Alfred Caraffa v. United States ( 2021 )


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  •                            NOT FOR PUBLICATION                           FILED
    SEP 21 2021
    UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
    MOLLY C. DWYER, CLERK
    U.S. COURT OF APPEALS
    FOR THE NINTH CIRCUIT
    ALFRED E. CARAFFA,                              No. 20-16653
    Plaintiff-Appellant,            D.C. No. 2:20-cv-00774-MTL-
    ESW
    v.
    UNITED STATES OF AMERICA; et al.,               MEMORANDUM*
    Defendants-Appellees.
    Appeal from the United States District Court
    for the District of Arizona
    Michael T. Liburdi, District Judge, Presiding
    Submitted September 14, 2021**
    Before:      PAEZ, NGUYEN, and OWENS, Circuit Judges.
    Alfred E. Caraffa appeals pro se from the district court’s judgment
    dismissing this 42 U.S.C. § 1983 and Bivens v. Six Unknown Named Agents of
    Federal Bureau of Narcotics, 
    403 U.S. 388
     (1971) action alleging constitutional
    claims. We have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291. We review de novo a
    *
    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).
    dismissal under 28 U.S.C. § 1915A. Resnick v. Hayes, 
    213 F.3d 443
    , 447 (9th Cir.
    2000). We affirm.
    The district court properly dismissed Caraffa’s action because defendants
    were either entitled to immunity or were not properly named. See FDIC v. Meyer,
    
    510 U.S. 471
    , 484-86 (1994) (explaining that a Bivens action is only available
    against federal officers, not against the United States); Melendres v. Arpaio, 
    784 F.3d 1254
    , 1260 (9th Cir. 2015) (recognizing that the Maricopa County Sheriff’s
    Office is not a proper defendant in a § 1983 action); Olsen v. Idaho State Bd. of
    Med., 
    363 F.3d 916
    , 922 (9th Cir. 2004) (explaining judicial immunity); Porter v.
    Jones, 
    319 F.3d 483
    , 491 (9th Cir. 2003) (explaining Eleventh Amendment
    immunity).
    The district court did not abuse its discretion in denying Caraffa’s request to
    recuse Judge Liburdi because Caraffa failed to file an affidavit alleging bias or
    establish extrajudicial bias or prejudice. See 28 U.S.C. § 455 (setting forth
    circumstances requiring recusal); United States v. Sibla, 
    624 F.2d 864
    , 869 (9th
    Cir. 1980) (setting forth standard of review).
    The district court did not abuse its discretion in denying Caraffa’s motion to
    consolidate. See Pierce v. County of Orange, 
    526 F.3d 1190
    , 1203 (9th Cir. 2008)
    (setting forth standard of review and explaining that a district court has broad
    discretion to consolidate actions).
    2                                     20-16653
    The district court did not abuse its discretion in denying Caraffa’s motion for
    default judgment. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 55 (outlining elements of default and default
    judgment); Eitel v. McCool, 
    782 F.2d 1470
    , 1471-72 (9th Cir. 1981) (setting forth
    standard of review and factors for determining whether to enter default judgment).
    We reject as unsupported by the record Caraffa’s contentions that the district
    court improperly denied in forma pauperis status, failed to grant leave amend,
    failed to consider Caraffa’s exhibits or evidence, included extraneous documents in
    the case file, or failed to serve documents.
    Caraffa’s pending motions are denied.
    AFFIRMED.
    3                                   20-16653