FILED
NOT FOR PUBLICATION MAR 23 2016
MOLLY C. DWYER, CLERK
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS U.S. COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE NINTH CIRCUIT
ARACELI GONZALEZ; MARIO E. No. 13-16309
GONZALEZ,
D.C. No. 2:12-cv-02305-JAT
Plaintiffs - Appellants,
v. MEMORANDUM*
BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., successor by
merger; et al.,
Defendant - Appellee.
Appeal from the United States District Court
for the District of Arizona
James A. Teilborg, District Judge, Presiding
Submitted March 15, 2016**
Before: GOODWIN, LEAVY, and CHRISTEN, Circuit Judges.
Araceli and Mario E. Gonzalez appeal pro se from the district court’s
judgment dismissing their diversity action alleging state law foreclosure claims.
We have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291. We review de novo a district court’s
*
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).
dismissal for failure to state a claim under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure
12(b)(6). Hebbe v. Pliler, 627 F.3d 338, 341 (9th Cir. 2010). We affirm.
The district properly dismissed plaintiffs’ action because plaintiffs failed to
allege facts sufficient to state plausible wrongful foreclosure and quiet title claims.
See id. at 341-42 (although pro se pleadings are liberally construed, a plaintiff must
still present factual allegations sufficient to state a plausible claim for relief). To
the extent that plaintiffs challenge the ability of Mortgage Electronic Registration
Systems, Inc. (“MERS”) to assign its interest in plaintiffs’ deed of trust, these
arguments fail. See Sitton v. Deutsche Bank Nat’l Trust Co., 311 P.3d 237 (Ariz.
Ct. App. 2013) (holding that MERS, as nominee and beneficiary of a deed of trust,
may assign the note and deed of trust).
The district court did not abuse its discretion in denying plaintiffs’ Rule
60(b) motion for reconsideration because plaintiffs did not demonstrate any
grounds warranting such relief. See Am. Ironworks & Erectors, Inc. v. N. Am.
Construction Co., 248 F.3d 892, 899 (9th Cir. 2001) (“Because North American
and Federal simply reargued their case . . . the district court did not abuse its
discretion in denying the motion [for reconsideration].”).
We reject plaintiffs’ contention that the district court was required to hold a
hearing before deciding their motion for reconsideration. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 78(b)
2 13-16309
(“By rule or order, the court may provide for submitting and determining motions
on briefs, without oral hearings.”).
We do not consider issues or arguments 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.
3 13-16309