FILED
NOT FOR PUBLICATION AUG 1 2011
MOLLY C. DWYER, CLERK
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS U .S. C O U R T OF APPE ALS
FOR THE NINTH CIRCUIT
ROBERT TOWNSEND, No. 09-55452
Plaintiff - Appellant, D.C. No. 8:08-cv-00527-AG-AN
v.
MEMORANDUM *
CHASE BANK USA, N.A.; et al.,
Defendants - Appellees.
Appeal from the United States District Court
for the Central District of California
Andrew J. Guilford, District Judge, Presiding
Submitted July 12, 2011 **
Before: SCHROEDER, ALARCÓN, and LEAVY, Circuit Judges.
Robert Townsend appeals pro se from the district court’s judgment
dismissing his action alleging, among other claims, violations of the federal and
California Fair Debt Collection Practices Acts (“FDCPA”). We have jurisdiction
*
This disposition is not appropriate for publication and is not precedent
except as provided by 9th Cir. R. 36-3.
**
The panel unanimously concludes this case is suitable for decision
without oral argument. See Fed. R. App. P. 34(a)(2). Accordingly, Townsend’s
request for oral argument is denied.
under 28 U.S.C. § 1291. We review de novo a dismissal for failure to state a
claim, Guerrero v. RJM Acquisitions LLC, 499 F.3d 926, 932 (9th Cir. 2007) (per
curiam), and for an abuse of discretion a denial of leave to amend, Chodos v. West
Publ’g Co., 292 F.3d 992, 1003 (9th Cir. 2002). We may affirm on any ground
supported by the record, Johnson v. Riverside Healthcare Sys., LP, 534 F.3d 1116,
1121 (9th Cir. 2008), and we affirm.
Townsend’s federal and California FDCPA claims arising from the Mann
Bracken letters are barred by the one-year statute of limitations. See 15 U.S.C.
§ 1692k(d); Cal. Civ. Code § 1788.30(f); Mangum v. Action Collection Serv., Inc.,
575 F.3d 935, 940 (9th Cir. 2009) (“[A] limitations period begins to run when the
plaintiff knows or has reason to know of the injury which is the basis of the
action.” (citation and internal quotation marks omitted)). Townsend fails to state a
claim under the federal or California FDCPA as to the Pallisades Collection letter
because the “least sophisticated debtor” would not “likely be misled” by
defendants’ letter. Guerrero, 499 F.3d at 934; see also 15 U.S.C. §§ 1692e-1692f;
Cal. Civ. Code §§ 1788.13, 1788.17. Accordingly, the FDCPA claims were
properly dismissed.
The district court did not abuse its discretion by denying leave to amend to
file a fourth amended complaint. See Chodos, 292 F.3d at 1003.
2 09-55452
Townsend’s remaining contentions, including those concerning his RICO
and defamation claims, are unpersuasive.
We treat Townsend’s request for judicial notice as citation of supplemental
authorities under Fed. R. App. P. 28(j).
Townsend’s “Motion and Affidavit for Transcripts at Government Expense”
is denied.
AFFIRMED.
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