Opinion
No. 17-16081
03-23-2018
RAJA MITTAL, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. COUNTY OF CLARK; et al., Defendants-Appellees.
NOT FOR PUBLICATION
D.C. No. 2:15-cv-01037-KJD-VCF MEMORANDUM Appeal from the United States District Court for the District of Nevada
Kent J. Dawson, District Judge, Presiding Before: LEAVY, M. SMITH, and CHRISTEN, Circuit Judges.
This disposition is not appropriate for publication and is not precedent except as provided by Ninth Circuit Rule 36-3.
Raja Mittal appeals pro se from the district court's judgment dismissing his action alleging federal and state law claims arising from state custody proceedings. We have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291. We review de novo a district court's dismissal under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6). Naffe v. Frey, 789 F.3d 1030, 1035 (9th Cir. 2015). We affirm.
The district court properly dismissed Mittal's federal claims against defendants County of Clark, Clark County Department of Family Services, Clark County Child Protective Services, and the County employees for lack of subject matter jurisdiction under the Rooker-Feldman doctrine because the claims constitute a forbidden "de facto appeal" of a prior state court judgment, or are "inextricably intertwined" with that judgment. See Noel v. Hall, 341 F.3d 1148, 1163-65 (9th Cir. 2003) (discussing application of Rooker-Feldman doctrine); see also Henrichs v. Valley View Dev., 474 F.3d 609, 616 (9th Cir. 2007) (Rooker-Feldman doctrine barred plaintiff's claim because alleged legal injuries arose from the "state court's purportedly erroneous judgment" and the relief sought "would require the district court to determine that the state court's decision was wrong and thus void").
The district court properly dismissed Mittal's federal claims against defendants Nyarko, Downey, Harder, Jarman, and Draskovich because Mittal failed to allege facts sufficient to state plausible claims for relief. See Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678 (2009) (plaintiff must plead sufficient factual matter to allow the court to draw the reasonable inference that the defendant is liable for the alleged misconduct); see also West v. Atkins, 487 U.S. 42, 48 (1988) (to state a claim under § 1983 a plaintiff must show that the alleged deprivation was committed by a person acting under color of state law); Trerice v. Pedersen, 769 F.2d 1398, 1403 (9th Cir. 1985) (a § 1986 claim must be premised on a valid § 1985 claim); Bretz v. Kelman, 773 F.2d 1026, 1028-30 (9th Cir. 1985) (en banc) (elements of a § 1985 claim).
The district court properly dismissed Mittal's state law claims for negligence per se and medical malpractice against Nyarko, Downey, Harder, and Jarman because Mittal failed to allege facts sufficient to state plausible claims for relief. See Sanchez ex rel. Sanchez v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., 221 P.3d 1276, 1283 (Nev. 2009) (setting forth elements of negligence per se claim under Nevada law); Washoe Med. Ctr. v. Second Judicial Dist. Court of State of Nev. ex rel. County of Washoe, 148 P.3d 790, 794 (Nev. 2006) ("[A] medical malpractice complaint filed without a supporting medical expert affidavit is void ab initio, meaning it is of no force and effect." (citation omitted)).
The district court did not abuse its discretion by declining to exercise supplemental jurisdiction over Mittal's state law claims against Draskovich. See Notrica v. Bd. of Sup'rs of Cty. of San Diego, 925 F.2d 1211, 1213-14 (9th Cir. 1991) (setting forth standard of review and explaining that judicial economy, convenience, fairness, and comity should be considered in deciding whether to hear pendant state law claims).
We do not consider matters not specifically and distinctly raised and argued in the opening brief, including the district court's dismissal of Mittal's claims against defendant Katowich, 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).
AFFIRMED.