Rayne Wells, Jr. v. James McLean
Opinion
Opinion
MEMORANDUM
Rayne Dee Wells, Jr., a Washington state prisoner, appeals pro se from the district court’s judgment dismissing his 42 U.S.C. § 1983 action for failure to exhaust administrative remedies under the Prison Litigation Reform Act, 42 U.S.C. § 1997e(a). We have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291 . We review de novo the district court’s dismissal for failure to exhaust, and for clear error its factual determinations. Wyatt v. Terhune, 315 F.3d 1108, 1117 (9th Cir.2008). We affirm in part, vacate in part, and remand.
The district court properly dismissed the action because Wells failed to exhaust administrative remedies prior to filing suit. See Woodford v. Ngo, 548 U.S. 81, 93-95 , 126 S.Ct. 2878 , 165 L.Ed.2d 368 (2006) (concluding that “proper exhaustion” is mandatory and requires adherence to administrative procedural rules). However, we vacate the judgment and remand for the limited purpose of considering whether to enter a dismissal without prejudice. See Wyatt, 315 F.3d at 1120 (dismissals for failure to exhaust administrative remedies are without prejudice).
Wells’s remaining contentions are unpersuasive.
Each party shall bear its own costs on appeal.