Opinion
No. 06-35229.
The panel unanimously finds this case suitable for decision without oral argument. See Fed.R.App.P. 34(a)(2).
Filed September 28, 2007.
Douglas S. Mauselle, Vancouver, WA, for Plaintiff-Appellant.
Paul G. Dodds, Esq., Stephen E. Blackman, Esq., Brownstein Rask Sweeney Kerr Grim Desylvia Hay, LLP, Portland, OR, for Defendants-Appellees.
Appeal from the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington, Franklin D. Burgess, District Judge, Presiding. D.C. No. CV-05-05464-FDB.
Before: CANBY, TASHIMA, and RAWLINSON, Circuit Judges.
MEMORANDUM
This disposition is not appropriate for publication and is not precedent except as provided by 9th Cir. R. 36-3.
Douglas S. Mauselle appeals pro se from the district court's order dismissing, for lack of personal jurisdiction, his diversity action alleging state law claims arising from the purchase of a houseboat. We have jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1291. After de novo review, Ochoa v. J.B. Martin Sons Farms, Inc., 287 F.3d 1182, 1187 (9th Cir. 2002), we vacate and remand.
In his opposition to defendants' motion to dismiss, Mauselle requested leave to amend his complaint. However inartful, Mauselle's pro se filings set forth a basis for personal jurisdiction in the fact that the transactions at issue in his complaint involve "commerce" on the Columbia River and therefore affect citizens of both Oregon and Washington. Because defendants had not yet filed a responsive pleading, Mauselle had a right to amend his complaint to state with more particularity the basis for personal jurisdiction over defendants. See Fed.R.Civ.P. 15(a) ("A party may amend the party's pleading once as a matter of course at any time before a responsive pleading is served."); Miles v. Dep't of Army, 881 F.2d 777, 781 (9th Cir. 1989) (holding that motions to dismiss are not responsive pleadings within the meaning of Fed.R.Civ.P. 15(a)). We therefore remand so that Mauselle may amend his complaint.
The parties shall bear their own costs on appeal.