Case ID: f-appx_348/html/0294-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Mark DURBIN, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. Judge DUBUQUE, individually and in her official capacity as Judge of the Superior Court of the State of Washington for King County; et al., Defendants-Appellees.
    No. 08-35811.
    United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit.
    Submitted Sept. 14, 2009.
    
    Filed Oct. 13, 2009.
    Mark Durbin, Seattle, WA, pro se.
    John C. Dittman, Assistant Attorney General, Office of the Washington Attorney General, Olympia, WA, Defendants-Appellees.
    
      Before: SILVERMAN, RAWLINSON, and CLIFTON, Circuit Judges.
    
      
       The panel unanimously finds this case suitable for decision without oral argument. See Fed. R.App. P. 34(a)(2).
    
   MEMORANDUM

Mark Durbin appeals pro se from the district court’s judgment dismissing his 42 U.S.C. § 1983 action seeking relief from state court decisions. We have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291. We review de novo. Noel v. Hall, 341 F.3d 1148, 1154 (9th Cir.2003). We affirm in part, vacate in part, and remand.

The district court properly concluded that the Rooker-Feldman doctrine barred Durbin’s action because the action is a “forbidden de facto appeal” of state court decisions, and raises constitutional claims that are “inextricably intertwined” with those prior state court decisions. See id. at 1158; Bianchi v. Rylaarsdam, 334 F.3d 895, 900 n. 4 (9th Cir.2003) (explaining that constitutional claims are barred under the Rooker-Feldman doctrine if the claims are “inextricably intertwined” with a state court decision, even if they do not directly challenge the decision).

Durbin’s remaining contentions are unavailing.

A dismissal under the Rooker-Feldman doctrine is a dismissal for lack of subject matter jurisdiction, Kougasian v. TMSL, Inc., 359 F.3d 1136, 1139 (9th Cir.2004), and thus should be without prejudice, Kelly v. Fleetwood Enters., Inc., 377 F.3d 1034, 1036 (9th Cir.2004). Accordingly, we vacate the judgment dismissing the action with prejudice, and remand for entry of judgment dismissing the action without prejudice.

The parties shall bear their own costs on appeal.

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