Case ID: f-appx_577/html/0645-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Zdravko KOTZEV, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. Charles L. RYAN, in his individual and official capacities as Director of the Arizona Department of Corrections; et al., Defendants-Appellees.
    No. 12-16167.
    United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit.
    Submitted May 13, 2014.
    
    Filed May 29, 2014.
    Zdravko Kotzev, Peoria, AZ, pro se.
    Katherine E. Watanabe, Arizona Attorney General’s Office, Phoenix, AZ, for Defendants-Appellees.
    Before: CLIFTON, BEA, and WATFORD, Circuit Judges.
    
      
       The panel unanimously concludes this case is suitable for decision without oral argument. See Fed. R.App. P. 34(a)(2).
    
   MEMORANDUM

Former Arizona state prisoner Zdravko Kotzev appeals pro se from the district court’s judgment dismissing his 42 U.S.C. § 1983 action alleging constitutional violations in connection with his incarceration and community supervision. We have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291. We review de novo summary judgment and the district court’s dismissal under Fed. R.Civ.P. 12(b)(6). Doe v. Abbott Labs., 571 F.3d 930, 933 (9th Cir.2009). We affirm.

The district court properly dismissed Kotzev’s claim for forcible spousal separation against defendants Ryan and Butcher because Kotzev failed to allege facts sufficient to link defendants to any constitutional violation. See Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678, 129 S.Ct. 1937, 173 L.Ed.2d 868 (2009) (to survive a motion to dismiss, a plaintiff must allege facts that “allow [ ] the court to draw the reasonable inference that the defendant is liable for the misconduct alleged”).

The district court properly dismissed Kotzev’s intentional infliction of emotional distress claim because Ryan and Butcher are immune under Arizona law. See Ariz. Rev.Stat. § 31-201.01(F) (“Any and all causes of action which may arise out of tort caused by the director, prison officers or employees of the department, within the scope of their legal duty, shall run only against the state.”).

The district court properly dismissed Kotzev’s § 1983 claims for damages against Ryan acting in his official capacity because Ryan is entitled to Eleventh Amendment immunity. See Flint v. Dennison, 488 F.3d 816, 824-25 (9th Cir.2007) (Eleventh Amendment bars § 1983 damages claims against state officials in their official capacity).

The district court properly granted summary judgment on Kotzev’s claims against Ryan for injunctive and declaratory relief because those claims were moot. See Alvarez v. Hill, 667 F.3d 1061, 1063-65 (9th Cir.2012) (injunctive and declaratory relief became moot upon inmate’s release from custody because he was no longer subject to the conditions or policies he challenged).

The district court did not abuse its discretion by denying Kotzev’s motion to amend his complaint and the motion to extend deadlines in the scheduling order because Kotzev failed to show good cause. See Fed.R.Civ.P. 16(b)(4) (requiring “good cause” to modify a scheduling order); Johnson v. Mammoth Recreations, Inc., 975 F.2d 604, 608-09 (9th Cir.1992) (setting forth standard of review and explaining that the “good cause” standard of Rule 16 controls after a scheduling order is established, and that the inquiry turns primarily on the party’s diligence).

The district court did not abuse its discretion by denying Kotzev’s motion for recusal. See United States v. Johnson, 610 F.3d 1138, 1147 (9th Cir.2010) (setting forth standard of review and stating that judicial rulings alone rarely constitute a valid basis for a recusal motion).

Kotzev’s contentions concerning the denial of his motion for default are unpersuasive and unsupported by the record.

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