LAMONT JOHNSON v. WACHOVIA BANK (2017)

MEMORANDUM*

Lamont Johnson appeals pro se from the district court's judgment dismissing his action alleging federal and state law claims related to the foreclosure of his properties. We have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291. We review for an abuse of discretion a denial of a motion for leave to file an amended complaint. See Cervantes v. Countrywide Home Loans, Inc., 656 F.3d 1034, 1041 (9th Cir. 2011). We affirm.

The district court did not abuse its discretion in denying Johnson's motion for leave to file a second amended complaint because the proposed amendments would have been futile. See Gardner v. Martino, 563 F.3d 981, 990, 992 (9th Cir. 2009) (no abuse of discretion in denying leave to amend where the proposed amendment would be futile).

We do not consider matters not specifically and distinctly raised and argued in the opening brief, or arguments raised for the first time on appeal. See Padgett v. Wright, 587 F.3d 983, 985 n.2 (9th Cir. 2009); see also Greenwood v. FAA, 28 F.3d 971, 977 (9th Cir. 1994) (“We will not manufacture arguments for an appellant, and a bare assertion does not preserve a claim ․”).

We reject as without merit Johnson's contentions that the district court demonstrated bias and failed to afford him sufficient time to submit a proposed second amended complaint.

Johnson's request for judicial notice, filed on April 2, 2013, is denied.

AFFIRMED.