Jesus Moran v. Thomas Higgins ( 2020 )


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  •                            NOT FOR PUBLICATION                           FILED
    UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS                        DEC 9 2020
    MOLLY C. DWYER, CLERK
    U.S. COURT OF APPEALS
    FOR THE NINTH CIRCUIT
    JESUS MANUEL MORAN,                             No. 19-17503
    Plaintiff-Appellant,            D.C. No. 4:17-cv-00613-JGZ
    v.
    MEMORANDUM*
    THOMAS E. HIGGINS, Attorney,
    Defendant-Appellee.
    Appeal from the United States District Court
    for the District of Arizona
    Jennifer G. Zipps, District Judge, Presiding
    Submitted December 2, 2020**
    Before:      WALLACE, CLIFTON, and BRESS, Circuit Judges.
    Jesus Manuel Moran appeals pro se from the district court’s summary
    judgment in his diversity action alleging state law claims against his former
    attorney. We have jurisdiction under 
    28 U.S.C. § 1291
    . We review de novo the
    district court’s decision on cross-motions for summary judgment. JL Beverage
    *
    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).
    Co., LLC v. Jim Beam Brands Co., 
    828 F.3d 1098
    , 1104 (9th Cir. 2016). We
    affirm.
    The district court properly granted summary judgment for defendant because
    Moran failed to raise a genuine dispute of material fact as to whether defendant’s
    conduct was the proximate cause of any injury. See Glaze v. Larsen, 
    83 P.3d 26
    ,
    29 (Ariz. 2004) (en banc) (elements of a legal malpractice claim); KB Home
    Tucson, Inc. v. Charter Oak Fire Ins. Co., 
    340 P.3d 405
    , 412 (Ariz. Ct. App. 2014)
    (elements of a fraud claim); Trustmark Ins. Co. v. Bank One, Ariz., NA, 
    48 P.3d 485
    , 491 (Ariz. Ct. App. 2002) (elements of an unjust enrichment claim); Baines v.
    Superior Court, 
    688 P.2d 1037
    , 1041 (Ariz. Ct. App. 1984) (elements of a claim
    under Arizona’s racketeering statute); see also 
    Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 13-2314.04
    (A)
    (permitting private cause of action for racketeering claim).
    The district court did not abuse its discretion by refusing to deny defendant’s
    cross motion for summary judgment on the basis of defendant’s failure to adhere to
    the local rules. See Bias v. Moynihan, 
    508 F.3d 1212
    , 1223 (9th Cir. 2007)
    (standard of review for district court’s compliance with its local rules).
    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).
    AFFIRMED.
    2                                      19-17503