Court Opinion

ID: 617906
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2011-11-29 01:01:17+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:50:42.584494
License: Public Domain

FILED
                             NOT FOR PUBLICATION                              NOV 28 2011

                                                                        MOLLY C. DWYER, CLERK
                     UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS                      U .S. C O U R T OF APPE ALS

                             FOR THE NINTH CIRCUIT

PETER NAVARRO, Jr.,                              No. 10-16508

               Plaintiff - Appellant,            D.C. No. 2:08-cv-02562-JAM-
                                                 EFB
  v.

STATE OF CALIFORNIA; et al.,                     MEMORANDUM *

               Defendants - Appellees.

                    Appeal from the United States District Court
                        for the Eastern District of California
                     John A. Mendez, District Judge, Presiding

                           Submitted November 21, 2011 **

Before:        TASHIMA, BERZON, and TALLMAN, Circuit Judges.

       Peter Navarro, Jr. appeals pro se from the district court’s judgment

dismissing his 42 U.S.C. § 1983 action alleging federal and state law violations in

connection with the prosecution of a sex offense charge against him. We have

jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291. We review de novo. Cholla Ready Mix, Inc.

          *
             This disposition is not appropriate for publication and is not precedent
except as provided by 9th Cir. R. 36-3.
          **
             The panel unanimously concludes this case is suitable for decision
without oral argument. See Fed. R. App. P. 34(a)(2).
v. Civish, 382 F.3d 969, 973 (9th Cir. 2004) (failure to state a claim and Eleventh

Amendment immunity); Olsen v. Idaho State Bd. of Med., 363 F.3d 916, 922 (9th

Cir. 2004) (prosecutorial immunity). We may affirm on any ground supported by

the record. Tahoe-Sierra Pres. Council, Inc. v. Tahoe Reg’l Planning Agency, 322

F.3d 1064, 1076-77 (9th Cir. 2003). We affirm in part, vacate in part, and remand.

      The magistrate judge properly recommended, and the district court properly

entered, dismissal with prejudice as to the constitutional claims barred by absolute

immunity. See Flint v. Dennison, 488 F.3d 816, 824-25 (9th Cir. 2007) (discussing

Eleventh Amendment immunity); Broam v. Bogan, 320 F.3d 1023, 1028 (9th Cir.

2003) (addressing the scope of prosecutorial immunity). As to the remaining

claims for which the magistrate judge recommended granting leave to amend,

dismissal was proper because Navarro failed to comply with Fed. R. Civ. P. 8 and

to link specific defendants with specific constitutional violations. See Bell Atl.

Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 555 (2007) (Rule 8 requires a short and plain

statement of a claim that gives the defendant fair notice of the claim and its basis);

Leer v. Murphy, 844 F.2d 628, 633 (9th Cir. 1988) (discussing causation element

of a § 1983 claim). Accordingly, after Navarro declined to amend his complaint,

the district court properly dismissed the constitutional claims with prejudice.

      Dismissal of Navarro’s claims against the Vacaville Police Department was

                                           2                                      10-16508
proper because Navarro failed to allege facts showing that a department policy or

custom, or the department’s deliberately indifferent failure to train its officers

properly, resulted in injury to him. See Munger v. City of Glasgow Police Dep’t,

227 F.3d 1082, 1087 (9th Cir. 2000) (discussing grounds for § 1983 liability

against a police department).

         To the extent that Navarro asserts a § 1983 claim against Solano County

based on his registration as a sex offender, dismissal was proper because Navarro

failed to allege facts showing that a county custom or policy caused him injury.

See Miranda v. Clark County, Nev., 319 F.3d 465, 469-70 (9th Cir. 2003) (en

banc).

         Dismissal of Navarro’s § 1983 claim based on his parole conditions was

proper because the Board of Prison Terms and its chairman in his official capacity

were entitled to Eleventh Amendment immunity, see Flint, 488 F.3d at 824-25, and

Navarro failed to allege facts showing that the chairman in his individual capacity

caused Navarro’s alleged constitutional injury, see Leer, 844 F.2d at 633.

         However, Navarro also asserted state law claims against several defendants

based on his registration as a sex offender. Because the district court failed to

address these claims, we vacate the judgment in part and remand so that the court

may decide whether to exercise supplemental jurisdiction over these claims. Cf.

                                           3                                     10-16508
Gini v. Las Vegas Metro. Police Dep’t, 40 F.3d 1041, 1046 (9th Cir. 1994)

(requiring clarification on remand that dismissal based on declining supplemental

jurisdiction was without prejudice).

      We do not consider arguments and allegations raised for the first time on

appeal. See Padgett v. Wright, 587 F.3d 983, 985 n.2 (9th Cir. 2009) (per curiam).

      Navarro’s remaining contentions are unpersuasive.

      The parties shall bear their own costs on appeal.

      AFFIRMED in part, VACATED in part, and REMANDED.

                                         4                                   10-16508