Vincent Marrero v. County of Clark
Vincent Marrero v. County of Clark
Opinion
MEMORANDUM ***
Marrero appeals the judgment of the district court denying him relief on his *560 discrimination claims. We affirm.
I
The district court correctly granted summary judgment against Marrero on his § 1983 claims. Marrero’s equal protection claims fail because he did not tender any evidence of disparate treatment in adoptive and foster care proceedings. As the district court noted, Clark County approved his adoption request. Foster children were placed in his care and not removed. His foster parent license was never revoked. On appeal, Marrero neither challenges these facts nor states how he has suffered an equal protection violation cognizable under § 1983.
The district court also properly granted summary judgment on Marrero’s due process claims. Marrero has neither alleged nor established that he was deprived of “notice and an opportunity to be heard.” Wisconsin v. Constantineau, 400 U.S. 433, 437, 91 S.Ct. 507, 27 L.Ed.2d 515 (1971).
Because Marrero did not tender triable issues of material fact as to whether the governmental defendants violated his constitutional or statutory rights, the district court properly granted summary judgment on his § 1983 claims. West v. Atkins, 487 U.S. 42, 48, 108 S.Ct. 2250, 101 L.Ed.2d 40 (1988).
II
The district court properly granted summary judgment on Marrero’s claims under the Multiethnic Placement Act, which prohibits the consideration of the race of the prospective adoptive or foster parent or the race of the child in making placement decisions. 42 U.S.C. § 1996b(1). Marrero cites no record evidence establishing a triable issue of material fact as to whether the defendants delayed or denied his adoption request on account of race.
III
The district court also properly dismissed Marrero’s claims against Jones. Marrero’s complaint alleged only that Jones made racist remarks. Even assuming the truth of the allegation, his § 1983 claim fails because “[vjerbal harassment or abuse ... is not sufficient to state a constitutional deprivation under 42 U.S.C. § 1983.’ ” Oltarzewski v. Ruggiero, 830 F.2d 136, 139 (9th Cir. 1987) (alteration in the original) (quoting Collins v. Cundy, 603 F.2d 825, 827 (10th Cir. 1979)) (collecting cases).
His § 1981 claim fails because Marrero’s complaint does not allege “intentional discrimination on account of race.” Evans v. McKay, 869 F.2d 1341, 1344 (9th Cir. 1989). The only discrimination Marrero alleges regards adoptive and foster care placements, and under Nevada law Jones, as a state employee, had no authority to influence such placements. Nev.Rev.Stat. § 432B.030 (delegating responsibilities for adoptive and foster care placements to county authorities in counties, such as Clark County, with populations in excess of 100,000). Marrero’s MEPA claims against Jones fail for the same reason.
IV
For these reasons, we conclude that the district court properly entered judgment against Marrero. Given our decision, we need not — and do not — reach any other issue argued by the parties.
AFFIRMED.
This disposition is not appropriate for publication and is not precedent except as provided by 9 th Cir. R. 36-3.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.