U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, 2017

Susan Polk v. Jeffery Beard

Susan Polk v. Jeffery Beard
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit · Decided July 3, 2017 · Paez, Bea, Murguia
692 F. App'x 938

Susan Polk v. Jeffery Beard

Opinion

MEMORANDUM **

California state prisoner Susan Mae Polk appeals pro se from the district court’s judgment' dismissing for failure to comply with a court order her 42 U.S.C. § 1983 action alleging constitutional violations. We have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291. We review for an abuse of discretion. McHenry v. Renne, 84 F.3d 1172, 1177 (9th Cir. 1996). We affirm.

The district court did not abuse its discretion by dismissing Polk’s action because, after the magistrate judge identified the deficiencies in her prior complaints and provided two opportunities to amend, Polk’s second amended complaint did not comply with the court’s order directing her to file a complaint in compliance with Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 8(a). See id. (affirming dismissal under Rule 8 of plaintiffs complaint because it failed to set forth simple, concise and direct aver-ments); see also Hearns v. San Bernardino Police Dep’t., 530 F.3d 1124, 1129 (9th Cir. 2008) (in deciding whether a district court abused its discretion by dismissing under Rule 41(b), “we must necessarily consider the legal question of whether the district court correctly dismissed without prejudice the original complaint on Rule 8 grounds”). Contrary to Polk’s contentions, the magistrate judge considered each of the relevant factors, including the availability of less drastic sanctions, before recommending that the action be dismissed with prejudice. See Ferdik v. Bonzelet, 963 F.2d 1258, 1260-61 (9th Cir. 1992) (setting forth factors to consider before dismissing an action for failure to comply with a court order).

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).

Polk’s motion to substitute appellee Beard is denied, because Polk sued Beard in his official and individual capacities. See Fed. R. App. P. 43(c)(2).

AFFIRMED.

**

This disposition is not appropriate for publication and is not precedent except as provided by Ninth Circuit Rule 36-3.

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