Opinion
CASE NO. 12-cv-2369-BEN (NLS)
12-18-2013
WALTER M. SHAW, Plaintiff, v. VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION, VA SAN DIEGO HEALTHCARE SYSTEM, SAN DIEGO VA MEDICAL CENTER, DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS, and OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT, Defendants.
ORDER GRANTING THE
MOTION TO DISMISS AND
DISMISSING THE COMPLAINT
[Docket No. 24]
Before this Court is the Motion to Dismiss filed by the United States on behalf of all Defendants. (Docket No. 24). Upon careful review of the briefing and record in this matter, the Court GRANTS the Motion to Dismiss.
I. Plaintiff's Claims
Plaintiff Walter M. Shaw filed a First Amended Complaint (FAC) on October 24, 2012. (Docket No. 4). Plaintiff sought recovery of unpaid wages and benefits, as well as penalties, for Defendants' alleged systemic misclassification of Plaintiff as an independent contractor instead of an employee. (FAC ¶ 1). Plaintiff, a medical doctor, alleges he was hired by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to work in an outpatient facility in Mission Valley, CA. (Id. ¶¶ 2-4). He claims that he was improperly denied retirement and other employment benefits because he and others were misclassified as "fee basis physicians," "independent contractors," and "contract physicians," instead of "employees." (Id. ¶¶ 10, 17, 20). Plaintiff alleges that he was informed in writing that he did not qualify for benefits because his appointment was an independent contracting position and not eligible for benefits. (FAC ¶ 10; Pl's Exh. F, p. 135). Plaintiff devotes much of his complaint to a detailed description of his working conditions and the degree of control and oversight that the Defendants exercised over his actions. Plaintiff states that he and others tried to "encourage some benefit consideration" and were told that he and others were fee-service contractors. (Id. at ¶ 48). They were also told they did not qualify for the Federal Employee Retirement System (FERS). (Id.)
Plaintiff states that he received written notice that his last day was September 30, 2010. Plaintiff appears to claim that the records may not be correct, that his last day was September 24, and that he has not received payment for "September 30-31." (Id. at ¶ 49). Plaintiff also claims that he later received a letter in either November or December 2010 that stated that he and others had "voluntarily resigned" and that there was a verbal announcement at the end of October that the VA would no longer fire a physician. (Id. ¶¶ 49, 82) Plaintiff states that he "requested due process" for the loss of his job. (Id. ¶¶ 49, 82). Plaintiff stated that he sought relief through "HR (Central Office) and Benefits (Central Office)" and claims that San Diego VA Human Resources would not return their phone calls. (Id. ¶ 50). Plaintiff appears to claim that this was consistent with his "employee" status. (Id. ¶¶ 52, 71, 74). He claims that his discharge "was without reason 31 October 2010 after 17 years and some days of work remain unpaid." (Id. ¶ 81).
Plaintiff asserts four "causes of action." They are listed as (1) a declaratory judgment, (2) misclassification, (3) abuse of 38 U.S.C. §§ 7403, 74055 by failing to classify him as an employee resulting in "unlawful deprivation of benefits and rights to which plaintiff was rightfully entitled as an 'employee,'" and (4) violation of California Labor Code section 226.8, outlawing willful misclassification as an independent contractor. Plaintiff seeks the following specific forms of relief: 1) a declaration that Defendants misclassified plaintiff and others as "independent contractors," 2) injunctive relief enjoining Defendants from classifying fee basis physicians as independent contractors, 3) compensatory damages based upon the benefits and entitlement owed to Plaintiff as an employee, 4) statutory and restitutionary damages, and 5) a declaration that Defendants willfully misclassified plaintiff under California Labor Code § 2753. (Id. at p. 24).
On July 22, 2013, the United States moved to dismiss for lack of jurisdiction on behalf of the Defendants. (Docket No. 24).
II. Legal Standard
Under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6), dismissal is appropriate if, taking all factual allegations as true, the complaint fails to state a plausible claim for relief on its face. FED. R. CIV. P. 12(b)(6); Bell Atl. Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 556-57 (2007); see also Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662,678 (2009) (requiring plaintiff to plead factual content that provides "more than a sheer possibility that a defendant has acted unlawfully"). Under this standard, dismissal is appropriate if the complaint fails to state enough facts to raise a reasonable expectation that discovery will reveal evidence of the matter complained of, or if the complaint lacks a cognizable legal theory under which relief may be granted. Twombly, 550 U.S. at 556.
III. Discussion
A. Retirement Benefits
The United States asks this Court to dismiss the action for lack of jurisdiction because Plaintiff failed to allege that he exhausted his administrative remedies, and jurisdiction over any exhausted claims lies exclusively with the Federal Circuit. (Mot. at 2).
The Court notes that Plaintiff points out that the federal court has jurisdiction because the United States is a party, there is a federal question, and/or the subject matter jurisdiction is intertwined with the merits. (Resp. at 1, 7-13). However, even if this Court would normally have proper subject matter jurisdiction over the case for any of the reasons offered by Plaintiff, the Court will nonetheless lack jurisdiction if Plaintiff either failed to exhaust administrative remedies, or sought judicial review in the wrong court. See, e.g., Grossman v. C.I.R., 687 F. Supp. 1401, 1402 (N.D. Cal. 1987).
Congress has authorized the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to administer FERS, and to enact regulations to do so. 5 U.S.C. § 8347. OPM regulations state that OPM will adjudicate "all claims for basic benefits arising under FERS and of all matters directly or indirectly concerned with these adjudications." 5 C.F.R. § 841.105(a). To receive benefits under FERS, a claimant must apply for the benefit as prescribed by OPM. 5 C.F.R. § 841.202(a). Individuals must file an application with OPM. 5 C.F.R. § 841.304. The OPM decision on that application may be subject to reconsideration. 5 C.F.R. §§841.305, 841.306. The matter can then be appealed to the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB). 5 C.F.R. §§ 841.305, 841.308; 5 U.S.C. § 8347(d)(1)-(2). The decision of the MSPB can be appealed to the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. 28 U.S.C. § 1295(a)(9). The Federal Circuit's jurisdiction is exclusive. Id.
A federal court cannot offer an independent determination of benefits. The Civil Service Reform Act has established that the exclusive avenue of review is through the OPM, MSPB, and the Federal Circuit. See Rogers v. United States, 15 Cl. Ct. 692, 698 (1988); Ashgar v. United States, 23 Cl. Ct. 226, 232-33 (1991).
Plaintiff fails to allege that he applied for benefits and exhausted his administrative remedies before the OPM and MSPB. Even if he had done so, he would be required to seek judicial review in the Federal Circuit. To the extent that Plaintiff files the instant motion seeking retirement benefits, this Court lacks jurisdiction and the motion to dismiss is GRANTED. Plaintiff's claims for retirement benefits are DISMISSED.
B. Unpaid Overtime
Although Defendants ask this Court to dismiss Plaintiff's claim, they only provided a single argument in their Motion to Dismiss - the Court's lack of jurisdiction over Plaintiff's claims for retirement benefits. In its Reply brief, Defendants address, for the first time, Plaintiff's claims about overtime and his contention that he was misclassified.
It is inappropriate for this Court to consider new arguments that the Defendants failed to raise in their opening brief. E.g., Schwartz v. Upper Deck Co., 183 F.R.D. 672, 682 (S.D. Cal. 1999) (citing Provenz v. Miller, 102 F.3d 1478, 1483 (9th Cir. 1996)); United States ex rel. Giles v. Sardie, 191 F. Supp. 2d 1117, 1127 (C.D. Cal. 2000) ("It is improper for a moving party to introduce new facts or different legal arguments in the reply brief than those presented in the moving papers."); Ass'n of Irritated Residents v. C & R Vanderham Dairy, 435 F. Supp. 2d 1078, 1089 (E.D. Cal. 2006) ("It is inappropriate to consider arguments raised for the first time in a reply brief."). See also State of Nev. v. Watkins, 914 F.2d 1545, 1560 (9th Cir. 1990) (applying the rule at the appellate level and discussing the unfairness to opposing party of considering issues raised for the first time in a reply brief).
In particular, this Court notes that a review of Plaintiff's FAC reveals that Plaintiff was obviously raising claims beyond retirement benefits. (E.g., FAC ¶ 1). Although Plaintiff's FAC is not always clear about the causes of action he asserts and the compensation he seeks, he clearly asserted that he was misclassified and denied overtime. Indeed, most of Plaintiff s FAC is devoted to arguing that he meets the test for an "employee." Plaintiff repeatedly alleges he was improperly denied rights and benefits of an employee, as opposed to a focus on retirement benefits. (FAC ¶¶ 18, 20, 21, 87). Plaintiff specifically alleged he was not paid overtime. (FAC ¶¶ 8, 12). Retirement benefits were only specifically mentioned at a few points in Plaintiff's 25-page complaint. Defendants stated in their opening brief that Plaintiff's complaint appeared to allege that "his performance of duties as a fee-based physician for the Department of Veterans Affairs entitled him to certain employment benefits, chief among them enrollment in the Federal Employee Retirement System." (Mot. at 2).
Review of Plaintiff's response brief reveals no grounds for Defendants to raise overtime issues for the first time in a reply brief. Plaintiff's Response reiterated his claims and focused on his arguments that subject matter jurisdiction existed because the United States is a party, a federal question existed, and any dispute regarding subject matter jurisdiction was intertwined with the merits. Plaintiff does mention new arguments, such as a claim under California's Unfair Competition Law.
Although Plaintiff clearly sought to allege more than a denial of retirement benefits, Defendants' opening brief only addressed this claim. By failing to raise the overtime issues until the Reply Brief, Defendants deprived Plaintiff of the opportunity to put forward any arguments he may have that he is entitled to overtime benefits. Defendants' arguments regarding overtime will therefore not be considered at this time.
C. Failure to Make a Short and Plain Statement of the Claim Showing that the Pleader is Entitled to Relief
Plaintiff's FAC fails to meet the demands of Rule 8 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, which requires that the complaint provide a "short and plain statement of the claim showing that the pleader is entitled to relief." A complaint must give defendants fair notice of "what the ... claim is and the grounds upon which it rests." Twombly, 550 U.S. at 555 (quoting Conley v. Gibson, 355 U.S. 41, 47 (1957)). A complaint that fails to comply with these rules may be dismissed. E.g., Nevijel v. North Coast Life Ins. Co., 651 F.2d 671, 673 (9th Cir. 1981) (upholding dismissal of complaint which was verbose, confusing, and conclusory); Schmidt v. Herrmann, 614 F.2d 1221, 1224 (9th Cir. 1980) (upholding dismissal of complaint where confusing, distracting, ambiguous, and unintelligible).
Plaintiff's 94-paragraph FAC is confusing and fails to give Defendants fair notice of what claims he is asserting and what relief he seeks. Including exhibits, the FAC is 143 pages. The FAC is frequently redundant and disorganized, and refers to dates that do not exist, such as September 31st. Plaintiff's allegation of the facts, particularly as to chronology, is confusing and possibly inconsistent. Plaintiff's discussion of the underlying facts is lengthy and confusing, and it is often unclear whether Plaintiff is attempting to provide background or allege misconduct.
Plaintiff also refers to "rights" and "benefits" that he has been denied, but it is unclear what relief Plaintiff seeks beyond retirement benefits and unpaid overtime. Plaintiff repeatedly claims to be an employee, a fact the Defendants have conceded, but does not explain why he believes he is entitled to any particular benefit. Plaintiff alleges "misclassification" as a cause of action, but does not state any basis for treating "misclassification" as a cause of action. Similarly, he does not explain his basis for claiming that "abuse of 38 U.S.C. 7402 and 74055" is a cause of action.
Plaintiff alleges that he was willfully misclassified as an independent contractor in violation of California Labor Code § 226.8, but states that he "reserves rights" to bring an action on behalf of the State of California." (FAC ¶ 98). Plaintiff does not appear to assert any cause of action under California labor law at this time.
Plaintiff's FAC is therefore DISMISSED for failure to make a "short and plain" statement showing that he is entitled to relief.
IV. Conclusion
Defendant's Motion to Dismiss is GRANTED as to the claim for retirement benefits. The FAC is DISMISSED WITHOUT PREJUDICE.
Plaintiff is given leave to file a Second Amended Complaint. Plaintiff is cautioned that if he files a Second Amended Complaint, he must make a "short and plain" statement showing that he is entitled to the relief he seeks. Plaintiff must state all of the benefits or other relief that he seeks, and allege facts from which this Court could conclude that he is entitled to such relief. He must clearly state the basis upon which this Court is able to give him relief for the wrongs he claims, such as a statute or common law cause of action.
Plaintiff is also cautioned that if he includes the personal information of other individuals, as in the case of Exhibit D of the FAC, he must submit a "Motion to File Under Seal" to ask this Court for permission to file such documents under seal pursuant to Civil Local Rule 79.2 in order to protect the privacy and personal information of those individuals.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
________________________
HON. ROGER T. BENITEZ
United States District Judge