Case ID: f-appx_695/html/0256-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Michael E. CLARK, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. Adrian GUERRERO; Brian Williams, Defendants-Appellees.
    No. 16-15769
    United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit.
    Submitted August 9, 2017 
    
    Filed August 14, 2017
    Michael E. Clark, Pro Se
    Adrian Guerrero, Pro Se
    Before: SCHROEDER, TASHIMA, and M. SMITH, Circuit Judges.
    
      
       The panel unanimously concludes this case is suitable for decision without oral argument. See Fed. R. App. P. 34(a)(2). Clark's request for oral argument, set forth in his opening brief, is denied.
    
   MEMORANDUM

Michael E. Clark, a former Nevada state prisoner, appeals pro se from the district court’s judgment awarding him $1.00 in nominal damages in his 42 U.S.C. § 1983 action alleging excessive force. We have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291. We review de novo legal questions, such as entitlement to damages, Trs. of the Constr. Indus. & Laborers Health & Welfare Tr. v. Hartford Fire Ins. Co., 578 F.3d 1126, 1129 (9th Cir. 2009), and for clear error the district court’s computation of damages, NewGen, LLC v. Safe Cig, LLC, 840 F.3d 606, 617 (9th Cir. 2016). We vacate and remand.

The district court entered a default judgment against defendant Guerrero, but awarded only $1.00 in nominal damages. The district court concluded that the only evidence that Clark submitted in support of his damages claims was an affidavit, which did not include specific allegations of the injuries or the cost incurred in treatment. However, in support of his motion for a default judgment, Clark did provide some medical documentation in support of injuries. Moreover, the district court did not conduct an evidentiary hearing. See Davis v. Fendler, 650 F.2d 1154, 1161 (9th Cir. 1981) (“It is well settled that a default judgment for money may not be entered without a hearing unless the amount claimed is a liquidated sum or capable of mathematical calculation.”). Because the record is unclear as to whether Clark may be entitled to additional damages, including punitive damages, and in light of Clark’s pro se status, we vacate and remand for further consideration of Clark’s damages. See Waters v. Young, 100 F.3d 1437, 1441 (9th Cir. 1996) (“[TJhis court has long sought to ensure that pro se litigants do not unwittingly fall victim to procedural requirements that they may, with some assistance from the court, be able to satisfy.”).

Although Clark contends the district court abused its discretion in granting the motion to withdraw, Clark has not shown that he is legally aggrieved by this order and therefore has no standing to raise this issue.

We reject as meritless Clark’s contention that the district court erred in denying his discovery motions, and his allegations of judicial misconduct and bias.

The parties shall bear their own costs on appeal.

VACATED and REMANDED. 
      
       This disposition is not appropriate for publication and is not precedent except as provided by Ninth Circuit Rule 36-3.