Stephen R. Townzen, Plaintiff-appellant, v. State of California; County of El Dorado; City Ofplacerville; Police Department of Placerville;et al., Defendants-appellees, 990 F.2d 1260 (9th Cir. 1993)

MEMORANDUM^** 

Stephen R. Townzen appeals pro se the district court's order dismissing with prejudice his 42 U.S.C. §§ 1985 and 1986 civil rights claims. We note lack of jurisdiction for want of a final appealable order, and dismiss this appeal.

While neither party has raised the issue of jurisdiction, we consider our jurisdiction sua sponte. Hoohuli v. Ariyoshi, 741 F.2d 1169, 1171 n. 1 (9th Cir. 1985). A district court order dismissing some but not all of the defendants is not a "final decision" appealable under 28 U.S.C. § 1291. McGuckin v. Smith, 974 F.2d 1050, 1053 n. 1 (9th Cir. 1992); Patchick v. Kensington Publishing Corp., 743 F.2d 675, 677 (9th Cir. 1984) (per curiam). Nevertheless, upon an express determination that there is no just reason for delay and upon an express instruction for the entry of judgment, the district court may direct the entry of a final judgment as to one or more but fewer that all of the claims. Fed. R. Civ. P. 54(b); Frank Briscoe Co. v. Morrison-Knudsen Co., 776 F.2d 1414, 1416 (9th Cir. 1985). Without a Rule 54(b) certification, orders dismissing some but not all of the defendants or claims are not final. Fed. R. Civ. P. 54(b); Frank Briscoe Co., 776 F.2d at 1416.

Townzen's amended complaint named the following as defendants: the State of California, the County of El Dorado, the El Dorado Sheriff's Department, the El Dorado County Children's Protective Services, the El Dorado County District Attorney's Office, the City of Placerville, Placerville City Police Department, Carol Halk, Cherie Brown, Dianne Springborn, Lisa Wilson, Marty Hackett, Dave Lawrence, two unknown Placerville City Police Officers, 25 John Does, and 25 Jane Does.¹ 

On 9 March 1992, defendants County of El Dorado, El Dorado County Sheriff's Department, Carol Halk, Lisa Wilson, Marty Hackett, El Dorado County Children's Protective Services, the El Dorado District Attorney's Office, and Dave Lawrence moved for an order of abstention and, in the alternative, an order dismissing the complaint. On 14 April 1992, the district court granted this motion and dismissed with prejudice Townzen's sections 1985 and 1986 claims and ordered Townzen's section 1983 claim stayed until a final judgment is entered in the underlying state court action.

Townzen's notice of appeal was filed on 13 May 1992. Thus, defendants remained in the action after the district court granted the motion.²  Therefore, the district court's order dismissing the action as to defendants County of El Dorado, El Dorado County Sheriff's Department, Carol Halk, Lisa Wilson, Marty Hackett, El Dorado County Children's Protective Services, the El Dorado District Attorney's Office, and Dave Lawrence but not defendants State of California, City of Placerville, and Placerville City Police Department is not a "final decision" appealable under 28 U.S.C. § 1291. See McGuckin, 974 F.2d at 1053 n. 1. Moreover, because the district court has not issued a Rule 54(b) certification the order is not appealable. See Frank Briscoe Co., 776 F.2d at 1416.

Accordingly, this appeal is premature and is dismissed for lack of jurisdiction.

DISMISSED.