Shayla Duke v. Clyde Saiki ( 2021 )


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  •                            NOT FOR PUBLICATION                           FILED
    NOV 17 2021
    UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
    MOLLY C. DWYER, CLERK
    U.S. COURT OF APPEALS
    FOR THE NINTH CIRCUIT
    SHAYLA DUKE; DAVID DUKE,                        No. 20-35155
    Plaintiffs-Appellants,          D.C. No. 6:17-cv-00770-MK
    v.
    MEMORANDUM*
    CLYDE SAIKI, in his personal and official
    capacity as former Director of Department
    of Human Services, State of Oregon; et al.,
    Defendants-Appellees,
    and
    DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES;
    et al.,
    Defendants.
    Appeal from the United States District Court
    for the District of Oregon
    Ann L. Aiken, District Judge, Presiding
    Submitted November 8, 2021**
    Before:      CANBY, TASHIMA, and MILLER, Circuit Judges.
    *
    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).
    Shayla Duke appeals pro se from the district court’s judgment dismissing the
    Dukes’ action alleging federal claims arising out of the reduction or termination of
    government benefits. We have jurisdiction under 
    28 U.S.C. § 1291
    . We review
    for an abuse of discretion a dismissal for failure to comply with a court order.
    Pagtalunan v. Galaza, 
    291 F.3d 639
    , 640 (9th Cir. 2002). We affirm.
    The district court did not abuse its discretion by dismissing the Dukes’
    action after the Dukes failed to file a fourth amended complaint as ordered or
    inform the court of an affirmative choice not to amend. See 
    id. at 640, 642-43
    (discussing factors to consider in determining whether to dismiss under Fed. R.
    Civ. P. 41(b) for failure to comply with a court order; this court may review the
    record independently to determine if the district court abused its discretion); see
    also Edwards v. Marin Park, Inc., 
    356 F.3d 1058
    , 1065 (9th Cir. 2004) (“The
    failure of the plaintiff eventually to respond to the court’s ultimatum—either by
    amending the complaint or by indicating to the court that it will not do so—is
    properly met with the sanction of a Rule 41(b) dismissal.”).
    In light of our disposition, we do not consider Shayla Duke’s challenges to
    the district court’s interlocutory orders. See Al-Torki v. Kaempen, 
    78 F.3d 1381
    ,
    1386 (9th Cir. 1996) (“[I]nterlocutory orders, generally appealable after final
    judgment, are not appealable after a dismissal for failure to prosecute, whether the
    failure to prosecute is purposeful or is a result of negligence or mistake.” (citation
    2                                    20-35155
    and internal quotation marks omitted)).
    We reject as meritless Shayla Duke’s contentions regarding the magistrate
    judge’s jurisdiction. See 
    28 U.S.C. § 636
    (b)(1).
    We do not consider matters not specifically and distinctly raised and argued
    in the opening brief. See Padgett v. Wright, 
    587 F.3d 983
    , 985 n.2 (9th Cir. 2009).
    Shayla Duke’s request for appellate counsel, set forth in her opening brief, is
    denied.
    All pending motions are denied.
    AFFIRMED.
    3                                   20-35155