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Trimble v. Arizona Child Protective Services

United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
Sep 20, 2005
150 F. App'x 621 (9th Cir. 2005)

Opinion

Submitted September 12, 2005.

The panel unanimously finds this case suitable for decision without oral argument. See Fed. R.App. P. 34(a)(2).

NOT FOR PUBLICATION. (See Federal Rule of Appellate Procedure Rule 36-3)

Randy Trimble, Florence, AZ, pro se.


Appeal from the United States District Court for the District of Arizona; Paul G. Rosenblatt, District Judge, Presiding.

Before REINHARDT, RYMER, and HAWKINS, Circuit Judges.

MEMORANDUM

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.

Randy Trimble, an Arizona state prisoner, appeals pro se the district court's dismissal of his 42 U.S.C. § 1983 action alleging that his daughter was denied state services. We have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291. We review de novo dismissals under 28 U.S.C. § 1915A, Resnick v. Hayes, 213 F.3d 443, 447 (9th Cir.2000), and we affirm.

In his third amended complaint, Trimble alleged that Arizona authorities failed to cooperate in a Pennsylvania criminal investigation relating to alleged abuse of Trimble's daughter. Trimble also alleged that his daughter was denied state services. The district court properly dismissed the action for failure to state a claim because Trimble does not have a general right to governmental aid, see, e.g., DeShaney v. Winnebago County Dept. of Social Services, 489 U.S. 189, 196, 109 S.Ct. 998, 103 L.Ed.2d 249 (1989), and Trimble did not allege that defendants acted intentionally to discriminate against him based on membership in a protected class, see Barren v. Harrington, 152 F.3d 1193, 1194 (9th Cir.1998) (order).

To the extent Trimble's third amended complaint attempted to name his daughter as a plaintiff, we note that Trimble cannot bring an action on behalf of his daughter without retaining a lawyer. See

Page 623.

Johns v. County of San Diego, 114 F.3d 874, 877 (9th Cir.1997).

Because the district court explained the legal infirmities of Trimble's allegations in two previous orders and allowed him four opportunities to plead his case, we conclude that the district court did not abuse its discretion in dismissing Trimble's third amended complaint without leave to amend. See In re Vantive Corp. Sec. Litig., 283 F.3d 1079, 1097 (9th Cir.2002) (where "plaintiffs had three opportunities to plead their best possible case," it was "not unreasonable for the district court to conclude that it would be pointless to give the plaintiffs yet another chance to amend").

Trimble's remaining contentions lack merit.

Trimble's motion filed February 22, 2005 is denied.

AFFIRMED.


Summaries of

Trimble v. Arizona Child Protective Services

United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
Sep 20, 2005
150 F. App'x 621 (9th Cir. 2005)
Case details for

Trimble v. Arizona Child Protective Services

Case Details

Full title:Randy TRIMBLE, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. ARIZONA CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES…

Court:United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit

Date published: Sep 20, 2005

Citations

150 F. App'x 621 (9th Cir. 2005)