Case Name: Paul MESSER; Dorothy Calabrese, M.D., Plaintiffs-Appellants, v. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES; et al, Defendants-Appellees
Court: United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 2011-07-27
Citations: 446 F. App'x 50
Docket Number: No. 10-56353
Parties: Paul MESSER; Dorothy Calabrese, M.D., Plaintiffs-Appellants, v. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES; et al, Defendants-Appellees.
Judges: Before: SCHROEDER, ALARCÓN, and LEAVY, Circuit Judges.
Reporter: West's Federal Appendix
Volume: 446
Pages: 50–50

Head Matter:
Paul MESSER; Dorothy Calabrese, M.D., Plaintiffs-Appellants, v. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES; et al, Defendants-Appellees.
No. 10-56353.
United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit.
Submitted July 12, 2011.
Filed July 27, 2011.
Paul Messer, Irvine, CA, pro se.
Dorothy Calabrese, M.D., San Clemente, CA, pro se.
Before: SCHROEDER, ALARCÓN, and LEAVY, Circuit Judges.
Kathleen Sebelius is substituted for her predecessor, Michael O. Leavitt, as Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services under Fed. R.App. P. 43(c)(2).
The panel unanimously concludes this case is suitable for decision without oral argument. See Fed. R.App. P. 34(a)(2).

Opinion:
MEMORANDUM
Dorothy Calabrese, M.D., and her patient Paul Messer, appeal pro se from the district court's order dismissing their action alleging that Managing Administrative Law Judge Koldeway rendered a decision when she was not the judge who held the administrative hearing, in violation of plaintiffs' rights under the U.S. Constitution and federal law. We have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291. We review de novo, Uhm v. Humana, Inc., 620 F.3d 1134, 1139 (9th Cir.2010), and we affirm.
The district court properly dismissed the action because plaintiffs' allegations concerning Judge Koldeway's decision failed to state a claim. See 5 U.S.C. § 554(d) ("The employee who presides at the reception of evidence . shall make the recommended decision or initial decision . unless he becomes unavailable to the agency."). Contrary to plaintiffs' contention, the outcome did not turn on credibility determinations.
Plaintiffs' 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.