Oliver v. Wong

158 F. Supp. 3d 1036, 2016 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 10373, 2016 WL 370711
CourtDistrict Court, D. Hawaii
DecidedJanuary 28, 2016
DocketCiv. No. 14-00584 HG-RLP
StatusPublished

This text of 158 F. Supp. 3d 1036 (Oliver v. Wong) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, D. Hawaii primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Oliver v. Wong, 158 F. Supp. 3d 1036, 2016 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 10373, 2016 WL 370711 (D. Haw. 2016).

Opinion

ORDER GRANTING DEFENDANTS DARRYLL ,D.M. WONG, IN HIS OFFICIAL CAPACITY AS ADJUTANT GENERAL OF THE HAWAII NATIONAL GUARD, AND THE HAWAII NATIONAL GUARD’S MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT (ECF No. 18)

Helen Gillmor, United States District Judge

Plaintiff Eric. R. Oliver was an enlisted member of the Hawaii Air National Guard who was also employed by the Hawaii Air National Guard as a military dual status technician. Plaintiffs dual status position required him to be enlisted in the National Guard. Before Plaintiffs enlistment contract expired, Plaintiff applied for reenlistment, but his application was denied. As a result, Plaintiff was terminated from his employment' with the Hawaii Air National Guard in February 2012.

Plaintiffs Complaint alleges state law and constitutíonál claims against Defendant Darryl! D.M. Wong, in his official capacity as the Adjutant General of the Hawaii National Guard, and the Defendant Hawaii National Guard. Plaintiff asserts in his Complaint that his reenlistment application was denied in retaliation for Plaintiff engaging in whistleblowing and union activities, .

Defendants filed a Motion to Dismiss, or in the alternative, a. Motion for Summary [1038]*1038Judgment as to each of Plaintiffs claims, asserting that they are barred by the in-tra-military immunity doctrine. Defendants also assert that Plaintiff failed to exhaust available intraservice remedies regarding the denial of his reenlistment and the termination of his employment.

Plaintiff asserts his claims are not barred by the intra-military immunity doctrine because the decision not to reenlist him and to terminate his employment did not involve consideration of military issues. Plaintiff argues that he exhausted his available intraservice administrative remedies.

The Court construes Defendants’ Motion as a Motion for Summary Judgment. The Defendants’ Motion for Summary Judgment (ECF No. 18) is GRANTED.

PROCEDURAL HISTORY

On May 25, 2012, Plaintiff Eric R. Oliver filed a Complaint in the Circuit Court of the First Circuit, State of Hawaii. (ECF No. 1-1).

On December 31, 2014, the Defendants Darryll D.M. Wong, in his official capacity as Adjutant General of the Hawaii National Guard, and the Hawaii National Guard, removed the state court action to the United States District Court, District of Hawaii. (ECF No. 1).

On November 4, 2015, Defendants filed DEFENDANTS DARRYLL D.M. WONG, IN HIS OFFICIAL CAPACITY AS ADJUTANT GENERAL OF THE HAWAII NATIONAL GUARD, AND THE HAWAII NATIONAL GUARD’S MOTION TO DISMISS COMPLAINT OR, IN THE ALTERNATIVE, MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT. (ECF No. 18).

On the same date, Defendants filed DARRYLL D.M. WONG, IN HIS OFFICIAL CAPACITY AS ADJUTANT GENERAL OF THE HAWAII NATIONAL GUARD AND HAWAII NATIONAL GUARD’S CONCISE STATEMENT OF FACTS IN SUPPORT OF DEFENDANTS’ MOTION TO DISMISS COMPLAINT OR, IN THE ALTERNATIVE, MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT. (ECF No. 19).

On November 6, 2015, the Court issued a briefing schedule. (ECF No. 20).

On November 20, 2015, Plaintiff submitted a letter requesting an extension of time to file his Opposition. (ECF No. 23).

On the same date, the Court issued a Minute Order that provided Plaintiff an extension of time to file his Opposition and also provided Defendants an extension of time to file their Reply. (ECF No. 24).

On December 11, 2015, Plaintiff filed MEMORANDUM IN OPPOSITION TO DEFENDANT DARRYLL D.M. WONG, IN HIS OFFICIAL CAPACITY AS ADJUTANT GENERAL OF THE HAWAII NATIONAL GUARD AND THE HAWAII NATIONAL GUARD’S MOTION TO DISMISS OR, IN THE ALTERNATIVE, MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT. (ECF No. 26).

Also on December 11, 2015, Plaintiff filed PLAINTIFF’S SEPARATE AND CONCISE STATEMENT OF FACTS IN OPPOSITION TO DEFENDANTS’ MOTION TO DISMISS OR, IN THE ALTERNATIVE, MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT. (ECF No. 29).

On December 31, 2015, Defendants filed DEFENDANTS’ REPLY TO PLAINTIFF’S MEMORANDUM IN OPPOSITION TO DEFENDANT DARRYLL D.M. WONG, IN HIS OFFICIAL CAPACITY AS ADJUTANT GENERAL OF THE HAWAII NATIONAL GUARD AND THE HAWAII NATIONAL GUARD’S MOTION TO DISMISS OR, IN THE ALTERNATIVE, MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT. (ECF No. 30).

[1039]*1039On the same date, Defendants' filed DARRYLL D.M. WONG, IN HIS OFFICIAL CAPACITY AS ADJUTANT GENERAL OF THE HAWAII NATIONAL GUARD, AND HAWAII NATIONAL GUARD’S COUNTER CONCISE STATEMENT OF FACTS IN REPLY TO PLAINTIFF’S SEPARATE AND CONCISE STATEMENT OF FACTS IN OPPOSITION TO DEFENDANTS’ MOTION TO DISMISS OR, IN THE ALTERNATIVE, MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT. (ECF No. 31).

On January 7, 2016, the Court held a hearing on Defendants’ Motion for Summary Judgment.

BACKGROUND

The Parties agrée to the following facts:

On January 7, 1997, Plaintiff Eric R. Oliver enlisted with the Hawaii Air National Guard. (Declaration of David A. Lopina, Staff Judge Advocate of the Hawaii National Guard (“Lopina Decl.”), at ¶ 3, ECF No. 18-4; Declaration of Eric R. Oliver (“Oliver Decl.”) at ¶5, ECF No. 26-1).

Plaintiff served in a military capacity with the Hawaii Air National Guard as a Staff Sergeant and he was employed by the Hawaii Air National Guard as a military dual status fuel systems technician. (Lopina Decl. at ¶¶4, 8-10, ECF No. 18-4; Oliver Decl. at ¶ 7, ECF No. 26-1).

Plaintiffs “military technician (dual status)” position required him to be enlisted in the Hawaii Air National Guard in order to remain employed in the dual status position pursuant to 32 U.S.C. § 709(b)(1). (Lopina Decl. at ¶ 11, ECF No. 18-4; Oliver Decl. at ¶ 10, ECF No. 26-1; Deposition of Eric R. Oliver (“Oliver Depo.”) at p. 31, attached as Ex. 9 to Def.’s Motion, ECF No. 18-14).

Plaintiff was a union steward for the American Federation of Government Employees from 2009 to 2011 while he was employed in his dual status position. (Oliver Decl. at ¶¶ 17-20, ECF No. 26-1). Plaintiff, in his capacity as a union steward and as an individual employee of the Hawaii National Guard, made complaints, filed grievances, and submitted unfair labor practice complaints about his supervisor Daniel Lopez. (Id. at ¶ 20).

Enlisted personnel in the Hawaii Air National Guard sign an enlistment contract for a fixed term of service. (Lopina Decl. at ¶ 5, ECF No. 18-4). In 2011, Plaintiff sought reenlistment with the Hawaii Air .National Guard as his enlistment contract was set to expire on January 6, 2012. (Lopina Decl. at ¶¶ 5, 7, ECF No. 18-4; Oliver Decl. at ¶ 8, ECF No. 26-1; Oliver Depo. at p. 31, ECF No. 18-14).

Plaintiffs application for reenlistment was denied by his commander, Captain Paul Maedo, and approved by Defendant Darryll D.M. Wong, Adjutant General of the Hawaii National Guard. (Lopina Decl. at ¶¶ 5-6, 16-16, ECF No. 18-4; Oliver Decl. at ¶ 8, ECF No. 26-1; Oliver Depo. at p. 32, ECF No. 18-14).

On January 6, 2012, Plaintiff received an honorable discharge of service from the Hawaii Air National Guard. (Lopina Decl. at ¶ 7, ECF No. 18-4; Oliver Decl. at ¶ 6, ECF No. 26-1; Order from the Dept, of the Air Force, dated Apr. 16, 2012, stating Plaintiff was “honorably discharged from the [Hawaii Air National Guard] effective 6 Jan 2012,” attached as Ex. 10 to Pla.’s Reply, ECF No. 30-2).

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Bluebook (online)
158 F. Supp. 3d 1036, 2016 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 10373, 2016 WL 370711, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/oliver-v-wong-hid-2016.