Opinion ID: 667825
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Dismissal of Prior Civil Rights Action

Text: 3 We are required to raise issues concerning our jurisdiction sua sponte. McGuckin v. Smith, 974 F.2d 1050, 1052 (9th Cir.1992). A notice of appeal must be filed within thirty days of the date of entry of the judgment or order appealed from. Fed.R.App.P. 4(a)(1). The procedures set forth in Rule 4 are strictly construed with no exceptions for pro se litigants. See Malone v. Avenenti, 850 F.2d 569, 572 (9th Cir.1988). 4 Prior to commencing this federal action, Crawford had attempted to file another federal action raising similar claims. On June 14, 1989, Crawford filed his first federal civil rights action with the district court (Case No. 89-0883-G(M)). On January 8, 1991, the district court dismissed these claims without prejudice and ordered Crawford to exhaust state remedies before filing a new federal action. Crawford now contends that the district court erred in dismissing this first action because the district court had a duty to retain jurisdiction. Crawford did not appeal the dismissal of this first action. 5 A dismissal of claims without prejudice is deemed final for purposes of appeal unless the court intends to permit the amendment of the complaint in the same action. McGuckin, 974 at 1052-53. Here, the district court indicated that it intended to end the litigation so that Crawford could pursue his state remedies. See id. Crawford did not file a notice of appeal from the dismissal of the claims in his first federal action. See Fed.R.App.P. 4(a)(1). Accordingly, we lack jurisdiction to consider the dismissal of Crawford's first federal action. See id.