Case Name: Arthur J. WHEELER, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. TERRIBLE HERBST INC., Defendant-Appellee
Court: United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 2012-11-19
Citations: 498 F. App'x 707
Docket Number: No. 11-16486
Parties: Arthur J. WHEELER, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. TERRIBLE HERBST INC., Defendant-Appellee.
Judges: Before: CANBY, TROTT, and W. FLETCHER, Circuit Judges.
Reporter: West's Federal Appendix
Volume: 498
Pages: 707–709

Head Matter:
Arthur J. WHEELER, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. TERRIBLE HERBST INC., Defendant-Appellee.
No. 11-16486.
United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit.
Submitted Nov. 13, 2012.
Filed Nov. 19, 2012.
Richard Segerblom, Las Vegas, NV, for Plaintiff-Appellant.
Roger L. Grandgenett, II, Patrick H. Hicks, Esquire, Montgomery Y. Paek, Littler Mendelson, PC, Las Vegas, NV, for Defendant-Appellee.
Before: CANBY, TROTT, and W. FLETCHER, Circuit Judges.
The panel unanimously concludes this case is suitable for decision without oral argument. See Fed. R.App. P. 34(a)(2).

Opinion:
MEMORANDUM
Arthur J. Wheeler appeals pro se from the district court's judgment dismissing his Title VII action alleging racial discrimination and retaliation. We have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291. We review de novo a district court's dismissal for failure to state a claim. Knievel v. ESPN, 393 F.3d 1068, 1072 (9th Ci.2005). We review for an abuse of discretion a dismissal for failure to comply with a court order or a local rule. Pagtalunan v. Galaza, 291 F.3d 639, 640 (9th Cir.2002); Ghazali v. Moran, 46 F.3d 52, 53 (9th Cir.1995) (per curiam). We reverse and remand.
To the extent that the district court dismissed Wheeler's action for failure to state a claim, the district court abused its discretion by dismissing Wheeler's action with prejudice and without an opportunity to amend because Wheeler was proceeding pro se, he indicated that he had recently obtained counsel, and it is not clear that his complaint could not be cured by amendment. See Flowers v. First Hawaiian Bank, 295 F.3d 966, 976 (9th Cir.2002) (noting standard of review and that this court is "very cautious in approving a district court's decision to deny pro se litigants leave to amend").
To the extent that the district court dismissed Wheeler's action with prejudice for failure to comply with a court order or a local rule, the district court abused its discretion because the court failed to consider less drastic alternatives. See Pagtalunan, 291 F.3d at 642-43 (listing factors to consider before dismissing for failure to comply with a court order and explaining that warning of dismissal for failure to comply prior to disobedience of the court order did not constitute consideration of less drastic alternatives); Ferdik v. Bonzelet, 963 F.2d 1258, 1260 (9th Cir.1992) ("[Dismissal is a harsh penalty and, therefore, it should only be imposed in extreme circumstances."). Moreover, Wheeler's violations, such as filing his pro se opposition to the motion to dismiss five days late, did not prejudice defendant or impede the court's ability to manage its docket. See Ghazal% 46 F.3d at 53 (listing factors to consider before dismissing for failure to comply with a local rule); Malone v. U.S. Postal Serv., 833 F.2d 128, 131 (9th Cir.1987) ("In determining whether a defendant has been prejudiced, we examine whether the plaintiffs actions impair the defendant's ability to go to trial or threaten to interfere with the rightful decision of the case.").
Accordingly, we reverse and remand for further proceedings consistent with our disposition.
REVERSED and REMANDED.
This disposition is not appropriate for publication and is not precedent except as provided by 9 th Cir. R. 36-3.