JAMES v. COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES (2019)

MEMORANDUM **

Genetta James and Tierus James appeal pro se from the district court’s judgment dismissing their action alleging federal and state law claims arising out of Genetta James’s employment. We have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291. We review for an abuse of discretion a district court’s dismissal pursuant to its local rules. Ghazali v. Moran, 46 F.3d 52, 53 (9th Cir. 1995). We affirm.

The district court did not abuse its discretion by dismissing the Jameses’ action because the Jameses failed to oppose defendants’ motion to dismiss. See id. at 53-54 (factors to consider before dismissing an action for failure to follow a district court’s local rules; where the district court does not make explicit findings concerning the factors, we “review the record independently to determine if [it] has abused its discretion”); see also C.D. Cal. R. 7-9, 7-12 (opposition to a motion shall be filed no later than 21 days before the scheduled hearing date; failure to file a required document may be deemed consent to the granting of the motion).

The district court did not abuse its discretion by ruling on the motion to dismiss without oral argument. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 78(b); C.D. Cal. R. 7-15; Morrow v. Topping, 437 F.2d 1155, 1156-57 (9th Cir. 1971) (district court’s failure to hold oral argument on a motion to dismiss was not an abuse of discretion or a denial of due process).

Because we affirm dismissal for failure to comply with the district court’s local rules, we do not consider the merits of plaintiffs’ claims.

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).

AFFIRMED.