RODRIGUEZ v. MONTANA (2020)

MEMORANDUM **

Juan Rodriguez appeals pro se from the district court’s judgment dismissing his action under the Indian Child Welfare Act (“ICWA”), 25 U.S.C. § 1901 et seq. We have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291. We review for an abuse of discretion a district court’s denial of leave to amend. Curry v. Yelp Inc., 875 F.3d 1219, 1224 (9th Cir. 2017). We vacate and remand.

The district court determined that Rodriguez had not sufficiently pled a violation of his rights under the ICWA, and dismissed without giving leave to amend. The district court did not determine that amendment would be futile. We vacate and remand for the district court to allow Rodriguez the opportunity to file an amended complaint. See Rodriguez v. Steck, 795 F.3d 1187 (9th Cir. 2015) (order) (plaintiff should be given leave to amend the complaint with directions as to curing its deficiencies, unless it is absolutely clear from the face of the complaint that the deficiencies could not be cured by amendment).

Rodriguez’s motion for appointment of counsel (Docket Entry No. 17) is denied as moot.

VACATED and REMANDED.