Milligan v. Thompson

42 P.3d 418, 110 Wash. App. 628
Court of Appeals of Washington·Decided March 15, 2002·No. 26702-1-II·Published·Cited by 64 cases

Opinion

42 P.3d 418 (2002)
110 Wash.App. 628

Donald C. MILLIGAN, Appellant,
v.
Richard THOMPSON, Secretary of the Department of Social and Health Services; Thomas Ristow, Director, Legislative and Community Relations, Department of Social and Health Services; Gregg R. Dohrn, Assistant Director, Business Community and Intergovernmental Relations, Department of Social and Health Services; Department of Social and Health Services; and the State of Washington, Respondents.
Donald C. Milligan, a married person, Appellant,
v.
Lyle Quasim, Secretary of the Department of Social and Health Services; Department of Social and Health Services; and the State of Washington, Respondents.

No. 26702-1-II.

Court of Appeals of Washington, Division 2.

Publication Ordered March 8, 2002.
March 15, 2002.

*420 William Michael Hanbey, Olympia, for Respondents.

Peter William Berney, Olympia, for Appellant.

*419 ARMSTRONG, C.J.

Donald Milligan sued the Department of Social and Health Services and individual employees for employment discrimination, retaliation, and civil rights and free speech violations. The trial court granted a summary judgment for procedural flaws. We reversed in part, holding that some of Milligan's claims were not procedurally barred. On remand, the trial court granted a second summary judgment, this time on the substance of the claims. On appeal, Milligan claims the court erred by failing to rule on his motions to limit the evidence and strike portions of the State's summary judgment material. He also argues that material issues of fact about his discrimination and retaliation claims preclude summary judgment. We find no reversible error and, therefore, affirm.

*421 FACTS

Donald Milligan worked for the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) since 1968. Milligan v. Thompson, 90 Wash. App. 586, 589, 953 P.2d 112 (1998) (Milligan I). After he received four personnel conduct reports, DSHS placed Milligan on home assignment. Milligan I, 90 Wash.App. at 589, 953 P.2d 112. DSHS decided to permanently demote Milligan, but he appealed to the Personnel Appeals Board (PAB). Milligan I, 90 Wash.App. at 589, 953 P.2d 112. In February 1992, the PAB found a nine-month demotion appropriate (from February to November 1991) and ordered him reinstated. Milligan returned to his prior position until the Department of Personnel reclassified that position.

Milligan first sued DSHS in 1991. Milligan I, 90 Wash.App. at 590, 953 P.2d 112. The trial court granted summary judgment, ruling that Milligan did not file his claims within the statute of limitations period. Milligan I, 90 Wash.App. at 591, 953 P.2d 112. On appeal, we affirmed in part, but remanded on "any independently actionable claims not arising under Title VII that accrued after September 29, 1991, that were timely filed according to the relevant statutory period." Milligan I, 90 Wash.App. at 598, 953 P.2d 112. Milligan then combined these "independently actionable claims" with claims for discrimination and retaliation under chapter RCW 49.60, civil rights claims under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, and a First Amendment claim.

After PAB ordered him reinstated, Milligan worked in two positions that lasted only a year before coming to his current position in the Children Services Division.[1] DSHS barred him from duties involving Indian Child Welfare and directed him not to speak with non-DSHS Indian friends, tribal leaders, and community representatives about department policies or lawsuits Milligan filed against DSHS.

Before summary judgment, both Milligan and DSHS filed ER 904 notices. Both objected to some of the opponent's proposed submissions. After DSHS moved for summary judgment, Milligan submitted a Motion in Limine to prohibit any testimony regarding the PAB's conclusions or rulings. Milligan also filed a Motion to Strike the Declarations of Greg Gaetz and Barbara Bowdish, which dealt with his reinstatement, his unappealed PAB decision, and his Native American status. The trial court granted summary judgment without ruling on Milligan's motions or mentioning the ER 904 submissions. Instead, it said that "based on case law ... there was no evidence that he suffered."

ANALYSIS

I. Effect of Court of Appeals Decision

Milligan argues that on remand the trial court should have given res judicata effect to facts and issues this court considered in Milligan I, 90 Wash.App. 586, 953 P.2d 112. He specifically argues that this court established his Native American ancestry. Milligan I, 90 Wash.App. at 589, 953 P.2d 112.

Milligan did not argue res judicata when he opposed Thompson's summary judgment motion. Under the rules of appellate procedure, we consider "only evidence and issues called to the attention of the trial court." RAP 9.12. See also Colwell v. Holy Family Hosp., 104 Wash.App. 606, 613-14, 15 P.3d 210, review denied, 144 Wash.2d 1016, 32 P.3d 283 (2001) (trial court properly declined to consider evidence that party did not properly submit and did not mention in oral argument).

In addition, Milligan's argument lacks merit because the only specific issue he raises, his membership in a protected class, is not disputed at this time. DSHS conceded for purposes of summary judgment and this appeal that Milligan belongs to a protected class.

Milligan next contends that when we decided in the first appeal that some of his claims survived the statute of limitations, we established issues and facts a trier of fact had to consider. Milligan cites to neither the record nor any authority to support this *422 proposition and we decline to consider it. RAP 10.3(a)(5); see Camer v. Seattle Post-Intelligencer, 45 Wash.App. 29, 36, 723 P.2d 1195 (1986) (we need not consider on appeal contentions unsupported by citation of authority).

II. Summary Judgment

Milligan argues that the trial court erred by granting summary judgment without considering his preliminary motions and the evidence he submitted under ER 904. He also maintains that issues of material fact remain.

A. Preliminary Motions

1. Motion to Strike

Milligan moved to strike the Declaration of Greg Getaz and paragraphs four and six of the Declaration of Barbara Bowdish. The trial court declined to rule on the motion, but it did consider the two declaratio

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Milligan v. Thompson, 42 P.3d 418, 110 Wash. App. 628 (Wash. Ct. App. 2002).

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