Case ID: f-appx_376/html/0788-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

James A. MORGAN, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. CLARK COUNTY CREDIT UNION; et al., Defendants-Appellees.
    No. 08-17605.
    United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit.
    Submitted April 5, 2010.
    
    Filed April 20, 2010.
    James A. Morgan, Las Vegas, NV, pro se.
    Richard C. Gordon, Esquire, Alexander L. Fugazzi, Esquire, Snell & Wilmer LLP, Las Vegas, NV, Constantinos George Pan-agopoulos, Eckert Seamans Cherin & Mel-lott, LLC, Washington, DC, Ariel Edward Stern, Esquire, Ballard Spahr, LLP, Yolanda T. Givens, Deputy District, Las Vegas, NV, Andrew B. Downs, Bullivant Houser Bailey PC, San Francisco, CA, for Defendants-Appellees.
    Before: RYMER, McKEOWN, and PAEZ, Circuit Judges.
    
      
       The panel unanimously concludes this case is suitable for decision without oral argument. See Fed. R. App. P. 34(a)(2).
    
   MEMORANDUM

James A. Morgan appeals pro se from the district court’s judgment dismissing his action arising from the alleged denial of disability benefits under an insurance policy. We have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291. We review de novo, Rhoades v. Avon Prods., Inc., 504 F.3d 1151, 1156 (9th Cir.2007), and we affirm.

The district court properly dismissed for lack of subject-matter jurisdiction because there was no diversity jurisdiction, Morgan pleaded only state law claims, and Morgan’s 42 U.S.C. § 1983 claim was not col-orable. See Arbaugh v. Y & H Corp., 546 U.S. 500, 513 n. 10, 126 S.Ct. 1235, 163 L.Ed.2d 1097 (2006) (“A claim invoking federal-question jurisdiction ... may be dismissed for want of subject-matter jurisdiction if it is not colorable, i.e., if it is ‘immaterial and made solely for the purpose of obtaining jurisdiction’ or is ‘wholly insubstantial and frivolous.’ ” (citation omitted)).

Because the district court lacked subject-matter jurisdiction, it properly dismissed the state law claims. See Scott v. Pasadena Unified Sch. Dist., 306 F.3d 646, 664 (9th Cir.2002) (explaining that a federal court has no discretion to retain supplemental jurisdiction over state law claims if the court dismisses the federal claims for lack of subject-matter jurisdiction).

We construe the judgment as a dismissal without prejudice. See Kelly v. Fleetwood Enters., Inc., 377 F.3d 1034, 1036 (9th Cir.2004).

In light of our April 29, 2009 order denying appointment of counsel and stating that no motions for reconsideration shall be filed or entertained, we do not consider Morgan’s challenge to the denial of appointment of counsel.

Morgan’s remaining contentions are unpersuasive.

AFFIRMED. 
      
       This disposition is not appropriate for publication and is not precedent except as provided by 9th Cir. R. 36-3.