Fireman's Fund Insurance v. Sonitrol Management Corp.

183 F. App'x 624

• Court: Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
• Decided: May 31, 2006
• Docket: No. 04-56170
• Status: Published

Opinion

MEMORANDUM

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Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company and Fireman’s Fund McGee Marine Underwriters appeal the district court’s order granting Sonitrol Management Corporation’s motion to dismiss. We consider, on our own motion, whether the order dismissing the complaint is appealable, WMX Technologies, Inc. v. Miller, 104 F.3d 1133, 1135 (9th Cir.1997) (en banc), and we dismiss this appeal for lack of appellate jurisdiction.

Generally, an order dismissing a complaint without prejudice is not appealable under 28 U.S.C. § 1291. Lopez v. City of Needles, 95 F.3d 20, 22 (9th Cir.1996). Here, the district court granted Sonitrol’s motion to dismiss the complaint and expressly ruled it was without prejudice. By its nature, the district court’s order would have permitted amendment of the complaint. Plaintiffs could have filed an election to stand on their pleading in the trial court and, thereby, invested this court with jurisdiction to proceed with the appeal. Id. Plaintiffs did not do so. Accordingly, we conclude that the district court’s dismissal was not a final order, and we therefore lack jurisdiction to entertain the appeal.

DISMISSED

This disposition is not appropriate for publication and may not be cited to or by the courts of this circuit except as provided by 9th Cir. R. 36-3.