Donnamay Brockbank v. Kevin Staples , 595 F. App'x 724 ( 2015 )


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  •                                                                             FILED
    NOT FOR PUBLICATION                             MAR 04 2015
    MOLLY C. DWYER, CLERK
    UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS                       U.S. COURT OF APPEALS
    FOR THE NINTH CIRCUIT
    DONNAMAY BROCKBANK; DENNIS                       No. 13-35548
    LEE MOSES,
    D.C. No. 3:13-cv-05168-RBL
    Plaintiffs - Appellants,
    v.                                             MEMORANDUM*
    KEVIN STAPLES; et al.,
    Defendants - Appellees.
    Appeal from the United States District Court
    for the Western District of Washington
    Ronald B. Leighton, District Judge, Presiding
    Submitted February 17, 2015**
    Before:        O’SCANNLAIN, LEAVY, and FERNANDEZ, Circuit Judges.
    Donnamay Brockbank and Dennis Lee Moses appeal pro se from the district
    court’s summary judgment in their action seeking relief under the Truth and
    Lending Act, Regulation Z, and Washington state law. We have jurisdiction under
    *
    This disposition is not appropriate for publication and is not precedent
    except as provided by 9th Cir. R. 36-3.
    **
    The panel unanimously concludes this case is suitable for decision
    without oral argument. See Fed. R. App. P. 34(a)(2).
    28 U.S.C. § 1291. We review de novo, Stewart v. U.S. Bancorp, 
    297 F.3d 953
    ,
    956 (9th Cir. 2002), and we affirm.
    The district court properly dismissed the action as barred by the doctrine of
    res judicata, because Brockbank and Moses had alleged claims arising out of the
    same loan transaction and related foreclosure proceedings against the same
    defendants in at least one prior action. See Holcombe v. Hosmer, 
    477 F.3d 1094
    ,
    1097 (9th Cir. 2007) (federal courts must apply state law regarding res judicata to
    state court judgments); Seattle-First Nat’l Bank v. Kawachi, 
    588 P.2d 725
    , 727
    (Wash. 1978) (en banc) (elements of res judicata under Washington state law);
    Kelly-Hansen v. Kelly-Hansen, 
    941 P.2d 1108
    , 1112 (Wash. Ct. App. 1997)
    (doctrine of res judicata bars litigation of claims that were or could have been
    raised in the prior action).
    Contrary to appellants’ contention, the district court was not required to
    hold oral argument on the motion for summary judgment. See Partridge v. Reich,
    
    141 F.3d 920
    , 926 (9th Cir. 1998) (district court can decide summary judgment
    without oral argument if parties have an opportunity to submit their papers to the
    court); see also W.D. Wash. R. 7(d)(4) (“Unless otherwise ordered by the court, all
    motions will be decided by the court without oral argument.”).
    2                                    13-35548
    We do not consider matters not specifically and distinctly raised and argued
    in the opening brief, or arguments and allegations raised for the first time on appeal
    or in the reply brief. See Padgett v. Wright, 
    587 F.3d 983
    , 985 n.2 (9th Cir. 2009)
    (per curiam).
    AFFIRMED.
    3                                    13-35548