Opinion ID: 3038991
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Allen’s Remaining Claims

Text: [8] Although the issue is not free from doubt, we conclude that the district court erred in its dismissal of the remainder of the complaint on the ground that it presented no federal claims against Mayhew and the unnamed defendants. Allen’s pro se pleadings are unquestionably difficult to decipher, but they must be liberally construed. See Ortez v. Washington County, 88 F.3d 804, 807 (9th Cir. 1996). In his response to the defendants’ motion to dismiss, Allen explained that he was asserting against all defendants a claim under 42 U.S.C. § 1985. He also accused all defendants except Mayhew of violating 42 U.S.C. § 1981. Giving Allen the benefit of doubt, we conclude that he should be given the opportunity to amend his complaint to assert these two claims intelligibly. We express no opinion, of course, on the procedural or substantive merits of the claims beyond permitting Allen to assert them. [9] If Allen proceeds in district court with these federal claims, the district court may have supplemental jurisdiction ALLEN v. GOLD COUNTRY CASINO 17125 over Allen’s state-law claims under 28 U.S.C. § 1367. We therefore vacate the dismissal of Allen’s state-law claims for lack of supplemental jurisdiction, so that the district court may consider anew its jurisdiction over those claims. [10] We affirm the dismissal of Allen’s claims under 18 U.S.C. §§ 241 and 242 because these are criminal statutes that do not give rise to civil liability. See Aldabe v. Aldabe, 616 F.2d 1089, 1092 (9th Cir. 1980). Similarly, we affirm the dismissal of his claim under 28 U.S.C. § 1343 because this jurisdictional statute does not provide a cause of action. See Ellis v. Cassidy, 625 F.2d 227, 229 (9th Cir. 1980). The district court also properly dismissed Allen’s claim under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 because there is no allegation that any defendant was acting under the color of state law. See West v. Atkins, 487 U.S. 42, 45-46 (1988).