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LEONARD v. THOMPSON (2021)

United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit.2021-07-22No. No. 20-16835

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Opinion

MEMORANDUM **

Former pretrial detainee Frederick E. Leonard appeals pro se from the district courts judgment dismissing his 42 U.S.C. § 1983 action alleging Fourteenth Amendment failure-to-protect and due process claims. We have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291. We review de novo the district courts decision on cross-motions for summary judgment. Guatay Christian Fellowship v. County of San Diego, 670 F.3d 957, 970 (9th Cir. 2011). We affirm.

The district court properly granted summary judgment for defendant Thompson on Leonards failure-to-protect claim against defendant Thompson because, under any potentially applicable standard, Leonard failed to raise a genuine dispute of material fact as to whether Thompsons alleged conduct caused Leonards injuries. See Harper v. City of Los Angeles, 533 F.3d 1010, 1026 (9th Cir. 2008) (to sustain a § 1983 claim, plaintiff must establish that defendants conduct was the cause-in-fact and proximate cause of the claimed injury); see also Scott v. Harris, 550 U.S. 372, 380, 127 S.Ct. 1769, 167 L.Ed.2d 686 (2007) (court should not adopt version of the facts that is blatantly contradicted by the record).

In his opening brief, Leonard fails to address the dismissal of defendant Metzger and the grant of summary judgment for defendant Clemente and has therefore waived his challenges to the district courts orders regarding those defendants. See Indep. Towers of Wash. v. Washington, 350 F.3d 925, 929 (9th Cir. 2003) (“[W]e will not consider any claims that were not actually argued in appellants opening brief.”); Acosta-Huerta v. Estelle, 7 F.3d 139, 144 (9th Cir. 1992) (issues not supported by argument in pro se appellants opening brief are waived).

We do not consider matters not specifically and distinctly raised and argued in the opening brief, or arguments and allegations raised for the first time on appeal. See Padgett v. Wright, 587 F.3d 983, 985 n.2 (9th Cir. 2009).

Leonards motion to object (Docket Entry No. 20) is denied.

AFFIRMED.