YAGMAN v. EDMONDSON (2018)

MEMORANDUM **

Stephen Yagman appeals pro se from the district court’s summary judgment and dismissal order in his action alleging Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (“RICO”) and state law claims. We have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291. We review de novo. Living Designs, Inc. v. E.I. Dupont de Nemours & Co., 431 F.3d 353, 360 (9th Cir. 2005) (summary judgment); Vess v. Ciba–Geigy Corp. USA, 317 F.3d 1097, 1102 (9th Cir. 2003) (grant of an anti-SLAPP motion to strike). We affirm.

The district court properly granted Colello’s motion to strike Yagman’s state law claims pursuant to California’s anti-SLAPP statute because Colello met his prima facie burden of showing that each cause of action arose out of protected activity and Yagman failed to demonstrate a probability of prevailing on the merits. See Vess, 317 F.3d at 1110 (two-step analysis under California’s anti-SLAPP statute).

The district court properly granted summary judgment on Yagman’s RICO claim because it is time-barred. See Living Designs, Inc., 431 F.3d at 365 (four-year statute of limitations period for civil RICO claims begins to run when a plaintiff knows or should know of the injury that is the basis for the action); Grimmett v. Brown, 75 F.3d 506, 512-13 (9th Cir. 1996) (discussing “separate accrual rule” in the RICO context). Contrary to Yagman’s contention, his RICO claim did not accrue in April 2015 when Colello received property from the bankruptcy estate.

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).

Yagman’s request for costs on appeal, set forth in his opening brief, is denied. Colello’s request for costs on appeal, set forth in his answering brief, is denied without prejudice to filing a timely bill of costs. See Fed. R. App. P. 39.

AFFIRMED.