Court Opinion

ID: 4671137
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2021-03-24 20:01:06.87407+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:02:24.262813
License: Public Domain

NOT FOR PUBLICATION                           FILED
                    UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS                       MAR 24 2021
                                                                      MOLLY C. DWYER, CLERK
                                                                       U.S. COURT OF APPEALS
                           FOR THE NINTH CIRCUIT

JEREMIAH WILLIAM BALIK,                         No. 20-15324

                Plaintiff-Appellant,            D.C. No. 2:18-cv-02174-RFB-EJY

 v.
                                                MEMORANDUM*
CITY OF TORRANCE; et al.,

                Defendants-Appellees.

                   Appeal from the United States District Court
                            for the District of Nevada
                 Richard F. Boulware II, District Judge, Presiding

                            Submitted March 16, 2021**

Before:      GRABER, R. NELSON, and HUNSAKER, Circuit Judges.

      Jeremiah William Balik appeals pro se from the district court’s judgment

dismissing his action alleging various constitutional violations. We have

jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291. We review de novo a dismissal under Federal

Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6). Hebbe v. Pliler, 627 F.3d 338, 341 (9th Cir.

      *
             This disposition is not appropriate for publication and is not precedent
except as provided by Ninth Circuit Rule 36-3.
      **
             The panel unanimously concludes this case is suitable for decision
without oral argument. See Fed. R. App. P. 34(a)(2).
2010). We may affirm on any basis supported by the record. Thompson v. Paul,

547 F.3d 1055, 1058-59 (9th Cir. 2008). We affirm.

      Dismissal of Balik’s action was proper because Balik’s claims are too

frivolous and unsubstantial to invoke subject matter jurisdiction. See Hagans v.

Lavine, 415 U.S. 528, 536 (1974) (“Over the years this Court has repeatedly held

that the federal courts are without power to entertain claims otherwise within their

jurisdiction if they are so attenuated and unsubstantial as to be absolutely devoid of

merit . . . .”); Franklin v. Murphy, 745 F.2d 1221, 1227 n.6 (9th Cir. 1984) (“A

paid complaint that is ‘obviously frivolous’ does not confer federal subject matter

jurisdiction[.]”), abrogated on other grounds by Neitzke v. Williams, 490 U.S. 319

(1989).

      The district court did not abuse its discretion by declaring Balik a vexatious

litigant and entering a pre-filing review order against him because all of the

requirements for entering a pre-filing review order were met. See Ringgold-

Lockhart v. County of Los Angeles, 761 F.3d 1057, 1062 (9th Cir. 2014) (setting

forth requirements for a pre-filing review order).

      We reject as unpersuasive Balik’s contentions that the district court erred in

denying his pending motions as moot, including his motions to enter default and

default judgment, that the district court erred in denying his application to proceed

in forma pauperis, and that Balik was entitled to a hearing before the district court

                                          2                                      20-15324
declared him a vexatious litigant.

      We do not consider matters not specifically and distinctly raised and argued

in the opening brief, or arguments and allegations raised for the first time on

appeal. See Padgett v. Wright, 587 F.3d 983, 985 n.2 (9th Cir. 2009). We do not

consider documents and facts not presented to the district court. See United States

v. Elias, 921 F.2d 870, 874 (9th Cir. 1990).

      All pending motions and requests are denied.

      AFFIRMED.

                                          3                                       20-15324