platinum Cmty. Bank, 628 F. Supp. 2d 1226 (S.D. Cal. 2009).published
- In re Van Wagoner Funds, Inc. Sec. Litig., 382 F. Supp. 2d 1173 (N.D. Cal. 2004).published
- Meadows v. Pac. Inland Sec. Corp., 36 F. Supp. 2d 1240 (S.D. Cal. 1999).published
- Fed. Trade Comm'n v. Lights of Am., Inc., 760 F. Supp. 2d 848 (C.D. Cal. 2010).published
- Sakugawa v. Countrywide Bank F.S.B., 769 F. Supp. 2d 1211 (D. Haw. 2011).published
- Isagawa v. Homestreet Bank, 769 F. Supp. 2d 1225 (D. Haw. 2011).published
- In re Toyota Motor Corp. Unintended Acceleration Mktg., Sales Practices, & Prods. Liab. Litig., 754 F. Supp. 2d 1145 (C.D. Cal. 2010).published
- Labuanan v. US Bank Nat'l Ass'n, 773 F. Supp. 2d 900 (D. Haw. 2011).published
- Rodenhurst v. Bank of Am., 773 F. Supp. 2d 886 (D. Haw. 2011).published
- Wenger v. Lumisys, Inc., 2 F. Supp. 2d 1231 (N.D. Cal. 1998).published
- Swingless Golf Club Corp. v. Taylor, 679 F. Supp. 2d 1060 (N.D. Cal. 2009).published
- Segal Co.(E. States), Inc. v. Amazon. Com, 280 F. Supp. 2d 1229 (W.D. Wash. 2003).published
- Competitive Tech. v. Fujitsu Ltd., 286 F. Supp. 2d 1118 (N.D. Cal. 2003).published
- Cnty. of Santa Clara v. Astra United States, Inc., 428 F. Supp. 2d 1029 (N.D. Cal. 2006).published
- Philips Med. Capital, LLC v. Med. Insights Diagnostics Centers, Inc., 471 F. Supp. 2d 1035 (N.D. Cal. 2007).published
- Smith v. Levine Leichtman Capital Partners, Inc., 723 F. Supp. 2d 1205 (N.D. Cal. 2010).published
- Linda Rubenstein v. Neiman Marcus Grp., 687 F. App'x 564 (9th Cir. 2017).unpublished
- Min Shin v. Umeken USA, Inc., No. 17-56767 (9th Cir. June 3, 2019).unpublished
- Kaplan v. Rose, 49 F.3d 1363 (9th Cir. 1994).published
- Marino v. Countrywide Fin. Corp., 26 F. Supp. 3d 955 (C.D. Cal. 2014).published
- United States ex rel. Modglin v. DJO Global Inc., 48 F. Supp. 3d 1362 (C.D. Cal. 2014).published
- Hawkins v. Medtronic, Inc., 62 F. Supp. 3d 1144 (E.D. Cal. 2014).published
- Opperman v. Path, Inc., 84 F. Supp. 3d 962 (N.D. Cal. 2015).published
- United States ex rel. Modglin v. DJO Global Inc., 114 F. Supp. 3d 993 (C.D. Cal. 2015).published
- Moss v. Infinity Ins. Co., 197 F. Supp. 3d 1191 (N.D. Cal. 2016).published
- In re Vizio, Inc., Consum. Privacy Litig., 238 F. Supp. 3d 1204 (C.D. Cal. 2017).published
- Body Jewelz, Inc. v. Valley Forge Ins. Co., 241 F. Supp. 3d 1084 (C.D. Cal. 2017).published
- Screen Capital Int'l Corp. v. Library Asset Acquisition Co. (In re R2D2, LLC), 510 B.R. 248 (C.D. Cal. 2014).published
- Screen Capital Int'l Corp. v. Library Asset Acquisition Co. (In re ThinkFilm, LLC), 510 B.R. 266 (C.D. Cal. 2014).published
- Calstar LLC v. First Union Nat'l Bank, 111 F. App'x 454 (9th Cir. 2004).unpublished
- Finkel ex rel. Est. of Atomica Design Grp., Inc. v. WeVeel LLC (In re Atomica Design Grp., Inc.), 556 B.R. 125 (Bankr. E.D. Pa. 2016).published
- Goodrich v. Union Planters Mortg., 196 F. App'x 586 (9th Cir. 2006).unpublished
- Tok Cha Kim v. CB Richard Ellis Hawaii, Inc., 288 F. App'x 312 (9th Cir. 2008).unpublished
- Sec. & Exch. Comm'n v. Ficeto, 839 F. Supp. 2d 1101 (C.D. Cal. 2011).published
- Reeves v. Recontrust Co., 846 F. Supp. 2d 1149 (D. Or. 2012).published
- Snyder v. HSBC Bank, USA, N.A., 873 F. Supp. 2d 1139 (D. Ariz. 2012).published
- Snyder v. HSBC Bank, USA, N.A., 913 F. Supp. 2d 755 (D. Ariz. 2012).published
- Monreal v. GMAC Mortg., LLC, 948 F. Supp. 2d 1069 (S.D. Cal. 2013).published
- Alimena v. Vericrest Fin., Inc., 964 F. Supp. 2d 1200 (E.D. Cal. 2013).published
- Alton v. Medtronic, Inc., 970 F. Supp. 2d 1069 (D. Or. 2013).published
- Bates v. Bankers Life & Cas. Co., 993 F. Supp. 2d 1318 (D. Or. 2014).published
- Williamson v. Allstate Ins., 204 F.R.D. 641 (D. Ariz. 2001).published
- In re Emulex Corp. Sec. Litig., 210 F.R.D. 714 (C.D. Cal. 2002).published
- New Enter. Ltd. v. SenesTech Inc., No. 3:18-cv-08033 (D. Ariz. Aug. 16, 2019).
- World Nutrition Inc. v. Advanced Enzymes USA, No. 2:19-cv-00265 (D. Ariz. Nov. 7, 2019).
- BBK Tobacco & Foods LLP v. Skunk Inc., No. 2:18-cv-02332, 2019 WL 6065782 (D. Ariz. Nov. 15, 2019).
- Castel S.A. v. Christopher A. Wilson, No. 2:19-cv-09336 (C.D. Cal. July 15, 2020).
- Avanguard Surgery Ctr., LLC v. Cigna Healthcare of California, Inc., No. 2:20-cv-03405 (C.D. Cal. Aug. 28, 2020).
- Olguin, Jr. v. FCA US LLC, No. 1:21-cv-01789 (E.D. Cal. Feb. 13, 2023).
- Vue v. Pentagon Fed. Credit Union, No. 1:21-cv-01063 (E.D. Cal. Sept. 29, 2023).
- Arnold v. Metlife Auto & Home Ins. Agency, Inc., No. 5:19-cv-03920 (N.D. Cal. Nov. 12, 2019).
- Sprint Spectrum Realty Co. v. Hartkopf, Jr., No. 3:19-cv-03099 (N.D. Cal. Nov. 22, 2019).
- Snarr v. Cento Fine Foods Inc., No. 4:19-cv-02627, 2019 WL 7050149 (N.D. Cal. Dec. 23, 2019).
- Arnold v. Metlife Auto & Home Ins. Agency, Inc., No. 5:19-cv-03920 (N.D. Cal. Mar. 5, 2020).
- Freedline v. O Organics LLC, 445 F. Supp. 3d 85 (N.D. Cal. 2020).published
- dotStrategy, Co. v. Twitter Inc, 476 F. Supp. 3d 978 (N.D. Cal. 2020).published
- Briana Leakas v. Monterey Bay Military Hous., LLC, No. 5:22-cv-01422 (N.D. Cal. June 15, 2022).
- Scripps Health v. nThrive Revenue Sys., LLC, No. 3:19-cv-00760 (S.D. Cal. Sept. 3, 2019).
- Levy v. FCI Lender Servs., Inc., No. 3:18-cv-02725 (S.D. Cal. Apr. 6, 2020).
- Miller v. Unified Sci., LLC, No. 3:19-cv-02004 (S.D. Cal. June 22, 2020).
- Naghavi v. Belter Health Measurement & Analysis Tech. Co., No. 3:20-cv-01723 (S.D. Cal. Oct. 20, 2020).
- Naghavi v. Belter Health Measurement & Analysis Tech. Co., No. 3:20-cv-01723 (S.D. Cal. Feb. 9, 2021).
- Frady v. New Peaks LLC., No. 3:23-cv-00158 (S.D. Cal. Mar. 8, 2024).
- MFY Funding LLC v. Ohia Opportunities, LLC, No. 1:21-cv-00261 (D. Haw. Aug. 31, 2021).
- Pacmar Tech. LLC v. Kao, No. 1:22-cv-00283 (D. Haw. Dec. 29, 2023).
- Grubb v. BNSF Ry. Co., No. 1:19-cv-00050 (D. Mont. Nov. 8, 2019).
- Bock, LLC v. Steelman, No. 2:19-cv-01065 (D. Nev. July 27, 2020).
- La Michoacana Plus Ice Cream Parlor Corp v. Windy City Paletas, No. 3:24-cv-00631 (S.D. Cal. June 4, 2024).
- Calcagno v. Kipling Apparel Corp., No. 3:23-cv-02247 (S.D. Cal. July 1, 2024).
- J.J v. Ashlynn Mktg. Grp., Inc., 749 F. Supp. 3d 1086 (S.D. Cal. 2024).published
- Heck v. Amazon.com Inc, No. 2:23-cv-01219 (W.D. Wash. Jan. 23, 2024).
- Heck v. Amazon.com Inc, No. 2:23-cv-01219 (W.D. Wash. Jan. 8, 2025).
- Keco Capital, LLC v. Wong, No. 1:24-cv-00313 (D. Haw. Feb. 24, 2025).
- Wilson Aerospace LLC v. Boeing Co., No. 2:23-cv-00847 (W.D. Wash. Mar. 14, 2025).
- Mark St. George v. Am. Tel. & Tel. Co. United States Cent. Intelligence Agency the Fed. Bureau of Investigation, 996 F.2d 1227 (9th Cir. 1993).unpublished
- Michael Travaglia v. Robert J. Johnston Otis R. Bowen Roger D. Foley, 42 F.3d 1402 (9th Cir. 1994).unpublished
- Decker v. Glenfed, Inc., 42 F.3d 1541 (9th Cir. 1994).published
- Sec. & Exch. Comm'n v. Trabulse, 526 F. Supp. 2d 1001 (N.D. Cal. 2007).published
- Dealertrack, Inc. v. Huber, 460 F. Supp. 2d 1177 (C.D. Cal. 2006).published
- In re Stratosphere Corp. Sec. Litig., 66 F. Supp. 2d 1182 (D. Nev. 1999).published
- Rooz v. Kimmel, 324 F. App'x 549 (9th Cir. 2008).unpublished
At page 541 Identifying defendant roles in fraud and RICO claims79 citing casesholding that in the context of a fraud suit involving multiple defendants, a plaintiff must, at a minimum, “identif[y] the role of [each] defendant^ in the alleged fraudulent scheme
- Villarroel v. Recology Inc., No. 4:24-cv-03266 (N.D. Cal. Aug. 8, 2025). (Allegations of fraud under 20 section 1962(c) ‘must identify the time, place, and manner of each fraud plus the role of each 21 defendant in each scheme.’)
- Escalante v. San Francisco Cmty. Coll. Dist., No. 4:18-cv-05562 (N.D. Cal. Sept. 30, 2019).“we 10 have applied the particularity requirements of rule 9(b) to rico claims.”
- Hennessy v. Infinity Ins. Co., 358 F. Supp. 3d 1074 (C.D. Cal. 2019).published“we have applied the particularity requirements of rule 9(b) to rico claims. rule 9(b) requires that the pleader state the time, place, and specific content of the false representations as well as the identities of the p…”
- Grant, No. 1:25-cv-00300 (D. Haw. May 19, 2026).And although the SAC alleges that “Defendants” controlled the “centralized billing system” and “Defendants” knew the invoices were inflated, id. at PageID.2093, a plaintiff alleging a fraud scheme may not “merely lump multiple defendants t…
- McCandlish, No. 3:25-cv-05553 (W.D. Wash. Nov. 13, 2025).Moreover, “[i]n the context of a fraud suit 5 involving multiple defendants, a plaintiff must, at a minimum, identif[y] the role of [each] 6 defendant[ ] in the alleged fraudulent scheme.” Swartz v. KPMG, LLP, 476 F.3d 756, 765 (9th 7 Cir.…
- Andresen v. Hunt, 951 F.2d 358 (9th Cir. 1991).unpublished
- Wegbreit v. Marley Orchards Corp., 793 F. Supp. 957 (E.D. Wash. 1991).published
- Lui Ciro, Inc. v. Ciro, Inc., 895 F. Supp. 1365 (D. Haw. 1995).published
- Gonzales v. Lloyds TXB Bank, PLC, 532 F. Supp. 2d 1200 (C.D. Cal. 2006).published
- United States ex rel. Modglin v. DJO Global Inc., 114 F. Supp. 3d 993 (C.D. Cal. 2015).published
Show 69 more citing cases
- Monreal v. GMAC Mortg., LLC, 948 F. Supp. 2d 1069 (S.D. Cal. 2013).published
- Levy v. FCI Lender Servs., Inc., No. 3:18-cv-02725 (S.D. Cal. Apr. 6, 2020).
- Lancaster Cmty. Hosp. v. Antelope Valley Hosp. Dist., Lancaster Cmty. Hosp., Plaintiff-Counter v. Antelope Valley Med. Grp., Inc., & Antelope Valley Hosp. Dist., Defendant-Counter-Claim-3rd Party-Plaintiff-Appellee, 940 F.2d 397 (9th Cir. 1991).published
- Archie L. Cole Carol J. Cole v. Robert L. Higgins Keith Farrar Margaret Milner Richardson Jack B. Cheskaty Nicoli Ferrell, 82 F.3d 422 (9th Cir. 1996).unpublished
- Yarian v. Old Repub. Title Co., 114 F.3d 1197 (9th Cir. 1997).unpublished
- Theodore C. Swartz v. KPMG LLP, 476 F.3d 756 (9th Cir. 2007).published
- James Odom v. Microsoft Corp., 486 F.3d 541 (9th Cir. 2007).published
- Saldate v. Wilshire Credit Corp., 686 F. Supp. 2d 1051 (E.D. Cal. 2010).published
- In re Sahlen & Assocs., Inc. Sec. Litig., 773 F. Supp. 342 (S.D. Fla. 1991).published
- Vega v. JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., 654 F. Supp. 2d 1104 (E.D. Cal. 2009).published
- Maganallez v. Hilltop Lending Corp., 505 F. Supp. 2d 594 (N.D. Cal. 2007).published
- Molloy v. Primus Auto. Fin. Servs., 247 B.R. 804 (C.D. Cal. 2000).published
- Wehlage v. EmpRes Healthcare Inc., 821 F. Supp. 2d 1122 (N.D. Cal. 2011).published
- Patriot Sci. Corp. v. Korodi, 504 F. Supp. 2d 952 (S.D. Cal. 2007).published
- In re Toyota Motor Corp., 785 F. Supp. 2d 883 (C.D. Cal. 2011).published
- Luminent Mortg. Capital, Inc. v. Merrill Lynch & Co., 652 F. Supp. 2d 576 (E.D. Pa. 2009).published
- Sebastian Int'l, Inc. v. Russolillo, 186 F. Supp. 2d 1055 (C.D. Cal. 2000).published
- Tate v. Pac. Gas & Elec. Co., 230 F. Supp. 2d 1072 (N.D. Cal. 2002).published
- Gilmore v. DJO Inc., 663 F. Supp. 2d 856 (D. Ariz. 2009).published
- Davenport v. Litton Loan Servicing, LP, 725 F. Supp. 2d 862 (N.D. Cal. 2010).published
- WMCV PHASE 3, LLC v. Shushok & McCoy, Inc., 750 F. Supp. 2d 1180 (D. Nev. 2010).published
- Capitol West Appraisals, LLC v. Countrywide Fin. Corp., 759 F. Supp. 2d 1267 (W.D. Wash. 2010).published
- Jordan v. Paul Fin., LLC, 745 F. Supp. 2d 1084 (N.D. Cal. 2010).published
- Flores v. Emerich & Fike, 416 F. Supp. 2d 885 (E.D. Cal. 2006).published
- Jung Ja Kim v. Quichocho, 708 F. Supp. 2d 1079 (D. N. Mar. I. 2010).published
- Saldate v. Wilshire Credit Corp., 711 F. Supp. 2d 1126 (E.D. Cal. 2010).published
- In re Larry Tevis & Nancy Tevis (B.A.P. 9th Cir. 2011).unpublished
- Bibiji Kaur Puri v. Sopurkh Kaur Khalsa, 674 F. App'x 679 (9th Cir. 2017).unpublished
- Weinreich v. Lube, 46 F. App'x 462 (9th Cir. 2002).unpublished
- Palmer v. Dep't of the Treasury, 53 F. App'x 455 (9th Cir. 2002).unpublished
- Walker v. Clark, 53 F. App'x 804 (9th Cir. 2002).unpublished
- Millan v. Clinton, 54 F. App'x 485 (9th Cir. 2003).unpublished
- Rupert v. Bond, 68 F. Supp. 3d 1142 (N.D. Cal. 2014).published
- Yamauchi v. Cotterman, 84 F. Supp. 3d 993 (N.D. Cal. 2015).published
- Dallas & Lashmi, Inc. v. 7-Eleven, Inc., 112 F. Supp. 3d 1048 (C.D. Cal. 2015).published
- UMG Recordings, Inc. v. Global Eagle Ent., Inc., 117 F. Supp. 3d 1092 (C.D. Cal. 2015).published
- King v. Nat'l Gen. Ins., 129 F. Supp. 3d 925 (N.D. Cal. 2015).published
- Griffin v. Green Tree Servicing, LLC, 166 F. Supp. 3d 1030 (C.D. Cal. 2015).published
- Bd. of Trs. ex rel. Galton v. Columbia Wire & Iron Works, Inc., 233 F. Supp. 3d 873 (D. Or. 2017).published
- In re Arizona Theranos, Inc., Litig., 256 F. Supp. 3d 1009 (D. Ariz. 2017).published
- Perry v. Laidlaw Transit Servs., Inc., 234 F. App'x 634 (9th Cir. 2007).unpublished
- Altman v. PNC Mortg., 850 F. Supp. 2d 1057 (E.D. Cal. 2012).published
- Transfresh Corp. v. Ganzerla & Assoc., Inc., 862 F. Supp. 2d 1009 (N.D. Cal. 2012).published
- In re WellPoint, Inc. Out-of-Network \UCR\" Rates Litig.", 865 F. Supp. 2d 1002 (C.D. Cal. 2011).published
- In re Wellpoint, Inc. Out-of-Network \UCR\" Rates Litig.", 903 F. Supp. 2d 880 (C.D. Cal. 2012).published
- Nucal Foods, Inc. v. Quality Egg LLC, 918 F. Supp. 2d 1023 (E.D. Cal. 2013).published
- Stitt v. Citibank, N.A., 942 F. Supp. 2d 944 (N.D. Cal. 2013).published
- Khan v. Citimortgage Inc., 975 F. Supp. 2d 1127 (E.D. Cal. 2013).published
- Herrejon v. Ocwen Loan Servicing, LLC, 980 F. Supp. 2d 1186 (E.D. Cal. 2013).published
- Cisneros v. Instant Capital Funding Grp., Inc., 263 F.R.D. 595 (E.D. Cal. 2009).published
- Croteau v. Nat'l Better Living Ass'n, 290 F.R.D. 521 (D. Mont. 2013).published
- Lancaster Cmty. Hosp. v. Antelope Valley Hosp. Dist., 940 F.2d 397 (9th Cir. 1991).published
- Munderloh v. Biegler GmbH, No. 3:21-cv-08004 (D. Ariz. Mar. 28, 2022).
- (PS) Harris v. New Rez, LLC, No. 2:21-cv-00636 (E.D. Cal. June 3, 2021).
- Buckley v. BMW of North Am., No. 2:19-cv-01255 (C.D. Cal. Dec. 2, 2019).
- Samaan v. Cenlar FSB, No. 2:20-cv-01887 (E.D. Cal. Mar. 23, 2022).
- Martifer-Silverado Fund I, LLC v. Zhongli Sci. & Tech. Grp. Co., No. 4:19-cv-04243 (N.D. Cal. Sept. 11, 2020).
- Snyder v. Does 1 through 50, Inclusive, No. 4:20-cv-08419 (N.D. Cal. Sept. 14, 2021).
- Mewawalla v. Middleman, 601 F. Supp. 3d 574 (N.D. Cal. 2022).published
- John Muldoon v. DePuy Orthopaedics, Inc., No. 3:15-cv-02723 (N.D. Cal. Apr. 30, 2024).
- Sivilli v. Wright Med. Tech., Inc., No. 3:18-cv-02162 (S.D. Cal. Aug. 13, 2019).
- Upper Deck Co. v. Flores, No. 3:21-cv-01182 (S.D. Cal. Mar. 8, 2022).
- United States v. Lucky Dragon Dev. Co., LTD, No. 1:09-cv-00022 (D. Guam Dec. 11, 2009).
- PlayUp, Inc. v. Mintas, No. 2:21-cv-02129 (D. Nev. Mar. 24, 2023).
- Ward v. White River Contracting LLC, No. 9:21-ap-09001 (Bankr. D. Mont. Sept. 10, 2021).
- Raya v. Barka, No. 3:19-cv-02295 (S.D. Cal. Mar. 28, 2022).
- Maddox v. Adler, No. 2:23-cv-00535 (D. Nev. Sept. 29, 2024).
- Bredberg v. Middaugh, No. 2:20-cv-00190 (W.D. Wash. July 10, 2020).
- Bredberg v. Middaugh, No. 2:20-cv-00190 (W.D. Wash. Jan. 27, 2021).
At page 536 Reviewing district court's dismissal of pendent state claims14 citing casesIt is plain from the statute that the word ‘offers’ means the same thing in both sections.
- Ryder Int'l Corp. v. First Am. Nat'l Bank, 943 F.2d 1521 (1st Cir. 1991).published (It is plain from the statute that the word ‘offers’ means the same thing in both sections.)
- Dawe v. Main Street Mgmt. Co., 738 F. Supp. 36 (D. Mass. 1990).published
- In re Infonet Servs. Corp. Sec. Litig., 310 F. Supp. 2d 1080 (C.D. Cal. 2003).published
- In re Stratosphere Corp. Sec. Litig., 1 F. Supp. 2d 1096 (D. Nev. 1998).published
- Shaw v. Digit. Equip. Corp., 82 F.3d 1194 (1st Cir. 1996).published
- Craftmatic Sec. Litig. v. Kraftsow, 890 F.2d 628 (3d Cir. 1989).published
- Montcalm Cnty. Bd. of Commissioners v. McDonald & Co. Sec., 833 F. Supp. 1225 (W.D. Mich. 1993).published
- Aizuss v. Commonwealth Equity Trust, 847 F. Supp. 1482 (E.D. Cal. 1993).published
- In re Gas Reclamation, Inc. Sec. Litig., 733 F. Supp. 713 (S.D.N.Y. 1990).published
- Ryder Int'l Corp. v. First Am. Nat'l Bank, 749 F. Supp. 1569 (N.D. Ala. 1990).published
Show 3 more citing cases
- Rubke v. Capitol Bancorp Ltd., 460 F. Supp. 2d 1124 (N.D. Cal. 2006).published
- Cox v. Eichler, 765 F. Supp. 601 (N.D. Cal. 1990).published
- In re Enron Corp. Sec., Derivative & ERISA Lit., 258 F. Supp. 2d 576 (S.D. Tex. 2003).published
At page 537 Scope of supplemental jurisdiction and securities fraud liability8 citing cases“but such denial is 'strictly' reviewed in light of the strong policy permitting amendment.”
- Charles Rocchio v. Eagle Mission, Inc., 988 F.2d 121 (9th Cir. 1993).unpublished
- John Rizzi v. City of Indian Wells, 384 F. App'x 661 (9th Cir. 2010).unpublished
- Andresen v. Hunt, 951 F.2d 358 (9th Cir. 1991).unpublished
- Rosalyn B. Haas v. Donald F. Sammis, 972 F.2d 1339 (9th Cir. 1992).unpublished
- Hansen v. Clark Cnty., 310 F. App'x 158 (9th Cir. 2009).unpublished
- Ritzer v. Gerovicap Pharm. Corp., 162 F.R.D. 642 (D. Nev. 1995).published
- Singh v. Singh, No. 3:21-cv-00094 (D. Nev. Jan. 17, 2023).
At page 535 Interpreting "offers" under sections 12(1) and 12(2)5 citing cases“In Pinter, the Court held that liability extends beyond those who pass title to a security; those who solicit a purchase may also face liability as “sellers” under section 12(1) of the Securities Act. 108 S.Ct. at 2075-82.”
- Charles Rocchio v. Eagle Mission, Inc., 988 F.2d 121 (9th Cir. 1993).unpublished
- Dawe v. Main Street Mgmt. Co., 738 F. Supp. 36 (D. Mass. 1990).published
- In re Infonet Servs. Corp. Sec. Litig., 310 F. Supp. 2d 1080 (C.D. Cal. 2003).published
- In re Stratosphere Corp. Sec. Litig., 1 F. Supp. 2d 1096 (D. Nev. 1998).published
- Carol Gamble Trust 86 v. E-Rex, Inc., 84 F. App'x 975 (9th Cir. 2004).unpublished
At page 539 Applying rule 9(b) to section 10(b) and RICO4 citing casesRule 9(b) ... applies to ... actions brought under section 10(b), ... rule 10b-5" and RICO
- Andresen v. Hunt, 951 F.2d 358 (9th Cir. 1991).unpublished
- Tiffany McCall v. Tom Bradley Herbert Boeckmann Stephen Yslas Barbara L. Schlei Marvin Braude Hal Bernson Ruth Galanter, 977 F.2d 590 (9th Cir. 1992).unpublished
- Nos. 93-55478, 93-55695, 62 F.3d 1493 (9th Cir. 1995).published
- Concha v. London, 62 F.3d 1493 (9th Cir. 1995).published
We 10 have applied the particularity requirements of rule 9(b) to RICO claims.
- Escalante v. San Francisco Cmty. Coll. Dist., No. 4:18-cv-05562 (N.D. Cal. Sept. 30, 2019).(We 10 have applied the particularity requirements of rule 9(b) to RICO claims.)
- Hennessy v. Infinity Ins. Co., 358 F. Supp. 3d 1074 (C.D. Cal. 2019).published(We have applied the particularity requirements of rule 9(b) to RICO claims. Rule 9(b) requires that the pleader state the time, place, and specific content of the false representations as well as the identities of the…)
Other citing cases
- United States v. Consum. Law Prot., LLC, No. 4:22-cv-01243 (E.D. Mo. Sept. 22, 2023).
v.
KAYPORT PACKAGE EXPRESS, INC. Celani, Celani & Associates, Inc. Tax and Financial Programming, Inc. Portfolio Programming, Inc. Miller, Balter & Company Bernard A. Minkow, a Law Corporation Scott Spolin, a Law Corporation F. George Celani, an Individual Aaron M. Binder Walter Uhrman G. Kirk Ellis
Defrauded investors who lost money in the purchase of unregistered securities sued the principals involved, as well as various accountants, lawyers and stockbrokers. The investors’ second amended complaint was dismissed as against the accountants, lawyers and stockbrokers; however, they obtained judgment against the principals for $854,722.85 plus attorney fees of $284,722.85. The principals are F. George Celani, Aaron M. Binder, Kayport Package Express, Inc., and Celani, Celani & Celani Associates, Inc. They do not appeal. The investors do. They contend the district court erred in dismissing their second amended complaint against the accountants, lawyers and stockbrokers, and in twice denying leave to file a third amended complaint. We affirm in part and remand in part.
BACKGROUND
The principals organized tax shelter limited partnerships. Limited partnership interests in these partnerships were securities within the meaning of the federal securities laws. The limited partnership interests were not registered, nor were they exempt from registration. In 1981 and 1982 sales of these limited partnership interests totaled $3.8 million. Not only did the principals fail to register the limited partnership interests, they engaged in fraudulent practices and made fraudulent representations in connection with sales of the interests. The investors bought the interests (the “securities”), lost money, and in September 1983 they filed their initial complaint. They alleged violations of section 12(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, 15 U.S.C. § 77l(2), and various pendent state causes of action. Before any responsive pleading was filed, they filed their first amended complaint.
Several of the accountant and lawyer defendants filed motions to dismiss the first amended complaint under Fed.R.Civ.P. 12(b)(6) (“rule 12(b)(6)”), asserting that plaintiffs had failed to state any claim[*534] on which relief could be granted and had failed to plead fraud with the specificity required by Fed.R.Civ.P. 9(b) (“rule 9(b)”). The district court granted these motions with leave to amend. The court’s order specified the deficiencies of the first amended complaint and outlined the manner in which the complaint should be amended. The court noted that the complaint was stated in general and conclusory terms, and was devoid of facts supporting the charges of fraud as to the moving defendants. Further, the court ruled that under the authority of Hokama v. E.F. Hutton and Co., 566 F.Supp. 636 (C.D.Cal.1983), and SEC v. Murphy, 626 F.2d 633 (9th Cir.1980), the investors had not alleged facts to show that the accountant and lawyer defendants had been a substantial factor in the securities transactions; therefore these defendants were not subject to liability under section 12(2) of the Act.
The investors filed their second amended complaint in February 1984. The accountant and lawyer defendants, now joined by the stockbroker defendants, brought motions to dismiss. On grounds similar to those previously stated, the district court granted essentially all of these motions. The court dismissed the section 12(2) federal claim against the accountant and lawyer defendants, and dismissed the pendent state claims against these defendants and against the stockbroker defendants.
In May 1984, the investors sought leave to file a third amended complaint. In their proposed third amended complaint accompanying their motion, the investors real-leged their section 12(2) claim, this time adding the stockbrokers as defendants. They also introduced new federal claims (1) under section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, 15 U.S.C. § 78j(b) (“section 10(b)”), and rule 10b-5 thereunder, 17 C.F.R. § 140.10b-5 (“rule 10b-5”); and (2) under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (“RICO”), 18 U.S.C. § 1962(c).[1] The court denied leave to file the third amended complaint. The court explained that the section 12(2) claim was subject to dismissal because it lacked allegations of any facts to show that any of the accountants, lawyers or stockbrokers had been in privity with any investor in any sales transaction or had been a substantial factor in bringing about any sales transaction. Further, the court determined that the claim based upon section 10(b) and rule 10b-5 was not pleaded with specificity as required by rule 9(b), and that the RICO claim lacked allegations of a racketeering enterprise injury.
Following the district court’s 1984 denial of leave to file the proposed third amended complaint, the investors’ case languished in the district court. In mid-1987, the district court, on its own motion, issued an order to show cause why the complaint should not be dismissed for lack of prosecution. On June 13, 1987, the investors filed a second motion for leave to file a third amended complaint.[2] On July 30, 1987, the district court denied this motion, and set a trial date for the case to proceed to trial under the surviving counts of the second amended complaint. The principal defendants defaulted, and the district court entered judgment against them. All counts of the second amended complaint against the accountant, lawyer and stockbroker defen[*535]dants were dismissed. This appeal followed.
DISCUSSION
A. Dismissal of the Section 12(2) Count in the Second Amended Complaint
The investors-appellants argue the district court erroneously dismissed their section 12(2) claim which they alleged against the accountant and lawyer defendants in the second amended complaint.[3] Section 12(2) of the Securities Act of 1933 imposes civil liability on a person who offers or sells securities by means of a prospectus or oral communication containing material misrepresentations or omissions. Jett v. Sunderman, 840 F.2d 1487, 1491 (9th Cir.1988). The investors contend the accountant and lawyer defendants were liable as “sellers” under section 12(2) because their actions were a substantial factor in bringing about the sales transactions.
This circuit has applied the “substantial factor test” to determine who may be liable as a “seller” under section 12(2), see, e.g., id. at 1491-92. Under this test, persons who did not pass title in a sales transaction, and thus were not in privity with the purchaser, may nonetheless be liable as a “seller” if their actions were both necessary to and a substantial factor in bringing about the sales transaction. Id. The district court in the present case applied this test. It concluded that the facts alleged in the second amended complaint failed to show that any of the accountant or lawyer defendants had been in privity with any investor or had been a substantial factor in bringing about any of the sales transactions. On this basis, the district court dismissed the investors' section 12(2) claims against the accountant and lawyer defendants.
After the district court’s judgment in this case, the Supreme Court defined the scope of the term “seller” under section 12(1) of the Securities Act of 1933. Pinter v. Dahl, 486 U.S. 622, 108 S.Ct. 2063, 100 L.Ed.2d 658 (1988). In Pinter, the Court held that liability extends beyond those who pass title to a security; those who solicit a purchase may also face liability as “sellers” under section 12(1) of the Securities Act. 108 S.Ct. at 2075-82. Although the Court did not define “solicit,” it explained that a person whose motivation is solely to benefit the buyer cannot be deemed to have solicited a purchase. Rather, liability extends only to those who solicit a purchase, “motivated at least in part by a desire to serve his own financial interests or those of the securities owner.” Id. at 2079.
The Court’s analysis in Pinter was based almost entirely on the language of section 12(1), and the definitions in section 2(3) of the Securities Act of 1933, 15 U.S.C. § 77b(3) (“section 2(3)”). Section 12(1) makes a person liable for the offer or sale of an illegally unregistered security, and section 2(3) defines offer to include a “solicitation of an offer to buy.” 15 U.S.C. § 77b(3). According to this language, the Court concluded that those who solicit a purchase are within the ambit of section 12(1). The Court also reasoned that Congress intended to impose liability on persons who solicit, because “solicitation of a buyer is perhaps the most critical stage of the selling transaction.” Id. at 2078.
The Pinter opinion distinguishes those who solicit from those who “merely assist in another’s solicitation efforts.” Id. at 2081 n. 27. The Court rejected the “substantial factor test” because it fails to distinguish between those who solicit and those whose participation is only collateral to the offer or sale. Id. at 2080. As to accountants and lawyers, the opinion suggests that the activities of these professionals must be directed toward producing a sale as opposed to merely providing professional services before section 12(1) liability may be imposed. Id. at 2081. The Court warns that an application of the broader[*536] substantial factor test “might expose securities professionals, such as accountants and lawyers, whose involvement is only the performance of their professional services, to § 12(1) strict liability for recission.” Id.
Appellants contend the substantial factor standard, rather than the Pinter standard, should apply to an action brought under section 12(2) against one not in privity with the purchaser of a security. First, appellants attempt to distinguish section 12(1) on the ground that it imposes strict liability, whereas section 12(2) allows a defendant to defend by showing that he or she could not have known of the misrepresentation or omission in the exercise of reasonable care. 15 U.S.C. 77l(2). Second, appellants seek to distinguish the subsections by pointing out that section 12(2) is grounded in tort law whereas section 12(1) is grounded in contract law. They argue that the related concepts of proximate cause and substantial factor are thus appropriate in actions under the tort-based section 12(2), even though more involvement is required by Pinter in actions under section 12(1).
Pinter interpreted only section 12(1), and expressly declined to interpret the scope of “seller” under section 12(2). Id. at 2076 n. 20. However, Pinter’s analysis of section 12(1) was based on the language of the statute. We begin our analysis of section 12(2) in the same way, and note that pertinent language which is present in and applicable to section 12(2) — “offers or sells” and “purchasing such security from him”— appears by identical language which is present in and applicable to section 12(1).[4] See Wilson v. Saintine Exploration and Drilling Corp., 872 F.2d 1124, 1126 (2d Cir.1989) (citing Capri v. Murphy, 856 F.2d 473, 478 (2d Cir.1988); Schillner v. H. Vaughan Clarke & Co., 134 F.2d 875, 878 (2d Cir.1943) (“Clearly the word [sell] has the same meaning in subdivision (2) as in subdivision (1) of section 12.”)). Moreover, the section 2(3) definition of “offers” applies with equal force to sections 12(1) and 12(2); and the word “offers” appears as part of parallel introductory language common to both sections 12(1) and 12(2). It seems plain from the statute that the word “offers” means the same thing in both sections.
We also note that while section 12(1) creates liability for the sale of unregistered securities, and section 12(2) creates liability for omissions or misrepresentations in a prospectus or oral communication, the purpose of both sections is to promote full and fair disclosure of information to potential buyers of securities. Pinter, 108 S.Ct. at 2078. The shared purpose of these sections strengthens our conclusion that Pinter ’s reasoning applies equally to both sections. See Abell v. Potomac Ins. Co., 858 F.2d 1104, 1113-15 (5th Cir.1988); Capri v. Murphy, 856 F.2d at 478. Accordingly, we hold that Pinter provides the standard for determining liability as a “seller” under section 12(2) as well as under section 12(1) of the Securities Act of 1933.
Under the Pinter standard, we now turn to a review of the specific allegations in the investors’ second amended complaint. First, they alleged the accountants drafted financial documents and allowed Celani and Binder to use these documents in selling the unregistered securities. Sec[*537]ond, they alleged that the lawyers, each of whom was retained by the principal defendants, drafted or approved the drafting of false or misleading prospectuses and financial documents, and directed the issuance of securities. Specifically, the investors alleged that (1) all the lawyers participated in meetings where the prospectuses and other promotional materials were drafted, (2) lawyers Ellis and Uhrman gave advice and counsel to the owner defendants in preparing prospectuses and other promotional materials, (3) lawyer Minkow drafted tax opinions and allowed these opinions to be included in various promotional materials, and (4) lawyer Spolin allowed his name to be used on promotional materials as general counsel to CCA.
Based on Pinter, we conclude that the investors failed to state a claim under section 12(2) against the accountant and lawyer defendants. Under the Pinter analysis, these professionals are only subject to section 12(2) liability if they solicited the purchases and were motivated, at least in part, by financial gain. Pinter, 108 S.Ct. at 2079. Here, the investors did not allege that the lawyers or accountants played any role at all in soliciting the purchases. Rather, the investors alleged that these defendants performed professional services in their respective capacities as accountants and lawyers. As the Court stated in Pinter, “[t]he buyer does not, in any meaningful sense, *purchas[e] the security from’ such a person.” Id. at 2081 (footnote omitted).
The district court did not err in dismissing the section 12(2) claim against the accountant and lawyer defendants.[5] Nor did the district court err in dismissing the pendent state claims against the accountant, lawyer and stockbroker defendants once the court had dismissed the federal claim on which federal jurisdiction was predicated. See United Mine Workers v. Gibbs, 383 U.S. 715, 725-26, 86 S.Ct. 1130, 1138-39, 16 L.Ed.2d 218 (1966); McGlinchy v. Shell Chemical Co., 845 F.2d 802, 811 n. 4 (9th Cir.1988).
B. Denial of Leave to File Third Amended Complaint
The third amended complaint which the investors sought to file in May 1984 real-leged claims under section 12(2) against the accountant and lawyer defendants, and for the first time added a claim under section 12(2) against the stockbroker defendants. This proposed complaint also added claims under section 10(b) and rule 10b-5 and RICO against all defendants. Leave to file this complaint was denied in June 1984. The investors again sought leave to file an almost identical third amended complaint by motion filed July 13,1987. Leave to file this proposed third amended complaint was denied by the district court by its order filed July 30, 1987.
“Denial of leave to amend after a responsive pleading has been filed is reviewed for abuse of discretion, ... but such denial is ‘strictly’ reviewed in light of the strong policy permitting amendment.” Thomas-[*538] Lazear v. Federal Bureau of Investigation, 851 F.2d 1202, 1206 (9th Cir.1988) (citations omitted). Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 15(a) provides that a trial court should grant leave to amend “freely when justice so requires.”
In deciding whether justice requires granting leave to amend, factors to be considered include the presence or absence of undue delay, bad faith, dilatory motive, repeated failure to cure deficiencies by previous amendments, undue prejudice to the opposing party and futility of the proposed amendment. Foman v. Davis, 371 U.S. 178, 182, 83 S.Ct. 227, 230, 9 L.Ed.2d 222 (1962); DCD Programs, Ltd. v. Leighton, 833 F.2d 183, 186 (9th Cir.1987). Leave to amend need not be given if a complaint, as amended, is subject to dismissal. Pan-Islamic Trade Corp. v. Exxon Corp., 632 F.2d 539, 546 (5th Cir.1980), cert. denied, 454 U.S. 927, 102 S.Ct. 427, 70 L.Ed.2d 236 (1981).
1. Section 12(2) Claim
a. Against the Accountants and Lawyers
We have concluded that under the Pinter standard, the investors’ section 12(2) claim against the accountant and lawyer defendants in the second amended complaint failed to state a claim. The section 12(2) claim against the accountant and lawyer defendants in the proposed third amended complaint was virtually identical to the previously dismissed section 12(2) claim. The investors had failed to cure the deficiency in the previously dismissed claim, and the district court did not err in denying leave to file the third amended complaint against the accountant and lawyer defendants by its order filed June 27, 1984, and by its order filed July 30, 1987.
b. Against the Stockbrokers
As previously stated, the stockbrokers were not named as defendants in the investors’ section 12(2) claim in the second amended complaint. It was in the proposed third amended complaint that the investors first attempted to state a section 12(2) claim against the stockbrokers. The investors alleged that the stockbroker defendants “were associated with [Celani, Ce-lani & Associates, Inc. (“CCA”) ], distributed sales promotion data which contained misrepresentations and omissions of fact as herein alleged, for CCA, sold units in the limited partnerships of [sic] some of the plaintiffs, recommended the CCA limited partnerships and were a substantial and motivating force in the sales to plaintiffs.”
The stockbroker defendants argue that these allegations are insufficient to state a claim under section 12(2) because the investors do not allege that the stockbrokers solicited any sales. They rely on In re Activision Securities Litigation, 621 F.Supp. 415 (D.C.Cal.1985), in which the court granted a motion to dismiss section 12(2) claims against Morgan Stanley, one of the co-lead underwriters in a public offering. This reliance is misplaced. The district court in Activision Securities dismissed the section 12(2) claim against Morgan Stanley because the plaintiffs had not alleged that any of them had “purchased securities from that firm and plaintiffs fail to allege that Morgan Stanley was a ‘substantial factor’ in the sale.” Id. at 426. Significantly, the district court in Activision Securities refused to dismiss the plaintiffs’ section 12(2) claims against any of the other underwriters, and held that a recovery could be made against underwriters who had sold securities to the plaintiffs, provided the other elements of the section 12(2) claims were established. Id. at 426.
In the present case, the charging paragraph of the investors’ section 12(2) claim against the stockbrokers alleges that the stockbrokers “sold units in the limited partnerships [to] some of the plaintiffs_” This allegation charges a violation of section 12(2) in the language of the statute as to some of the investors. See 15 U.S.C. § 77l(2) (“Any person who ... sells a security ... which includes an untrue statement of a material fact or omits a material fact ... shall be liable to the person purchasing such security from him_”). With regard to the investors in general, it is alleged that the stockbrokers “distribuí-[*539]ed sales promotion data,” “recommended the ... limited partnership[ ]” interests and were a “substantial and motivating force in the sales to” them. While this is not a model form of pleading a section 12(2) claim, it satisfies the short and plain statement rule of Rule 8(a)(2) which provides that a pleading which sets forth a claim for relief shall contain “a short and plain statement of the claim showing that the pleader is entitled to relief....” Cf. Harelson v. Miller Financial Corp., 854 F.2d 1141, 1142 (9th Cir.), cert. denied, — U.S. -, 109 S.Ct. 274, 102 L.Ed.2d 263 (1988) (salesman did not personally seek out customers but used a company brochure and “presented the basic facts necessary to effectuate a sale”; solicitation under section 12(2) found to exist).
We conclude that viewing the allegations against the stockbrokers in their totality, the investors stated a section 12(2) claim against them in the proposed third amended complaint. But this does not end our inquiry of whether the district court erred in denying leave to file the third amended complaint.
In its order denying leave to file the third amended complaint, the district court noted that “undue delay, bad faith or dilatory motive” were also factors to consider. But the district court did not base its ruling on any of these grounds. The stockbrokers argue that notwithstanding this omission, undue delay is demonstrated by the fact that the initial complaint was filed in September 1983, and the motion to file the third amended complaint was not filed until May 1984, a lapse of eight months. The stockbrokers urge that we affirm the district court because of this “undue delay.”
Based upon the record before us, we cannot make our own independent determination whether under the circumstances the delay was “undue,” or whether the motion to file the third amended complaint was made “in bad faith” or with a “dilatory motive.” These are matters which the district court should consider and decide in the first instance in the exercise of its discretion. It has not done so, and a remand to the district court for this purpose is appropriate.[6]
In July 1987, the investors again sought leave to file a third amended complaint to set forth a section 12(2) claim against the stockbroker defendants. The district court denied this motion for the same reasons it had denied the earlier motion in June 1984, and because of the intervening three years of inactivity. As to the section 12(2) claim against the stockbroker defendants, however, neither the investors’ attempt to reassert this claim in 1987, or the court’s second rejection of it, alters our conclusion that the district court should not have rejected the section 12(2) claim on the basis that it was insufficiently pleaded. The three years of inactivity from 1984 to 1987 also has no effect on what we have concluded was the erroneous ruling by the district court in 1984.
2. Section 10(b) and Rule 10b-5 Claims
The third amended complaint also introduced a section 10(b) and rule 10b-5 claim against all defendants.[7] In denying leave to file the proposed third amended complaint, the district court determined that these claims were subject to dismissal be[*540]cause the fraud alleged was not pleaded with the particularity required by rule 9(b).
Appellants assert they have met the requirements of rule 9(b) by pleading the misrepresentations, rather than the defendants’ conduct, with particularity. Appellants further contend that because this case involves corporate fraud, allegations based on information and belief are satisfactory and fraudulent conduct need not be attributed to individual defendants. Finally, the appellants argue it would be substantially unfair to strictly apply the particularity requirement in this case because the matters pleaded are within the knowledge of the defendants and not known to the plaintiffs.
Rule 9(b), which applies to securities actions brought under section 10(b) and rule 10b-5, requires particularity in pleading the circumstances of the alleged fraud. Wool v. Tandem Computers, Inc., 818 F.2d 1433, 1439 (9th Cir.1987) (citing Semegen v. Weidner, 780 F.2d 727, 734-35 (9th Cir.1985)). A pleading is sufficient under rule 9(b) if it identifies the circumstances constituting fraud so that a defendant can prepare an adequate answer from the allegations. Id. While statements of the time, place and nature of the alleged fraudulent activities are sufficient, mere conclusory allegations of fraud are insufficient. Id.
In the present case, the section 10(b) and rule 10b-5 claims in the investors’ proposed third amended complaint do not allege the time, place or nature of the defendants’ allegedly fraudulent conduct. The complaint bases its allegations on information and belief, and fails to attribute particular fraudulent statements or acts to the individual defendants.
We recently reviewed the particularity requirements in allegations of corporate fraud. Wool, 818 F.2d 1433. In Wool, plaintiffs who had purchased Tandem stock brought an action under, inter alia, section 10(b) and rule 10b-5. Their complaint alleged that defendants had fraudulently inflated the market price of Tandem securities before the plaintiffs’ bought them. The defendants challenged the allegations because they were based on information and belief, and failed to specify the conduct of each individual defendant. Id. at 1439-40.
In Wool, we explained that allegations of fraud based on information and belief usually do not satisfy the particularity requirements under rule 9(b). Id. at 1439. However, the rule may be relaxed as to matters within the opposing party’s knowledge. For example, in cases of corporate fraud, plaintiffs will not have personal knowledge of all of the underlying facts. Id. “In such cases, the particularity requirement may be satisfied if the allegations are accompanied by a statement of the facts on which the belief is founded.” Id. (citations omitted). Instances of corporate fraud may also make it difficult to attribute particular fraudulent conduct to each defendant as an individual. To overcome such difficulties in cases of corporate fraud, the allegations should include the misrepresentations themselves with particularity and, where possible, the roles of the individual defendants in the misrepresentations. See id. at 1440.
In the present case, the prospectuses are not specifically identified as to content, date or author. The complaint does not specify which plaintiff received which prospectus, or which plaintiff(s) made purchases through the stockbroker defendants, or which securities the investors allegedly purchased. The investors’ allegations do not adequately state the facts on which their belief is founded, and thus fail to satisfy even the relaxed standard enunciated in Wool. See Blake v. Dierdorff, 856 F.2d 1365, 1369 (9th Cir.1988). Moreover, unlike the situation in Wool, the accountant, lawyer and stockbroker defendants in this case are not a narrowly defined group of corporate officers or directors who are alleged to have had day-to-day control over the fraudulent entities or their finances. See Wool, 818 F.2d at 1440.
We conclude that the district court did not err when, in June 1984, it denied leave to amend the complaint to add the section 10(b) and rule 10b-5 claims; these claims were not pleaded with sufficient specificity and were subject to dismissal. See Pan-Is[*541] lamic Trade Corp., 632 F.2d at 546. We further conclude that the district court did not err when on July 30, 1987 it again denied leave to file the proposed third amended complaint, which complaint contained the same section 10(b) and rule 10b-5 claims. After three years, the investors had failed to cure the deficiencies of the earlier proposed pleading.
3. RICO Claim
The investors’ proposed third amended complaint alleges violations of 18 U.S.C. § 1962(c) through a pattern of racketeering activity within the definition of 18 U.S.C. §§ 1961(1)(A) and (D), and § 1961(5). These allegations are directed at all defendants. Liability under 18 U.S.C. § 1962(c) requires the conduct of an enterprise through a pattern of racketeering activity. Sun Savings and Loan Ass’n v. Dierdorff, 825 F.2d 187, 191 (9th Cir.1987) (citing Sedima, S.P.R.L. v. Imrex Co., 473 U.S. 479, 496, 105 S.Ct. 3275, 3285, 87 L.Ed.2d 346 (1985)). “Racketeering activity” is any act indictable under several provisions of Title 18 of the United States Code, see 18 U.S.C. § 1961.
The district court dismissed the investors’ RICO claim in June 1984, solely on the ground that there was no allegation of a racketeering enterprise injury. The district court’s reason for dismissal, failure to allege a racketeering enterprise injury, is no longer valid. In Sedima, S.P.R.L. v. Imrex Co., 473 U.S. 479, 105 S.Ct. 3275, 87 L.Ed.2d 346 (1985), the Supreme Court expressly considered whether an allegation of a racketeering enterprise injury is necessary to sustain a RICO claim, and concluded “[t]here is no room in the statutory language for an additional, amorphous ‘racketeering injury’ requirement.” 473 U.S. at 495, 105 S.Ct. at 3284. The district court’s dismissal of the RICO claim on the “racketeering injury” ground, however, does not dispose of the issue on appeal. We will affirm a district court’s correct legal result, even if reached for an invalid reason. Bruce v. United States, 759 F.2d 755, 758 (9th Cir.1985); Alcaraz v. Block, 746 F.2d 593, 602 (9th Cir.1984).
We have applied the particularity requirements of rule 9(b) to RICO claims. Alan Neuman Prods., Inc. v. Albright, 862 F.2d 1388, 1392-93 (quoting Schreiber Distrib. v. Serv-Well Furniture Co., 806 F.2d 1393, 1400 (9th Cir.1986)). Rule 9(b) requires that the pleader state the time, place, and specific content of the false representations as well as the identities of the parties to the misrepresentation. Id. 862 F.2d at 1401.
The RICO claim in the investors’ proposed third amended complaint does not attribute specific conduct to individual defendants. The claim also does not specify either the time or the place of the alleged wrongful conduct other than to say: “Commencing on or about October, 1982, and through and including March, 1983, within the Central District of California, and elsewhere, the defendants, and each of them, devised, intended to devise and carried out, a scheme to defraud, ... ”. This is not sufficient. “Allegations of fraud under section 1962(c) “must identify the time, place, and manner of each fraud plus the role of each defendant in each scheme.” Schreiber Distrib., 806 F.2d at 1401 (quoting Lewis v. Sporck, 612 F.Supp. 1316, 1325 (N.D.Cal.1985)).
Our discussion of the deficiencies in the general allegations of the investors’ section 10(b) and rule 10b-5 claim applies to the investors’ RICO claim as well. Nearly all of the complaint’s general RICO allegations refer to the conduct of Celani, Binder, and entities CCA and Kayport. These defendants are not parties in this appeal. The few general allegations of conduct which are apportioned to a particular defendant are aimed at the stockbroker defendants. These particular charges, however, fail to specify the time, place, and content of the alleged mail and securities fraud, the predicate acts on which the RICO claim is based. Furthermore, none of the RICO allegations identifies the role of the individual defendants in the alleged fraudulent scheme.
These deficiencies in the RICO allegations were the same in 1987 as they were in 1984, the two times the investors sought to[*542] add RICO claims to their complaint. The complaint which was proffered in 1984 was deficient as to the RICO claims and so was the complaint proffered in 1987.
We conclude that the district court did not err when, in June 1984, it denied leave to file the third amended complaint to set forth the RICO claims; these claims were defective, and would have been subject to dismissal. See Pan-Islamic Trade Corp., 632 F.2d at 546. We also conclude that the district court did not err when on July 30, 1987 it again denied leave to file the third amended complaint containing the RICO claims. Three years had passed, and the defects in the RICO claims had not been cured.
CONCLUSION
We affirm the district court’s dismissal of the section 12(2) claims in the second amended complaint as against the accountant and lawyer defendants, and in dismissing the pendent state claims against the accountant, lawyer and stockbroker defendants. We affirm the district court’s denial of leave to file the third amended complaint against the accountant and lawyer defendants. We remand to the district court the question of whether, notwithstanding that the investors’ proposed third amended complaint stated a claim under section 12(2) against the stockbroker defendants, leave to file the third amended complaint should be denied anyway because of undue delay, bad faith or dilatory motive in presenting the motion for leave to file the third amended complaint in May 1984.
AFFIRMED in part and REMANDED in part for further proceedings consistent with this opinion.
At approximately the same time the investors sought leave to file their third amended complaint, the defendants F. George Celani and Aaron M. Binder were indicted for criminal RICO violations, mail fraud, conspiracy and other crimes. Both were convicted in 1985 in the United States District Court for the Central District of Illinois. They were ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $404,000 and sentenced to fifteen and ten years imprisonment, respectively. United States v. Binder, 794 F.2d 1195 (7th Cir.), cert. denied, 479 U.S. 869, 107 S.Ct. 234, 93 L.Ed.2d 159 (1986).
The third amended complaint proposed in 1987 was essentially the same as that previously proposed in 1984. The only significant difference in the two versions of the complaint is not relevant to this appeal. The first version alleged a claim under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, 15 U.S.C. § 80b-6, against the stockbroker defendants. The investors did not reallege this claim in the second version of their proposed third amended complaint. See Transamerica Mortgage Advisors, Inc. v. Lewis, 444 U.S. 11, 100 S.Ct. 242, 62 L.Ed.2d 146 (1979) (no private right of action for damages under 15 U.S.C. § 80b-6).
The second amended complaint alleged only state causes of action against the stockbroker defendants. It did not contain a section 12(2) claim against these defendants. The section 12(2) claim against the stockbroker defendants was introduced for the first time in the proposed third amended complaint. We discuss the investors’ section 12(2) claim against the stockbroker defendants in following part B.
Section 12 provides in its entirety:
Any person who—
(1) offers or sells a security in violation of section 77e of this title, or
(2) offers or sells a security (whether or not exempted by the provisions of section 77c of this title, other than paragraph (2) of subsection (a) of said section), by the use of any means or instruments of transportation or communication in interstate commerce or of the mails, by means of a prospectus or oral communication, which includes an untrue statement of material fact or omits to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading (the purchaser not knowing of such untruth or omission), and who shall not sustain the burden of proof that he did not know, and in the exercise of reasonable care could not have known, of such untruth or omission,
shall be liable to the person purchasing such security from him, who may sue either at law or in equity in any court of competent jurisdiction, to recover the consideration paid for such security with interest thereon, less the amount of any income received thereon, upon the tender of such security, or for damages if he no longer owns the security (emphasis added).
This conclusion is supported by numerous decisions, both before and after Pinter, considering the section 12(2) liability of securities professionals. Courts generally agree that merely performing professional services, without actively soliciting a purchase of the underlying securities, does not give rise to liability under section 12. See, e.g., Wilson v. Saintine Exploration and Drilling Corp., 872 F.2d at 1127 (even attorneys who knowingly prepared a false offering statement must not be subjected to the draconian provisions of section 12 absent compensation from an actual seller for persuading clients to make a particular investment); Barker v. Henderson, Franklin, Starnes & Holt, 797 F.2d 490, 494 (7th Cir.1986) (law firm and accounting firm which rendered services in connection with the sale of securities cannot be section 12(2) sellers); In re Worlds of Wonder Securities Litigation, 694 F.Supp. 1427, 1435 (N.D.Cal.1988) (motion to dismiss section 12(2) claim against accountants granted — allegations that accountants finalized registration statement and prospectus and caused registration statement to become effective not sufficient to show accountants were "sellers” within the meaning of section 12); In re Rexplore, Inc. Securities Litigation, 685 F.Supp. 1132 (N.D.Cal.1988) (participating in the review, approval or drafting of a private placement memorandum not sufficient by itself to establish seller status); Ambling v. Blackstone Cattle Co., 658 F.Supp. 1459, 1466 (N.D.Ill.1987) (distinguishing between "mere drafting of a misleading prospectus” and "actively soliciting a prospective purchaser”); Ahern v. Gaussoin, 611 F.Supp. 1465, 1485 (D.Or.1985) (mere performance of legal services does not give rise to liability under section 12).
The district court also stated in its order denying leave to file the third amended complaint that "leave to amend is not appropriate” because of the investors’ "repeated failure to cure the deficiencies in the complaint, and the existence of the same defects in the proposed third amended complaint." As we have noted, however, the plaintiffs had not previously attempted to state a section 12(2) claim against the stockbrokers. Therefore, this comment must have been directed at the investors’ previous attempts to state section 12(2) claims against the accountants and lawyers.
Rule 10b-5, promulgated under section 10(b) of the Securities Act of 1934, 15 U.S.C. § 78j(b), makes it unlawful for any person: (a) to employ any device, scheme or artifice to defraud, (b) to make any untrue statement of a material fact or to omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, or (c) to engage in any act, practice or deceit upon any person, in connection with the purchase or sale of any security. 17 C.F.R. § 240.10b-5.