Weber v. Department of Veterans Affairs

• Court: Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
• Decided: January 14, 2008
• Docket: 06-35522
• Status: Published

Opinion

FOR PUBLICATION UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE NINTH CIRCUIT

WILLIAM N. WEBER, M.D.,  Plaintiff-Appellant, No. 06-35522 v. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS  D.C. No. CV 04-046-H-SEH AFFAIRS AND ANTHONY J. PRINCIPI, OPINION SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS, Defendants-Appellees.  Appeal from the United States District Court for the District of Montana Sam E. Haddon, District Judge, Presiding

Argued and Submitted October 19, 2007—Seattle, Washington

Filed January 15, 2008

Before: Ronald M. Gould and Richard A. Paez, Circuit Judges, and Lyle E. Strom,* District Judge.

Opinion by Judge Strom

*The Honorable Lyle E. Strom, Senior United States District Judge for the District of Nebraska, sitting by designation.

519 WEBER v. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS 521

COUNSEL

Bruce M. Spencer, Smith Law Firm, P.C., Helena, Montana, for plaintiff-appellant William N. Weber, M.D. 522 WEBER v. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS William W. Mercer, Assistant United States Attorney, Great Falls, Montana, for defendants-appellees Department of Vet- erans Affairs and Anthony J. Principi, Secretary of Veterans Affairs.

OPINION

STROM, District Judge:

Appellant Dr. William Weber (“Dr. Weber”) appeals from the February 23, 2006, order of the United States District Court for the District of Montana denying his motion for sum- mary judgment on his claim for back pay under the Back Pay Act, 5 U.S.C. § 5596, and granting appellees’ motion to dis- miss Dr. Weber’s claim.

I. BACKGROUND

On October 1, 1997, Dr. Weber was appointed to the posi- tion of staff radiologist at the Veterans Administration Medi- cal and Regional Center (“VAMC”) in Fort Harrison, Montana, pursuant to 38 U.S.C. § 7401(1). Dr. Weber’s appointment was initially temporary, but the VAMC con- verted the position to a full-time staff position on December 7, 1997. As mandated by 38 U.S.C. §§ 7403(b)(1) and (2), Dr. Weber’s appointment was subject to a two-year probationary period and to board review. Section 7403(b)(2) states, in per- tinent part:

The record of each person serving under such an appointment in the [m]edical . . . [s]ervices shall be reviewed from time to time by a board, appointed in accordance with regulations of the Secretary. If such a board finds that such person is not fully qualified and satisfactory, such person shall be separated from the service. WEBER v. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS 523 A summary review board convened to review Dr. Weber’s appointment on August 2, 1999. On August 12, 1999, the board issued findings and a recommendation that Dr. Weber be separated from his employment effective September 13, 1999. The board found that no single incident warranted sepa- ration, but when considered in its entirety, Dr. Weber’s pat- tern of behavior warranted separation.

On March 8, 2000, Dr. Weber filed a complaint in the United States District Court for the District of Montana, seek- ing judicial review of the board’s recommendation to separate him. He claimed that his separation should be set aside because the board failed to follow VA regulations. Specifi- cally, Dr. Weber alleged that matters were presented to the summary review board that were not included in the notice of summary review sent to Dr. Weber. Without reaching a deci- sion on the merits of the summary review board decision, the district court agreed that the board failed to comply fully with the notice requirements. On June 2, 2004, the court vacated the report and recommendation of the summary review board and remanded the matter to the VA for further proceedings in accordance with the applicable laws and regulations. See Weber v. VA, No. CV-00-10-H-SEH (D. Mont. filed June 3, 2004) (“Weber I”).

On June 3, 2004, the VA reinstated Dr. Weber, but then immediately placed him on administrative leave with pay. The VAMC convened a new summary review board, which again recommended that Dr. Weber be separated from his employment. Accordingly, the VAMC discharged Dr. Weber effective December 6, 2005.

In the meantime, on September 15, 2004, Dr. Weber filed a complaint in the United States District Court for the District of Montana against the VA and Anthony J. Principi, the Sec- retary of Veterans Affairs (collectively, “VA”), claiming he was entitled to back pay and benefits under the Back Pay Act (“BPA”), 5 U.S.C. § 5596, for the period between September 524 WEBER v. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS 13, 1999, and June 3, 2004. Section 5596(b)(1) provides that back pay is warranted when an employee of an agency “is found by appropriate authority under applicable law, rule, reg- ulation, or collective bargaining agreement, to have been affected by an unjustified or unwarranted personnel action which has resulted in the withdrawal or reduction of all or part of the pay” of the employee. Dr. Weber moved for sum- mary judgment claiming he was entitled to back pay under the BPA by virtue of the district court’s prior decision in Weber I. Conversely, the VA moved to dismiss Dr. Weber’s com- plaint under Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(6), challenging the district court’s jurisdiction and arguing that the district court’s order in Weber I did not provide a basis for asserting a BPA claim.

On February 23, 2006, the district court denied Dr. Weber’s summary judgment motion and granted the VA’s motion to dismiss Dr. Weber’s BPA claim. The court determined that its prior decision in Weber I was limited to a narrow procedural issue and that questions relating to Dr. Weber’s pay or other benefits were not before the court. Thus, the court found that its decision in Weber I afforded no basis for a BPA claim. The court further stated that its review of the record revealed over- whelming evidence that the summary review board was justi- fied in separating Dr. Weber.

Dr. Weber filed a timely appeal of the district court’s order on April 18, 2006. He claims that the district court erred in its determination that the court’s prior decision in Weber I afforded no basis for Dr. Weber to assert a BPA claim.

II. STANDARD OF REVIEW

We review de novo dismissals pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(6). Burgert v. Lokelani Bernice Pauahi Bishop Trust, 200 F.3d 661, 663 (9th Cir. 2000). To avoid a Rule 12(b)(6) dismissal, a complaint need not contain detailed factual alle- gations; rather, it must plead “enough facts to state a claim to WEBER v. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS 525 relief that is plausible on its face.” Bell Atlantic Corp. v. Twombly, 127 S. Ct. 1955, 1974 (2007).

We also review de novo a district court’s decision to grant or deny summary judgment. Prison Legal News v. Lehman, 397 F.3d 692, 698 (9th Cir. 2005). Using the familiar stan- dard, we view the evidence in the light most favorable to the nonmoving party to determine whether there are any genuine issues of material fact and whether the district court correctly applied the relevant substantive law. Id.

III. DISCUSSION

[1] In order for a plaintiff to bring a viable suit against the federal government or its agencies, the government must have waived its sovereign immunity. “Consequently, a person attempting to sue a federal agency or officer must demon- strate that the claim being asserted is covered by a specific statutory authorization to sue the United States . . . .” 14 Charles Alan Wright, Arthur R. Miller & Edward H. Cooper, Federal Practice and Procedure § 3655 (3d ed. 1998). Dr. Weber claims the Administrative Procedure Act (“APA”), 5 U.S.C. § 701-706, and the BPA, 5 U.S.C. § 5596(b)(1), gave the district court jurisdiction over his back pay claim. The VA challenges this assertion, arguing the district court lacked jurisdiction under either act. We agree.

[2] Under the APA, federal sovereign immunity is waived for suits against the federal government in which the plaintiff is “seeking relief other than money damages.” 5 U.S.C. § 702 (emphasis added). Section 702 further states, in pertinent part:

Nothing herein . . . (2) confers authority to grant relief if any other statute that grants consent to suit expressly or impliedly forbids the relief which is sought.

Id. The APA did not vest the district court with jurisdiction for two reasons. First, “back pay, as a claim for money dam- 526 WEBER v. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS ages, falls outside the scope of the APA.” Ward v. Brown, 22 F.3d 516, 520 (2d Cir. 1994). Second, the comprehensive stat- utory scheme for the Veterans Health Administration (“VHA”) does not permit judicial review of Dr. Weber’s claims.

The Supreme Court’s reasoning in United States v. Fausto, 484 U.S. 439 (1988), controls our analysis. In Fausto, the Supreme Court considered whether an administrative officer in the Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service (“FWS”) had the right to bring an action in the Federal Court of Claims challenging his removal and seeking back pay under the Civil Service Reform Act (“CSRA”) (codified in Title 5 of the United States Code). The FWS had dismissed Fausto from his FWS position in 1981, citing various reasons, including the unauthorized use of a government vehicle. Id. at 441. Subsequently, the FWS determined that Fausto’s dis- missal was unwarranted but imposed a thirty-day suspension for his unauthorized use of the government vehicle. Id. The FWS offered Fausto back pay for a limited time period, which did not include his thirty-day suspension. Fausto rejected this offer and filed an appeal with the Department of Interior, arguing that: (1) the suspension was unwarranted and that he was entitled to back pay for the thirty-day suspension period; and (2) he was entitled to additional back pay from the date he was terminated through the date the FWS determined his initial dismissal was unwarranted. The Secretary of the Inte- rior rejected his arguments and upheld the FWS’s decision. Id. Fausto then filed an action with the Federal Court of Claims pursuant to the BPA. Id. at 443. The Claims Court dis- missed the action and held that the CSRA provided Fausto’s exclusive remedies. Fausto appealed to the United States Cir- cuit Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, which reversed and awarded back pay for the suspension period. Id. The Supreme Court granted certiorari.

[3] The Court determined that the comprehensive statutory scheme set forth in the CSRA did not provide for judicial WEBER v. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS 527 review for the actions taken against members of the excepted service, such as Fausto.1 The Court stated:

The CSRA established a comprehensive system for reviewing personnel action taken against federal employees. Its deliberate exclusion of employees in respondent’s service category from the provisions establishing administrative and judicial review for personnel action of the sort at issue here prevents respondent from seeking review in the Claims Court under the Back Pay Act.

Id. at 453.

[4] Like the statutory scheme analyzed in Fausto, Title 38 of the United States Code governs the appointment and employment terms of VA physicians. Dr. Weber was appointed as a VA radiologist under 38 U.S.C. § 7401(1); therefore, his employment was governed by the VHA person- nel system. We agree with the Sixth Circuit that “[l]ike the CSRA, Title 38 provides a comprehensive regulatory scheme for employees of the VA.” Fligiel v. Samson, 440 F.3d 747, 752 (6th Cir. 2006). This statutory scheme does not provide for judicial review of the decisions of summary review boards for probationary employees. See 38 U.S.C. §§ 7403(b)(2), (f)(3). “Under Fausto, where a comprehensive remedial scheme exists to address agency adverse actions, and Con- 1 The CSRA classifies workers into three categories: (1) senior executive service; (2) competitive service; and (3) excepted service. “ ‘Senior Exec- utive Service’ employees are those who occupy high-level positions in the Executive Department, but for whom appointment by the President and confirmation by the Senate is not required. 5 U.S.C. § 3132(a)(2). ‘Com- petitive service’ employees are all other employees for whom nomination by the President and confirmation by the Senate is not required, and who are not specifically excepted from the competitive service by statute or by statutorily authorized regulation. § 2102. ‘Excepted service’ personnel are the remainder — those who are in neither the competitive service nor the Senior Executive Service. § 2103.” Fausto, 484 U.S. at 441 n.1. 528 WEBER v. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS gress has clearly indicated that no judicial review is available, an individual may not choose other federal statutory avenues to obtain review.” Fligiel, 440 F.3d at 752 n.2 (citing Fausto, 484 U.S. at 455). Therefore, the APA does not provide a basis for Dr. Weber to assert his BPA claim.

[5] In the alternative, Dr. Weber also claims the BPA pro- vides the necessary waiver of sovereign immunity for the dis- trict court to hear his back pay claim. “ ‘The Back Pay Act is the means by which appointed employees subjected to unjus- tified personnel action are given a cause of action against the United States.’ ” Ward, 22 F.3d at 520 (quoting United States v. Hopkins, 427 U.S. 123, 128 (1976)). The BPA provides a waiver of sovereign immunity when:

An employee of an agency who, on the basis of a timely appeal or an administrative determination . . . is found by appropriate authority under applicable law, rule, regulation, or collective bargaining agree- ment, to have been affected by an unjustified or unwarranted personnel action . . . .

5 U.S.C. § 5596(b)(1). The requirements to invoke jurisdic- tion under the BPA are: (1) a finding of “an unjustified or unwarranted personnel action;” (2) by an “appropriate author- ity.” Id.

[6] Dr. Weber claims these requirements were satisfied by the district court’s decision in Weber I, which vacated the first report and recommendation of the summary review board and remanded the matter to the VA for further proceedings. This argument is unavailing because the district court, like the Claims Court in Fausto, was not an “appropriate authority” when it made its determination. Just as the “comprehensive and integrated review scheme of the CSRA” prevented Fausto from satisfying the threshold requirements to invoke the BPA, id., Title 38 prevents probationary physicians such as Dr. Weber from seeking judicial review of summary review board WEBER v. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS 529 determinations under the BPA. According to VA regulations, after a summary review board makes findings, the Chief of Staff can comment on those findings, and the facility director “may approve, disapprove or modify the [b]oard’s recommen- dation.” VHA Supplement, MP-5, Pt. II § 4.09(h)(1)(b). Because the board’s determination was but an interim step in a multi-level decision process, Dr. Weber’s only recourse was within his agency, not with the district court.2

As a final alternative, Dr. Weber claims he had a liberty interest under the Due Process Clause in seeing that the sum- mary review board complied with notice requirements. He argues a district court can invoke jurisdiction when a violation of due process rises to the level of a colorable constitutional claim. Because Dr. Weber failed to raise this claim before the district court, and no exceptional circumstances justify this failure, we decline to address this claim. See Monetary II Ltd. P’ship v. Comm’r, 47 F.3d 342, 347 (9th Cir. 1995) (internal quotation marks omitted) (stating “[a]s a general rule, an appellate court will not consider arguments which were not first raised before the district court, absent a showing of exceptional circumstances”).

[7] For the foregoing reasons, we conclude the district court lacked jurisdiction to adjudicate Dr. Weber’s claim for back pay. Accordingly, this case is remanded to the district court with instructions to dismiss Dr. Weber’s complaint for lack of jurisdiction.

VACATED and REMANDED.

2 We express no opinion on whether the district court properly asserted subject matter jurisdiction in Weber I.