Nikki Pooshs v. Phillip Morris Usa, Inc.

FILED NOT FOR PUBLICATION JUL 14 2011 MOLLY C. DWYER, CLERK UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS U .S. C O U R T OF APPE ALS FOR THE NINTH CIRCUIT NIKKI POOSHS, No. 08-16338 Plaintiff - Appellant, D.C. No. 3:04-cv-01221-PJH v. PHILLIP MORRIS USA, INC.; PHILIP MEMORANDUM * MORRIS COMPANIES, INC.; R.J. REYNOLDS TOBACCO HOLDINGS, INC.; R.J. REYNOLDS TOBACCO COMPANY; NABISCO GROUP HOLDINGS CORP.; NABISCO INC.; BROWN AND WILLIAMSON TOBACCO CORPORATION, individually and as successor by merger to The American Tobacco Company and its predecessors in interest; BRITISH AMERICAN TOBACCO COMPANY PLC; LORILLARD TOBACCO COMPANY; LORILLARD INC.; LIGGETT GROUP INCORPORATED; LIGGETT & MYERS INC.; LIGGETT AND MYERS TOBACCO COMPANY; VECTOR GROUP LTD.; HILL & KNOWLTON INC; TOBACCO INSTITUTE, INC.; COUNCIL FOR TOBACCO RESEARCH USA * This disposition is not appropriate for publication and is not precedent except as provided by 9th Cir. R. 36-3. INCORPORATED; DNA PLANT TECHNOLOGY, CORPORATION; SAFEWAY INC., Defendants - Appellees. Appeal from the United States District Court Northern District of California Phyllis J. Hamilton, District Judge, Presiding Argued and Submitted December 12, 2008 San Francisco, California Before: B. FLETCHER and McKEOWN, Circuit Judges, and HART, District Judge.** Following certification of certain questions by this court, the California Supreme Court clarified the state law limitations period applicable to plaintiff’s claims. Based on that decision, the judgment of the district court is vacated and the case is remanded for further proceedings consistent with the decision. See Pooshs v. Phillip Morris USA, Inc., 51 Cal. 4 th 788, 250 P. 3d 181 (2011). Also, the pending related mandamus petition is moot and will be dismissed . Because of plaintiff’s illness, the district court is urged to resolve the remaining issues in this case as soon as possible. ** The Honorable William T. Hart, Senior District Judge for the Northern District of Illinois, sitting by designation. -2- 08-16338 VACATED AND REMANDED. -3- 08-16338