Howard A. Levin, Plaintiff-appellee, v. Regent Int'l; J. Patrick Mcguire, Defendants-appellants, 9 F.3d 1552 (9th Cir. 1993)

MEMORANDUM^** 

J. Patrick McGuire, pro se, and Regent International (collectively "appellants") appeal the district court's order imposing sanctions on them pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 11 for filing a frivolous and improper removal petition. We have jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1291. We review for abuse of discretion, Lemos v. Fencl, 828 F.2d 616, 618 (9th Cir. 1987), and affirm.

Appellants contend that the district court erred by imposing sanctions on J. Patrick McGuire because the attorney who represented Regent International is mentally incompetent. This contention lacks merit.

First, J. Patrick McGuire appeared pro se below. The district court imposed sanctions on him as a result of his own conduct and not the conduct of the attorney. He cannot now avoid sanctions by claiming the attorney was incompetent. Second, Regent International is bound by its choice of attorney and the attorney's actions. See Jacobsen v. Filler, 790 F.2d 1362, 1364 (9th Cir. 1986) (" [t]rial courts generally do not intervene to save litigants from their choice of counsel"). If Regent International is entitled to a remedy as a result of faulty representation, that remedy is more properly sought in another forum.

The district court ordered appellants to pay $2,000.00 in sanctions. This was a substantial reduction from the amount requested by appellee and was not an abuse of discretion.¹ 

AFFIRMED.