Harris v. American Behavioral Health System

Opinion

NOT FOR PUBLICATION FILED UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS OCT 22 2025 MOLLY C. DWYER, CLERK U.S. COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE NINTH CIRCUIT

CHRISTOPHER WILLIAM HARRIS, No. 24-347 D.C. No. 2:23-cv-00989-KKE Plaintiff - Appellant,

v. MEMORANDUM*

AMERICAN BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SYSTEM, Inpatient Facility; DONYES, Ms., Drug Counselor - SUDP ABHS; PROSECUTING ATTORNEY; LISA COMBS, US Probation,

Defendants - Appellees.

Appeal from the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington Kymberly K. Evanson, District Judge, Presiding

Submitted October 15, 2025**

Before: FRIEDLAND, MILLER, and SANCHEZ, Circuit Judges.

Christopher William Harris appeals pro se from the district court’s order

dismissing his action alleging federal and state law claims arising from the

* 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). disclosure of his medical information. We have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C.

§ 1291. We review de novo a dismissal under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure

12(b)(6). Webb v. Smart Document Sols., LLC, 499 F.3d 1078, 1082 (9th Cir.

2007). We affirm.

The district court properly dismissed Harris’s action because Harris failed to

allege facts sufficient to state any plausible claim. See id. (explaining that the

Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act does not provide a private

right of action); Ranger Ins. Co. v. Pierce County, 192 P.3d 886, 889 (Wash. 2008)

(elements of a negligence claim under Washington law); Mohr v. Grant, 108 P.3d

768, 773 (Wash. 2005) (elements of a defamation claim under Washington law);

Nw. Indep. Forest Mfrs. v. Dep’t of Lab. & Indus., 899 P.2d 6, 9 (Wash. App.

1995) (elements of a breach of contract claim under Washington law); see also

Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678 (2009) (to avoid dismissal, “a complaint must

contain sufficient factual matter, accepted as true, to state a claim to relief that

is plausible on its face” (citation and internal quotation marks omitted)).

The district court did not abuse its discretion in denying Harris’s motion to

transfer venue. See Jones v. GNC Franchising, Inc., 211 F.3d 495, 498 (9th Cir.

2000) (setting forth standard of review and providing that a district court “has

discretion to adjudicate motions for transfer according to an individualized, case-

by-case consideration of convenience and fairness” (citation and internal quotation

2 24-347 marks omitted)).

The district court did not abuse its discretion in denying Harris leave to

amend his complaint because amendment would be futile. See Cervantes v.

Countrywide Home Loans, Inc., 656 F.3d 1034, 1041 (9th Cir. 2011) (setting forth

standard of review and explaining that leave to amend may be denied where

amendment would be futile).

All pending motions and requests are denied.

AFFIRMED.

3 24-347