Richard Lussy v. Henry Lussy

NOT FOR PUBLICATION FILED UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS MAR 6 2020 MOLLY C. DWYER, CLERK U.S. COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE NINTH CIRCUIT

RICHARD CHARLES LUSSY, No. 18-35937

Plaintiff-Appellant, D.C. No. 2:17-cv-00079-BMM-JCL

v. MEMORANDUM* HENRY PAUMIE LUSSY; et al.,

Defendants-Appellees.

Appeal from the United States District Court for the District of Montana Brian M. Morris, District Judge, Presiding

Submitted March 3, 2020** Before: MURGUIA, CHRISTEN, and BADE, Circuit Judges.

Richard Charles Lussy appeals pro se from the district court’s judgment dismissing his action alleging federal and state law claims arising out of the administration of the assets of Lussy’s mother’s estate. We have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291. We review de novo a dismissal under Federal Rule of Civil

* 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).

Procedure 12(b)(6). Eclectic Props. E., LLC v. Marcus & Millichap Co., 751 F.3d 990, 995 (9th Cir. 2014). We affirm.

The district court properly dismissed Lussy’s Racketeering Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (“RICO”) claim because Lussy failed to allege facts sufficient to demonstrate any element of a RICO claim. See id. at 997 (setting forth elements of a RICO claim).

The district court properly dismissed Lussy’s state law fraud claim because Lussy failed to allege fraud with particularity as required under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 9(b). See Kearns v. Ford Motor Co., 567 F.3d 1120, 1124-25 (9th Cir. 2009) (discussing heightened pleading standard under Rule 9(b), which applies to state law claims alleging fraudulent conduct); see also In re Estate of Kindsfather, 108 P.3d 487, 490 (Mont. 2005) (elements of fraud under Montana law).

The district court properly dismissed Lussy’s claim based on the “Missing 13th Amendment.” See Hebbe v. Pliler, 627 F.3d 338, 341-42 (9th Cir. 2010) (although pro se pleadings are liberally construed, a plaintiff must allege facts sufficient to state a plausible claim).

The district court did not abuse its discretion in denying Lussy leave to amend because amendment would have been futile. See Chappel v. Lab. Corp. of Am., 232 F.3d 719, 725-26 (9th Cir. 2000) (setting forth standard of review and explaining that a district court “acts within its discretion to deny leave to amend when amendment would be futile”).

The district court did not abuse its discretion in denying Lussy’s motion for default judgment against defendant Green because Lussy failed to demonstrate the possibility of prejudice and failed to plead sufficient facts to state a claim against Green. See Eitel v. McCool, 782 F.2d 1470, 1471-72 (9th Cir. 1986) (setting forth standard of review and factors courts consider in determining whether to enter a default judgment).

We reject as meritless Lussy’s criticisms of the magistrate judge, the district court judge, and the courtroom deputy.

We do not consider matters not specifically and distinctly raised and argued in the opening brief. See Padgett v. Wright, 587 F.3d 983, 985 n.² (9th Cir. 2009).

Lussy’s motion to expedite the appeal (Docket Entry No. 15) is denied as moot.

Lussy’s motion for sanctions (Docket Entry No. 16) is denied.

AFFIRMED.

Footnotes

[2] 18-35937

[3] 18-35937