Calkins

NOT FOR PUBLICATION FILED

UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FEB 13 2026

MOLLY C. DWYER, CLERK

U.S. COURT OF APPEALS

FOR THE NINTH CIRCUIT

KIRK CALKINS No. 24-7708 D.C. No. Plaintiff - Appellant, 2:23-cv-01607-RSM v.

MEMORANDUM*

CITY OF SEATTLE; CHRISTOPHER

LUEDKE; ELIZABETH SHELDON;

GREEN WAY HOMES, a Washington Limited Liability Company; VASILI

IALANJI; GENE IALANJI,

Defendants - Appellees.

Appeal from the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington Ricardo S. Martinez, District Judge, Presiding

Submitted February 11, 2026** Seattle, Washington

Before: McKEOWN, W. FLETCHER, and BUMATAY, Circuit Judges.

Kirk Calkins appeals the district court’s orders dismissing his defamation and

* 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). tortious interference claims against Green Way Homes, Vasili Ialanji, and Gene

Ialanji (the “Builder Defendants”) and granting…