Robert Valente v. Bank of America, Na ( 2021 )


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  •                            NOT FOR PUBLICATION                            FILED
    UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS                        NOV 17 2021
    MOLLY C. DWYER, CLERK
    U.S. COURT OF APPEALS
    FOR THE NINTH CIRCUIT
    ROBERT VALENTE,                                  No. 20-16604
    Plaintiff-Appellant,             D.C. No. 3:20-cv-01172-MMC
    v.
    MEMORANDUM*
    BANK OF AMERICA, NA; KELLER
    WILLIAMS REALTY, INC.,
    Defendants-Appellees.
    Appeal from the United States District Court
    for the Northern District of California
    Maxine M. Chesney, District Judge, Presiding
    Submitted November 8, 2021**
    Before:      CANBY, TASHIMA, and MILLER, Circuit Judges.
    Robert Valente appeals pro se from the district court’s judgment dismissing
    his diversity action alleging state law claims related to the purchase of a property
    and subsequent foreclosure proceedings. We have jurisdiction under 
    28 U.S.C. § 1291
    . We review de novo a dismissal on the basis of the statute of limitations.
    *
    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).
    Ellis v. City of San Diego, 
    176 F.3d 1183
    , 1188 (9th Cir. 1999). We affirm.
    The district court properly dismissed Valente’s action as time-barred
    because Valente failed to file his action within the statutes of limitations. See 
    Cal. Civ. Proc. Code § 335.1
     (two-year statute of limitations for claim for injury to an
    individual caused by the wrongful act or neglect of another); 
    id.
     § 337(a), (c) (four-
    year statute of limitations for claim based on any contract, obligation or liability
    founded upon an instrument in writing, or based on the rescission of a contract in
    writing); id. § 338(d) (three-year statute of limitations for fraud claim); id. § 339(1)
    (two-year statute of limitations for professional negligence claim); Aryeh v. Canon
    Bus. Sols., Inc., 
    292 P.3d 871
    , 879-80 (Cal. 2013) (setting forth continuing-wrong
    accrual principles); see also Deutsch v. Turner Corp., 
    324 F.3d 692
    , 716-17 (9th
    Cir. 2003) (under California’s governmental-interest approach to choice-of-law
    rules, a California district court generally applies California’s statute of
    limitations).
    The district court did not abuse its discretion by denying Valente leave to
    amend because amendment would have been futile. See Cervantes v. Countrywide
    Home Loans, Inc., 
    656 F.3d 1034
    , 1041 (9th Cir. 2011) (setting forth standard of
    review and explaining that a district court may dismiss without leave to amend
    when amendment would be futile).
    The district court did not abuse its discretion by denying Valente’s motion to
    2                                    20-16604
    alter or amend the judgment under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 59(e) because
    Valente failed to demonstrate any basis for relief. See Sch. Dist. No. 1J,
    Multnomah County, Or. v. ACandS, Inc., 
    5 F.3d 1255
    , 1262-63 (9th Cir. 1993)
    (setting forth standard of review and grounds for relief under Rule 59(e)).
    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. See Padgett v. Wright, 
    587 F.3d 983
    , 985 n.2 (9th Cir. 2009).
    Valente’s motion for leave to file an untimely reply brief is granted. The
    Clerk will file the reply brief received on March 22, 2021 (Docket Entry No. 20).
    AFFIRMED.
    3                                       20-16604