Peter Garcia v. Waterfall Community Health ( 2022 )


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  •                            NOT FOR PUBLICATION                           FILED
    UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS                        JUL 21 2022
    MOLLY C. DWYER, CLERK
    U.S. COURT OF APPEALS
    FOR THE NINTH CIRCUIT
    PETER GARCIA,                                   No. 21-35418
    Plaintiff-Appellant,            D.C. No. 6:20-cv-01800-MC
    v.
    MEMORANDUM*
    WATERFALL COMMUNITY HEALTH
    CENTER,
    Defendant-Appellee.
    Appeal from the United States District Court
    for the District of Oregon
    Michael J. McShane, District Judge, Presiding
    Submitted July 12, 2022**
    Before:      SCHROEDER, R. NELSON, and VANDYKE, Circuit Judges.
    Peter Garcia appeals pro se from the district court’s judgment dismissing his
    action alleging violations of the Age Discrimination in Employment Act
    (“ADEA”), the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”), and state law. We have
    jurisdiction under 
    28 U.S.C. § 1291
    . We review de novo the district court’s
    *
    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).
    dismissal under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6). Hebbe v. Pliler, 
    627 F.3d 338
    , 341 (9th Cir. 2010). We affirm in part, vacate in part, and remand.
    The district court properly dismissed Garcia’s action because Garcia failed
    to allege facts sufficient to state a plausible claim for relief. See 
    id. at 341-42
    (although pro se pleadings are to be construed liberally, a plaintiff must present
    factual allegations sufficient to state a plausible claim for relief).
    The district court did not abuse its discretion in dismissing Garcia’s action
    without leave to amend because amendment would be futile. See Cervantes v.
    Countrywide Home Loans, Inc., 
    656 F.3d 1034
    , 1041 (9th Cir. 2011) (setting forth
    standard of review and grounds for denial of leave to amend).
    We review a district court’s award of attorney’s fees for abuse of discretion.
    CRST Van Expedited, Inc. v. Werner Enterprises, Inc., 
    479 F.3d 1099
    , 1104 (9th
    Cir. 2007). Here, the district court awarded attorney fees to defendant without
    making factual findings or stating its legal conclusions. See Fed. R. Civ. P.
    54(d)(2)(C). We therefore vacate the district court’s award and remand for further
    proceedings.
    We do not consider Garcia’s contentions regarding defendant’s motion for
    sanctions, which are beyond the scope of this appeal.
    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
    2                                     21-35418
    appeal. See Padgett v. Wright, 
    587 F.3d 983
    , 985 n.2 (9th Cir. 2009).
    The parties shall bear their own costs on appeal.
    AFFIRMED in PART, VACATED in PART, and REMANDED.
    3                              21-35418