Tevis v. California Department of Veterans Affairs

668 F. App'x 737

• Court: Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
• Decided: August 25, 2016
• Docket: 15-16962
• Status: Unpublished

Opinion

MEMORANDUM **

Nancy and Larry Tevis appeal pro se from the district court’s judgment dismissing their action for lack of subject matter jurisdiction. We have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291. We affirm.

The district court dismissed plaintiffs’ action for lack of subject matter jurisdiction, finding that plaintiffs claim under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 was so insubstantial and without merit as to not create subject matter jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1331. See Poulos v. Caesars World, Inc., 379 F.3d 654, 662 (9th Cir. 2004) (there is no jurisdiction where a claim “appear[s] to be immaterial and made solely for the purpose of obtaining jurisdiction” or is “wholly insubstantial and frivolous” (citation and internal quotation marks omitted)). The district court also determined there was no basis for diversity jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1332.

In their opening brief, plaintiffs fail to address how the district court erred in making either ruling. As a result, they have waived their appeal of the dismissal order. See Smith v. Marsh, 194 F.3d 1045, 1052 (9th Cir. 1999) (“[0]n appeal, arguments not raised by a party in its opening brief are deemed waived.”); see also Greenwood v. F.A.A., 28 F.3d 971, 977 (9th Cir. 1994) (“We will not manufacture arguments for an appellant, and a bare assertion does not preserve a claim,.,, ”).

Plaintiffs’ March 7, 2016 request to exclude appellees from being heard at oral argument is denied as moot.

AFFIRMED.

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