Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_15-cv-00026/USCOURTS-caed-2_15-cv-00026-3/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 442
Nature of Suit: Civil Rights Employment
Cause of Action: 42:1983 Civil Rights (Employment Discrimination)

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 

KEITH BROWN, 

Plaintiff, 

v. 

JAMES MATTIS, Secretary of Defense;1

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF 

DEFENSE, 

Defendants. 

No. 2:15-cv-26-JAM-EFB PS 

ORDER AND FINDINGS AND 

RECOMMENDATIONS 

 This case was before the court on October 26, 2016, for hearing on defendants’ motion to 

dismiss for lack of subject matter jurisdiction pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 

(“Rule”) 12(b)(1) and for failure to state a claim pursuant to Rule 12(b)(6) (ECF No. 22), and 

plaintiff’s motion for sanctions pursuant to Rule 11 (ECF No. 25).2

 Assistant United States 

Attorney Philip Scarborough appeared on behalf of defendants; plaintiff appeared pro se. For the 

following reasons, plaintiff’s motion for sanctions is denied and it is recommended that 

defendants’ motion to dismiss be granted. 

 1

 On January 20, 2017, James Mattis became the Secretary of Defense. Pursuant to 

Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 25(d), James Mattis is substituted as defendant in place of 

Ashton Carter, the former Secretary of Defense. 

2

 This case, in which plaintiff is proceeding pro se, is before the undersigned pursuant to 

Eastern District of California Local Rule 302(c)(21). See 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1). 

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I. Defendants’ Motion to Dismiss 

 A. Background 

 1. First Amended Complaint’s Factual Allegations 

 This action proceeds on plaintiff’s first amended complaint, which purports to assert 

claims against the United States Department of Defense and James Mattis, the Secretary of 

Defense. ECF No. 16. Plaintiff, a 58 year old African American male, was previously employed 

as a federal police officer with the Defense Logistics Agency (“DLA”) who had his security 

clearance revoked. Id. ¶¶ 25, 26. 

 Plaintiff alleges that throughout his employment with the DLA he received fully 

successful performance ratings with exceptional rankings from his superiors. Id. ¶ 27. However, 

on November 19, 2012, things changed. He was cited by a California Highway Patrol officer for 

having tinted windows and an expired vehicle registration. Id. ¶ 37. In light of the circumstances 

of that traffic stop, the DLA opened an investigation regarding the traffic citations and plaintiff 

was placed on administrative duties. Id. ¶¶ 39, 40. Shortly thereafter, District Attorney’s office 

notified the DLA that a criminal complaint was filed against plaintiff charging him with three 

felonies. Id. ¶ 42. Specifically, plaintiff was charged with theft of a vehicle, receiving stolen 

property, and vehicle license forgery. Defs.’ Req. for Judicial Notice (“RJN”), Ex. A.3

 Based on 

that criminal complaint, the agency suspended plaintiff’s employment without pay, denied him 

physical access to DLA’s building, revoked his security clearance, and ultimately terminated his 

employment. ECF No. 16 ¶¶ 45, 49, 45. According to the complaint, that criminal complaint, 

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 3

 Defendants’ request for judicial notice of state court documents and decisions issued by 

the Merit System Protection Board (ECF No. 23) is granted. See Fed. R. Evid. 201; U.S. ex rel 

Robinson Rancheria Citizens Council v. Borneo, Inc., 971 F.2d 244, 248 (9th Cir. 1992) (district 

courts may “take notice of proceedings in other courts, both within and without the federal 

judicial system, if those proceedings have a direct relation to matters at issue.”); Anderson v. 

Holder, 673 F.3d 1089, 1094 n.1 (9th Cir. 2012) (courts “may take judicial notice of records and 

reports of administrative bodies.”) (quotations omitted). Plaintiff’s request for judicial notice of 

numerous appellate courts opinions (ECF No. 26) is denied as unnecessary. The court may 

consider these authorities without judicially noticing them. 

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which formed the basis of disciplinary actions in dispute here, was subsequently dismissed.4 

Id. ¶ 57. 

 Although the DLA contends that the revocation of the security clearance and the 

disciplinary actions of which plaintiff complains were the result of the information obtained from 

the state criminal charges, the crux of plaintiff’s complaint is that the various disciplinary 

decisions directed at him were motivated by race and age discrimination. He contends that the 

discipline he received was disproportionate to the discipline administered to other non-African 

American DLA police officers under the age of 40 for similar conduct. Id. ¶¶ 1-8. He also claims 

that he was denied multiple promotions based on discrimination, and that he was defamed, 

libeled, and slandered by statements related to the disciplinary events. Id. ¶¶ 9-19. 

 He asserts claims styled as (1) race discrimination under Title VII; (2) age discrimination 

under the Age Discrimination Act of 1967; (3) “harmful procedural error;” and (4) violation of 

his due process rights under the Fifth Amendment. Although not identified as a separate cause of 

action, the complaint contains numerous allegations accusing defendants of defaming plaintiff’s 

character. 

 2. Proceedings Before the Merit Systems Protection Board 

 Plaintiff filed an appeal with the Merits Systems Protection Board (“MSPB”) challenging 

the agency’s March 15, 2013 decision to suspend him indefinitely without pay.5 Declaration of 

 4

 The underlying facts surrounding the traffic citation and related criminal complaint have 

not been fully presented to the court and remain unclear. However, an administrative decision 

submitted in support of defendants’ motion suggests that plaintiff did not steal a vehicle, but 

instead placed California license plates registered to a different vehicle on an unregistered vehicle 

he had acquired from out of state. See RJN Ex. F. 

 5

 In Elgin v. Department of Treasury, 567 U.S. 1 (012), the United States Supreme Court 

succinctly described the administrative procedures available under the Civil Service Reform Act 

(“CSRA”) to federal employees challenging adverse employment decisions: 

The Civil Service Reform Act of 1978 (CSRA) established a 

comprehensive system for reviewing personnel action taken against 

federal employees. . . . Employees entitled to review are those in 

the “competitive service” and “excepted service” who meet certain 

requirements regarding probationary periods and years of service. 

The reviewable agency actions are removal, suspension for more 

than 14 days, reduction in grade or pay, or furlough for 30 days or 

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Carl Eskew ISO Defs.’ Mot. to Dismiss (“Eskew Decl.”) ¶¶ 9-10, Exs. B-C. In the meantime, 

Carl Eskew, the Chief of Security and Emergency Services at the DLA’s Defense Distribution 

Depot San Joaquin, forwarded information regarding the criminal charges to DLA Intelligence for 

investigation and review of plaintiff’s security clearance. Eskew Decl. ¶ 11. On June 11, 2013 

(prior to resolution of the appeal), plaintiff’s security clearance was suspended. Eskew Decl. 

¶ 12; ECF No. 16 ¶ 54. 

 The following month, an MSPB Administrative Law Judge (“ALJ”) issued an initial 

decision, subsequently affirmed by the Board, that reversed plaintiff’s indefinite suspension. The 

ALJ found that the criminal complaint, without more, was insufficient to sustain the indefinite 

suspension. RJN Exs. C, D. The MSPB ordered the agency to cancel the suspension; reinstate 

plaintiff effective April 1, 2013; and pay plaintiff back pay and other benefits. RJN Ex. C at 10. 

The agency complied and plaintiff’s suspension was subsequently canceled. He was returned to 

his position, but because of the loss of the security clearance he was placed “in an administrative 

leave status.” Eskew Decl. ¶ 11. Plaintiff alleges that placing him in that status was also 

motivated by discriminatory animus. ECF No. 16 at 1-8. 

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 less. 

When an employing agency proposes a covered action against a 

covered employee, the CSRA gives the employee the right to 

notice, representation by counsel, an opportunity to respond, and a 

written, reasoned decision from the agency. If the agency takes 

final adverse action against the employee, the CSRA gives the 

employee the right to a hearing and to be represented by an attorney 

or other representative before the Merit Systems Protection Board 

(MSPB). The MSPB is authorized to order relief to prevailing 

employees, including reinstatement, backpay, and attorney’s fees. 

Id. at 2130 (quotations and citations omitted). 

 When an employee seeks review of an agency’s decision by the MSPB, the case may be 

referred to an Administrative Law Judge, who will issue an initial decision. 5 C.F.R. § 1201.111. 

A dissatisfied party may seek review of the initial decision by filing a petition for review with the 

full Board. 5 C.F.R. § 1201.114. Upon review, the Board may, among other things, issue a final 

decision resolving the case. 5 C.F.R. § 1201.117. However, if neither party seeks review, the 

initial decision will become the Board’s final decision 35 days after its issuance. 5 C.F.R. § 

1201.113. 

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 In January 2014, the agency issued a decision to terminate his employment effective 

February 4, 2014. Id. ¶ 13-15, Exs. E-F. Plaintiff responded with anther MSPB appeal 

challenging his termination (RJN Ex. F), and an ALJ again reversed the agency’s decision. The 

ALJ found that the agency violated plaintiff’s due process rights by relying on evidence not 

identified in the notice of removal as the basis for terminating his employment.6 Id. 

Consequently, plaintiff’s removal was canceled, he was again restored to an administrative leave 

status, and he received back pay from the effective date of his termination. Eskew Decl. ¶ 16. 

 Plaintiff also filed two petitions with the MSPB seeking enforcement of its ruling. One 

sought enforcement of the order reversing his indefinite suspension and the other related to the 

decision reversing his termination. RJN Exs. E, G. He argued that the agency failed to comply 

with the MSPB’s orders by refusing to return plaintiff to active duty, failing to reinstate certain 

benefits of employment, and improperly calculating his back pay and benefits. Id. The MSPB 

denied both petitions, finding that plaintiff had failed to demonstrate noncompliance. Id. 

 Although it appears that plaintiff was successful in obtaining reinstatement and back pay 

in his appeals before the MSPB, he nonetheless has filed a “mixed case” 7 in this court in which 

he asserts claims of race and age discrimination, alleged “harmful procedural error,” and 

defamation. Defendants move to dismiss the action arguing that plaintiff’s claims necessarily call 

into question the revocation of the security clearance and are therefore jurisdictionally barred. 

Defendants further argue that plaintiff’s claims as to age discrimination and procedural errors 

before the agency are moot. 

 6

 The agency filed a petition for review of the ALJ’s decision, which the Board dismissed 

as untimely. RJN Ex. H. 

7

 “When an employee complains of a personnel action serious enough to appeal to the 

MSPB and alleges that the action was based on discrimination, she is said (by pertinent 

regulations) to have brought a ‘mixed case.’” Kloeckner v. Solis, 133 S.Ct. 596, 601 (2012). The 

CSRA grants district courts jurisdiction to review MSPB decisions involving mixed cases. 5 

U.S.C. § 7703; Kloeckner, 133 S.Ct. at 601-02. Plaintiff’s complaint does not explicitly request 

review of a particular MSPB decision. However, “[i]f the challenged conduct ‘falls within the 

scope of the CSRA’s ‘prohibited personnel practices,’ then the CSRA’s administrative procedures 

are [the employee’s] only remedy.” Mangano v. United States, 529 F.3d 1243, 1246 (9th Cir. 

2008). Accordingly, the court construes plaintiff’s amended complaint as seeking judicial review 

of the MSPB’s final decisions. 

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 B. Legal Standards 

 1. Rule 12(b)(1) 

 On a Rule12(b)(1) motion to dismiss for lack of subject matter jurisdiction, plaintiff bears 

the burden of proof that jurisdiction exists. See, e.g., Sopcak v. Northern Mountain Helicopter 

Serv., 52 F.3d 817, 818 (9th Cir. 1995); Thornhill Pub. Co. v. General Tel. & Electronics Corp., 

594 F.2d 730, 733 (9th Cir. 1979). Different standards apply to a 12(b)(1) motion, depending on 

the manner in which it is made. See, e.g., Crisp v. U.S., 966 F. Supp. 970, 971-72 (E.D. Cal. 

1997). “A Rule 12(b)(1) jurisdictional attack may be facial or factual.” Safe Air For Everyone v. 

Meyer, 373 F.3d 1035, 1039 (9th Cir. 2004). A facial attack “asserts that the lack of subject 

matter jurisdiction is apparent from the face of the complaint.” Id. If the motion presents a facial 

attack, the court considers the complaint’s allegations to be true, and plaintiff enjoys “safeguards 

akin to those applied when a Rule 12(b)(6) motion is made.” Doe v. Schachter, 804 F. Supp. 53, 

56 (N.D. Cal. 1992). 

 Conversely, a factual attack challenges the truth of the allegations in the complaint that 

give rise to federal jurisdiction. If the motion makes a “factual attack” on subject matter 

jurisdiction, often referred to as a “speaking motion,” the court does not presume the factual 

allegations of the complaint to be true. Thornhill, 594 F.2d at 733. In a factual attack, defendant 

challenges the truth of the jurisdictional facts underlying the complaint. “Faced with a factual 

attack on subject matter jurisdiction, the trial court may proceed as it never could under Rule 

12(b)(6). . . . No presumptive truthfulness attaches to plaintiff’s allegations, and the existence of 

disputed material facts will not preclude the trial court from evaluating for itself the merits of 

jurisdictional claims.” Id. (quotations and citation omitted). The court may consider evidence 

such as declarations or testimony to resolve factual disputes. Id.; McCarthy v. United States, 850 

F.2d 558, 560 (9th Cir. 1988). “However, when ‘ruling on a jurisdictional motion involving 

factual issues which also go to the merits, the trial court should employ the standard applicable to 

a motion for summary judgment.’ Under this standard, ‘the moving party should prevail only if 

the material jurisdictional facts are not in dispute and the moving party is entitled to prevail as a 

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matter of law.’” Trentacosta v. Frontier Pacific Aircraft Industries, Inc., 813 F.2d 1553, 1558 

(9th Cir. 1987) (quotations and citations omitted) (emphasis added). 

 Here, defendants present a facial attack. The question raised by the defense can be 

resolved by the allegations of the complaint itself and documents subject to judicial notice. 

Accordingly, the court applies the Rule 12(b)(6) standards to this motion. 

 2. Rule 12(b)(6) 

 To survive dismissal for failure to state a claim pursuant to Rule 12(b)(6), a complaint 

must contain more than a “formulaic recitation of the elements of a cause of action”; it must 

contain factual allegations sufficient to “raise a right to relief above the speculative level.” Bell 

Atl. Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 555 (2007). “The pleading must contain something more 

. . . than . . . a statement of facts that merely creates a suspicion [of] a legally cognizable right of 

action.” Id. (quoting 5 C. Wright & A. Miller, Federal Practice and Procedure § 1216, pp. 235-

236 (3d ed. 2004)). “[A] complaint must contain sufficient factual matter, accepted as true, to 

‘state a claim to relief that is plausible on its face.’” Aschroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678 (2009) 

(quoting Twombly, 550 U.S. at 570). “A claim has facial plausibility when plaintiff pleads factual 

content that allows the court to draw the reasonable inference that the defendant is liable for the 

misconduct alleged.” Id. Dismissal is appropriate based either on the lack of cognizable legal 

theories or the lack of pleading sufficient facts to support cognizable legal theories. Balistreri v. 

Pacifica Police Dep’t, 901 F.2d 696, 699 (9th Cir. 1990). 

 In considering a motion to dismiss, the court must accept as true the allegations of the 

complaint in question, Hospital Bldg. Co. v. Rex Hosp. Trs., 425 U.S. 738, 740 (1976), construe 

the pleading in the light most favorable to the party opposing the motion, and resolve all doubts in 

the pleader’s favor. Jenkins v. McKeithem, 395 U.S. 411, 421, reh’g denied, 396 U.S. 869 

(1969). The court will “presume that general allegations embrace those specific facts that are 

necessary to support the claim.’” Nat’l Org. for Women, Inc. v. Scheidler, 510 U.S. 249, 256 

(1994) (quoting Lujan v. Defenders of Wildlife, 504 U.S. 555, 561 (1992)). 

 Pro se pleadings are held to a less stringent standard than those drafted by lawyers. 

Haines v. Kerner, 404 U.S. 519, 520 (1972); Bretz v. Kelman, 773 F.2d 1026, 1027 n.1 (9th Cir. 

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1985). The Ninth Circuit has held that the less stringent standard for pro se parties is now higher 

in light of Iqbal and Twombly, but the court still continues to construe pro se filings liberally. 

Hebbe v. Pliler, 627 F.3d 338, 342 (9th Cir. 2010). However, the court’s liberal interpretation of 

a pro se litigant’s pleading may not supply essential elements of a claim that are not pled. Pena v. 

Gardner, 976 F.2d 469, 471 (9th Cir. 1992); Ivey v. Bd. of Regents of Univ. of Alaska, 673 F.2d 

266, 268 (9th Cir. 1982). Furthermore, “[t]he court is not required to accept legal conclusions 

cast in the form of factual allegations if those conclusions cannot reasonably be drawn from the 

facts alleged.” Clegg v. Cult Awareness Network, 18 F.3d 752, 754-55 (9th Cir. 1994). Neither 

need the court accept unreasonable inferences, or unwarranted deductions of fact. W. Mining 

Council v. Watt, 643 F.2d 618, 624 (9th Cir. 1981). 

 In deciding a Rule 12(b)(6) motion to dismiss, the court may consider facts established by 

exhibits attached to the complaint. Durning v. First Boston Corp., 815 F.2d 1265, 1267 (9th Cir. 

1987). The court may also consider facts which may be judicially noticed, Mullis v. U.S. Bankr. 

Ct., 828 F.2d 1385, 1388 (9th Cir. 1987), and matters of public record, including pleadings, 

orders, and other papers filed with the court, Mack v. South Bay Beer Distribs., 798 F.2d 1279, 

1282 (9th Cir. 1986). 

 C. Discussion 

 As noted, defendants argue that subject jurisdiction is lacking as to the majority of 

plaintiff’s claims, and that his factual allegations fail to state a claim as to the others. ECF No. 

22-1. 

 1. Timeliness of Defendants’ Motion 

 Plaintiff raises a threshold argument that the defendants’ motion is untimely and should 

not be considered. ECF No. 24 at 27. The argument lacks merit. Defendants moved to dismiss 

plaintiff original complaint on June 21, 2016. ECF No. 13. In response, plaintiff amended his 

complaint pursuant to Rule 15 by filing a first amended complaint on June 29, 2016.8 ECF No. 

16. Defendants subsequently filed a timely motion for an extension of time to respond to the first 

 8

 Rule 15 permits a plaintiff to amend his complaint once as a matter of course within 21 

days after service of an answer or a motion brought under Rule 12(b). Fed. R. Civ. P 15(a)(1). 

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amended complaint. ECF No. 18. On July 7, 2016, the court denied defendants’ motion to 

dismiss the original complaint as moot, granted defendants’ request for an extension of time, and 

directed defendants to file a response to the first amended complaint by August 19, 2016. ECF 

No. 19. Defendants timely filed the instant motion to dismiss on August 17, 2016. ECF No. 22. 

 2. Claims Related to the Revocation of Plaintiff’s Security Clearance 

 Turning to the merits of defendants’ motion, they first argue that the majority of plaintiff’s 

claims must be dismissed for lack of jurisdiction. They note that these claims are dependent upon 

a review of the decision to revoke plaintiff’s security clearance, and any claims requiring review 

of that decision are barred. ECF No. 22-1 at 11-14. 

 In Dep’t of Navy v. Egan, 484 U.S. 518 (1988), the Supreme Court held that the MSPB 

lacks authority to review a decision denying an individual a security clearance, reasoning that 

security clearance determinations are “sensitive and inherently discretionary” and are “committed 

by law to the appropriate agency of the Executive Branch.” 484 U.S. at 527-29. Egan was 

extended by the Ninth Circuit to also preclude judicial review of security clearance decisions, 

finding that the reviewability of such decisions “applie[d] no less to the federal courts than to the 

MSPB.” Dorfmont v. Brown, 913 F.2d 1399, 1401 (9th Cir. 1990). 

Egan and Dorfmont have also been applied to preclude jurisdiction over a Title VII claim 

alleging that a revocation of a security clearance was the result of race discrimination. Brazil v. 

Dep’t of Navy, 66 F.3d 193 (9th Cir. 1995). The court in Brazil explained that the resolution of 

the Title VII claim would necessarily require an evaluation of whether the reasons for revoking 

the security clearance were valid. Id. at 197. It explained that under the McDonnell Douglas9

burden-shifting framework, “[i]t is impossible for the court to establish in the first place whether 

the Navy’s proffered reasons were legitimate without evaluating their merits. Even if the court 

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 9 McDonnell Douglas v. Corp. v. Green, 411 U.S. 792 (1973), established a three-part 

burden shifting test for evaluating discrimination claims. Under this test, a plaintiff is required to 

first establish a prima facie case of discrimination. If the plaintiff establishes a prima facie case, 

the burden shifts to the employer to articulate a legitimate, nondiscriminatory reason for its 

decision. Once the employer does so, the plaintiff then bears the burden of proving that the 

proffered reason is a pretext for discrimination. Id. at 802-04. 

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were able to get by step two, it is very likely to be impossible for it to proceed to step three and 

determine whether the given reasons were mere pretext without considering their merits.” Id. 

 Here, plaintiff’s amended complaint specifically claims that defendants’ decision to 

suspend his security clearance violated his right to due process and was based on harmful 

procedural errors and discrimination in violation of Title VII and the Age Discrimination in 

Employment Act (“ADEA”). ECF No. 16 ¶ 5. As such, his claim is indistinguishable from 

Brazil and his challenge is barred. 

 Plaintiff’s claims related to his placement on administrative leave and denial of 

promotions occurring after June 11, 2013—the date his security clearance was suspended—are 

similarly barred. A prerequisite to plaintiff resuming his positions as a police officer or receiving 

a promotion was his holding of a valid security clearance. Thus, resolution of these claims would 

also require review of the merits of the decision to suspend plaintiff’s clearance. One necessarily 

follows the other. As explained by Carl Eskew, the Chief of Security and Emergency Services at 

DLA’s Defense Distribution Depot San Joaquin, the decisions to preclude plaintiff from entering 

the DLA base, and to place him on administrative leave instead of returning him to his duties as a 

police officer after the MSPB reversed the agency’s decisions were based, at least in part, on 

plaintiff’s security clearance having been suspended. Eskew Decl. ¶ 21. He explains that all 

DLA police officers are required to maintain at least a “Secret” level security clearance. Eskew 

Decl. ¶ 4. Without his security clearance, plaintiff was not able to return to his job as a police 

officer. Id. ¶¶ 12, 21. Consequently, he was placed on administrative leave and barred from 

entering the DLA base. Id. ¶ 21. Mr. Eskew further states that plaintiff was not qualified for a 

promotion to a Sergeant or Lieutenant, as one cannot hold those positions without a security 

clearance. Id. ¶ 22. 

 Review of these determinations necessitates an evaluation of whether defendants’ 

“proffered reasons [for suspending plaintiff’s security clearance] were legitimate” or “whether the 

given reasons were mere pretext.” Brazil, 66 F.3d at 197; see Drazich v. Mubuz, 20142014 WL 

2069474 (N.D. Cal. May 16, 2014) (court lacked jurisdiction over plaintiff’s discriminatory 

termination claim where plaintiff “was terminated because his security clearance was revoked, 

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and the clearance was a requirement of his job.”). As the Ninth Circuit has explained in Brazil, 

review of the clearance decision in this context is barred. Therefore these claims must be 

dismissed without leave to amend.10 See Noll v. Carlson, 809 F.2d 1446, 1448 (9th Cir. 1987) 

(while the court ordinarily would permit a pro se plaintiff to amend, leave to amend should not be 

granted where it appears amendment would be futile). 

 3. Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 

 As with the Title VII claims, any of plaintiff’s age discrimination claims that call into 

question the revocation of his security clearance are also barred. But defendants also argue that 

the age discrimination claim related to the challenged disciplinary action is moot. ECF No. 22-1 

at 14-15 (noting plaintiff’s successful appeal before the MSPB). Id. at 16.11

 “The doctrine of mootness, which is embedded in Article III’s case or controversy 

requirement, requires that an actual, ongoing controversy exists at all stages of federal court 

proceedings.” Pitts v. Terrible Herbst, Inc., 653 F.3d 1081, 1086 (9th Cir. 2011). A case is moot 

“if events subsequent to the filing of the case resolve the parties’ dispute.” Id. at 1087. Under 

 10 On January 13, 2017, defendants requested leave to supplement the motion to dismiss, 

which they noticed for hearing on February 15, 2017. ECF No. 40. That request and the 

proposed supplement indicate that on December 20, 2016, the Department of Defense 

Consolidated Adjudications Facility, which is responsible for reviewing security clearance 

determinations, reinstated plaintiff’s security clearance. See ECF No. 40-2 at 2. This additional 

information does not alter the outcome of the pending motion. Egan and its progeny make clear 

that his court is without jurisdiction to review the merits of the agency’s decision to revoke 

plaintiff’s security clearance. While it might raise questions of mootness, the subsequent decision 

to reinstate plaintiff’s security clearance, even if predicated on a finding that it was wrongfully 

removed, does not vest jurisdiction where it was lacking in the first place. 

 11 Plaintiff claims that adverse employment actions taken against him before the 

suspension of his security clearance are not barred by Egan. These include the November 21, 

2012 and February 8, 2013 decisions to place him on administrative leave; an April 1, 2013, 

decision to indefinitely suspend him without pay; and decisions to not promote him in 2011, 

2012, and early 2013. He alleges discrimination claims under Title VII and the ADEA and a 

claim he describes as “harmful procedural error” as to these decisions. ECF No. 16 ¶¶ 1-4, 9-14. 

Challenges to these decisions do not appear to be foreclosed by Egan as they occurred prior to the 

security clearance suspension. Defendants’ move to dismiss the ADEA and “harmful procedural 

error” claims premised on these decisions, see ECF No. 22-1 at 14-16, they do not move to 

dismiss plaintiff’s related Title VII claims. Accordingly, the court declines to address the 

sufficiency of plaintiff’s Title VII claims related to these agency decisions. 

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such circumstances the court must dismiss the action because it does “not have the constitutional 

authority to decide moot cases.” Id. 

 Defendants observe that the decisions to indefinitely suspend plaintiff and remove him 

from federal service were reversed by the MSPB and that plaintiff was awarded all available 

remedies. ECF No. 22-1 at 8-9. Thus, defendants contend, plaintiff’s age discrimination and 

claim based on these disciplinary actions is now moot. Id. Indeed, it appears that plaintiff 

already obtained any relief available on his age claim. Under the Age Discrimination in 

Employment Act, relief “is limited to ‘judgments compelling employment, reinstatement, or 

promotion,’ the recovery of unpaid minimum wages or overtime pay, and reasonable attorneys’ 

fees and costs.” Ahlmeyer v. Nevada Sys. of Higher Education, 555 F.3d 1051, 1059 (9th Cir. 

2009) (citing 29 U.S.C. §§ 216(b), 626(b)). Punitive damages and compensatory damages for 

pain and suffering are not available under the ADEA. Id. 

 Plaintiff was successful in having his indefinite suspension and removal from his 

employment overturned. On July 17, 2013, an Administrative Law Judge found that the decision 

to indefinitely suspend plaintiff was based solely on the criminal complaint filed in state court, 

and that such evidence alone was insufficient to support the decision. See RJN Ex. C. An ALJ 

ordered “the agency to cancel the suspension and retroactively restore [plaintiff] effective April 1, 

2013,” and to pay plaintiff the appropriate amount of back pay. Id. at 8. That order was affirmed 

by the MSPB. RJN Ex. D. Furthermore, the MSPB subsequently found that the agency complied 

with its order “reversing the [plaintiff’s] indefinite suspension and making the appellant whole.” 

RJN Ex. E, ¶ 6. 

 The MSPB also found that in terminating plaintiff’s employment, the agency violated 

plaintiff’s procedural due process rights and ordered plaintiff returned to service and awarded 

back pay. RJN Ex. F. Accordingly, the agency canceled plaintiff’s removal and awarded him 

back pay. RJN Ex. G. This demonstrates that plaintiff already received all the relief he is entitled 

to under his ADEA claim. Ahlmeyer, 555 F.3d at 1059. But plaintiff argues that he was not 

returned to duty as a police officer. Thus, he insists, he was not given back pay for overtime 

hours he would have received had he been restored as a police officer. Thus, he argues, his age 

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claim is not moot. ECF No. 24 ¶¶ 26, 28, 30, 31. This argument cannot overcome the Egan bar. 

As discussed above, having a security clearance is a prerequisite to assuming the duties of a 

police officer and his argument calls into question the suspension or revocation of his security 

clearance. As such, it is barred. Brazil v. Dep’t of Navy, 66 F.3d at 197. 

 To be sure, the MSPB reversed the suspension without pay, but its initial decision 

ordering cancellation of the indefinite suspension and retroactive restoration was not issued until 

July 17, 2013. RJN Ex. C. By that time, plaintiff’s security clearance had already been revoked. 

Consequently, although he could be restored to some type of duty, he was barred from resuming 

active duty as a federal police office. Thus, while the MSPB could award back pay and direct a 

return to service in some other capacity, it could not—nor could this court—order reinstatement 

of a security clearance that would permit him to resume duties requiring such a clearance. As the 

determination “necessarily requires the court to perform some review of the merits of the security 

clearance decision,” the claim is barred for lack of jurisdiction. Brazil, F.3d at 196. 

 Plaintiff next argues that these claims are not moot because defendants failed to “properly 

restore” his Thrift Savings Plan account and withheld $21,760 of his back pay “for 

unemployment earnings without providing the requisite proof to the Plaintiff and the MSPB [that] 

the Defendants in fact repaid” that sum on money to the State of California. ECF No. 24 ¶¶ 34-

35. These new allegations, however, are raised only in plaintiff’s opposition to defendants’ 

motion; the complaint itself is devoid of allegations concerning plaintiff’s Thrift Savings Plan and 

unemployment earnings. Accordingly, they do not show that the claims in the complaint are not 

moot. See Schneider v. Cal. Dept. of Corrections, 151 F.3d 1194, 1197 n.1 (new allegations 

presented in an opposition are irrelevant in evaluating the sufficiency of the claims); Safe Air for 

Everyone, 373 F.3d at 1039 (once moving party has presented evidence refuting jurisdiction, the 

opposing party must produce “evidence necessary to satisfy its burden of establishing subject 

matter jurisdiction.”). They do, however, suggest that the dismissal of the claim should be with 

leave to amend to allow plaintiff an opportunity to allege a claim that remains ripe for review. 

 Defendants further argue that plaintiff fails to state a claim for age discrimination based 

on his allegations that he was wrongfully denied promotions. ECF No. 22-1 at 16. To state a 

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claim for violation of the ADEA, plaintiff must allege that he “was (1) at least forty years old, (2) 

qualified for the position for which an application was submitted, (3) denied the position, and (4) 

the promotion was given to a substantially younger person.” Shelley v. Geren, 666 F.3d 599, 608 

(9th Cir. 2012). 

 His complaint alleges that plaintiff is over forty (ECF No. 16 ¶ 25), but does not allege 

that he was qualified for the positions he was denied. In fact, plaintiff does not even allege that 

he applied for the positions he was allegedly wrongfully denied. Furthermore, plaintiff does not 

identify the age of the individuals that were given the position. See ECF No. 16 ¶¶ 9-14. Rather, 

he merely alleges that many of the individuals that were granted promotions were under the age 

of 40. Id ¶ 63(k). This allegation is insufficient to show that the promotions were given to 

individuals that were substantially younger than plaintiff. Thus, he fails to allege claims for age 

discrimination. Accordingly, plaintiff’s ADEA claim must be dismissed with leave to amend 

granted only to the extent that an amended claim is not predicated on any challenges to the 

suspension of plaintiff’s security clearance. See Noll v. Carlson, 809 F.2d at 1448. 

 4. Due Process 

 Plaintiff’s fourth cause of action alleges that defendants violated his right to due process 

under the Fifth Amendment.12 ECF No. 16 at 27-32. The nature of this claim in the context of 

this mixed Title VII/ADEA and MSPB appeal case is not entirely clear. On the one hand, 

plaintiff complains of alleged procedural errors during the MSPB proceedings. On the other, he 

seeks monetary damages for the alleged due process violations, suggesting a Bivens constitutional 

tort claim.13 Any such claim is bared by the exclusivity of plaintiff’s remedies before the MSPB. 

Those remedies, established by the Civil Service Reform Act of 1978 (CSRA), Pub.L. No. 95–

454, 92 Stat. 1111 (codified as amended in scattered sections of 5 U.S.C.) provide the exclusive 

 12 Plaintiff’s third cause of action, although designated as a claim for “harmful procedural 

error,” is a claim that the agency did not afford him all the process he was due in reaching its 

decisions to impose discipline. See ECF No. 16 at 27-30. Accordingly, the court construes 

plaintiff’s third and fourth claims as a single procedural due process claim. 

13 See Bivens v. Six Unknown Named Agents of the Fed. Bureau of Narcotics, 403 U.S. 

388. 

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route for plaintiff to address prohibited personnel actions. Saul v. United States, 928 F.2d 829, 

833 (9th Cir. 1991). The CSRA created an elaborate “framework for evaluating adverse 

personnel actions against” federal employees and “[i]t prescribes in great detail the protections 

and remedies applicable to such action, including the availability of administrative and judicial 

review.” United States v. Fausto, 484 U.S. 439, 443 (1988). It is now well established that 

“[w]hen allegedly unconstitutional conduct falls within the broad confines of the CSRA, courts 

lack jurisdiction to hear a Bivens action based on the conduct.” Collins v. Bender, 195 F.3d 1076, 

1078 (9th Cir. 1999); see also Saul, 928 F.2d at 840 (“[T]he CSRA precludes even those Bivens 

claims for which the act provides no alternative remedy.”). Thus, plaintiff’s claim for monetary 

damages premised on due process violations must be dismissed. 

 Plaintiff’s fourth cause of action might also be read as an attempt to request review of the 

MSPB decision based on alleged due process violations, raising the question of whether leave to 

amend to clearly assert such a claim is appropriate. He claims that his due process rights were 

violated because he was never returned to the workplace and that the post-suspension and postremoval processes were defective for a variety of reasons, including: the MSPB did not sanction 

the DLA for discovery motion violations; the ALJ allowed DLA officials to commit perjury and 

testify without providing documentation to support their testimony; and the DLA never provided 

plaintiff with a statement explaining the amount of back pay he was entitled to receive. ECF No. 

16, ¶¶ 97-98. Lastly, he alleges that the agency committed numerous procedural errors in 

deciding to place him on administrative leave, suspending him without pay, not promoting him, 

and terminating his employment. Id. ¶¶ 88-93. But as defendants argue, plaintiff’s due process 

allegations necessarily fail because his own complaint and documents subject to judicial notice 

demonstrate that plaintiff received all the process he was due. ECF No. 22-1 at 17. As noted 

above, plaintiff not only availed himself of the opportunity to challenge his indefinite suspension 

before the MSPB, he was successful in having it overturned. RJN Exs. C, D. Although he 

quibbles with the extent of relief granted by the board, his own complaint shows that he was not 

deprived of due process. As argued by defendants, “[t]hese allegations show that Mr. Brown’s 

true gripe is that he did not get the particular outcome that he wanted at the MSPB . . . .” ECF 

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No. 22-1 at 17. However, the allegations do not demonstrate that he was deprived of reasonable 

notice and a meaningful opportunity to be heard. Brewster v. Bd. Of Educ. Of Lynwood Unified 

Sch. Dist., 149 F.3d 971, 982 (9th Cir. 1998). Not only did he receive such process, he was 

ultimately successful in challenging his removal. 

 Given that judicially-noticeable documents demonstrate that he was afforded due process, 

the dismissal must be without leave to amend. See Noll v. Carlson, 809 F.2d at 1448. 

 5. Defamation 

 Plaintiff’s complaint, without specifically saying so, vaguely suggests a claim for 

defamation. Defendants argue, among other things, that a defamation claim fails as a matter of 

law due to plaintiff’s failure to exhaust his administrative remedies under the Federal Tort Claims 

Act. ECF No. 22-1 at 18. 

 As a sovereign, the United States is immune from suit except according to its consent to 

be sued. Lehman v. Nakshian, 453 U.S. 156, 160 (1981). It necessarily follows that where 

Congress waives the immunity of the United States any terms and conditions that it places on the 

waiver are jurisdictional and must be strictly construed. See Block v. North Dakota ex rel. Board 

of Univ. and School Lands, 461 U.S. 273, 287 (1983); Jerves v. United States, 966 F.2d 517, 521 

(9th Cir. 1992). Congress has waived the immunity of the United States for certain tort claims as 

provided in the FTCA,14 but only according to the terms and conditions set out in that statute. 

As relevant here, those conditions include the administrative tort claim requirements. 28 U.S.C. 

§ 2675(a). Thus, “[t]he requirement of an administrative claim is jurisdictional.” Brady v. United 

States, 211 F.3d 499, 502 (9th Cir. 2000). 

 Although Congress has consented to suits against the United States under the FTCA, prior 

to litigating a tort claim against the United States, a plaintiff must first file an administrative claim 

with the appropriate federal agency. 28 U.S.C. § 2675(a). Presentation of an FTCA claim must 

be made within two years of the accrual of the claimant’s cause of action. 28 U.S.C. § 2401(b). 

 14 The FTCA waives immunity to make the United States “liable to the same extent as a 

private party for certain torts of federal employees acting within the scope of their employment.” 

United States v. Orleans, 425 U.S. 807, 813, 96 S.Ct. 1971, 48 L.Ed.2d 390 (1976). 

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A claim is deemed “presented” to the federal agency upon its receipt. See 28 C.F.R. § 14.2(a); 

Vacek v. U.S. Postal Service, 447 F.3d 1248, 1251 (9th Cir. 2006) (mailbox rule does not apply to 

FTCA cases). A civil action may not be instituted until an administrative claim has “been finally 

denied by the agency in writing and sent by certified or registered mail.” 28 U.S.C. § 2675(a). 

As noted, the administrative claim requirement under the FTCA is jurisdictional and cannot be 

waived. Cadwalder v. United States, 45 F.3d 297, 300 (9th Cir.1995). In addition, courts are 

required to strictly construe the exhaustion requirement. Vacek, 447 F.3d at 1250 (where 

exhaustion conditions not satisfied, action may not proceed “merely because dismissal would visit 

a harsh result upon the plaintiff.”). 

 There is no indication from the record that plaintiff presented his an administrative tort 

claim regarding his allegations of defamation with any federal agency. Plaintiff’s failure to 

exhaust his administrative remedies deprives this court of subject matter jurisdiction over this 

claim. More significantly, even had he filed an administrative claim, the FTCA does not extend 

to “any claim arising out of . . . libel . . . [or] slander . . . .” 28 U.S.C. § 2680(h). As the United 

States has not waived its immunity for claims of defamation, this claim must be dismissed with 

prejudice for lack of subject matter jurisdiction. See Wilborn v. Napolitano, 2012 WL 354494, at 

* 9 (S.D. Cal. Feb. 2, 2012). 

II. Plaintiff’s Motion for Sanctions 

 Plaintiff seeks sanctions against defendants pursuant to Rule 11, arguing that their motion 

to dismiss mischaracterizes the facts of this case and that the declarations of Carl A. Eskew, 

submitted in support of defendants’ motion, contains false statements. ECF No. 25. 

 “Rule 11 requires the imposition of sanctions when a motion is frivolous, legally 

unreasonable, or without factual foundation, or is brought for an improper purpose.” Conn v. 

Borjorquez, 967 F.2d 1418, 1420 (9th Cir. 1992). “The central purpose of Rule 11 is to deter 

baseless filings.” United States ex rel. Robinson Rancheria Citizens Council v. Borneo, Inc., 971 

F.2d 244, 254 (9th Cir. 1992) (quoting Cooter & Gell v. Hartmarx Corp., 496 U.S. 384 (1990)). 

///// 

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An “improper purpose” is a purpose to “harass or to cause unnecessary delay or needless increase 

in the cost of litigation.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 11(b)(1). The test for improper purpose is an objective 

one. G.C. and K.B. Invs., Inc. v. Wilson, 326 F.3d 1096, 1109 (9th Cir. 2003). 

 Defendants’ motion was not filed for an improper purpose. Rather, as explained above, it 

presents meritorious arguments supporting the dismissal of plaintiff’s first amended complaint. 

Plaintiff’s motion for sanctions lacks merit and is denied. 

III. Conclusion 

 Based on the foregoing, what remains of plaintiff’s complaint are portions of his Title VII 

claim concerning agency action that predate the suspension of his security clearance, which the 

government did not move to dismiss. See supra note 11. All other claims must be dismissed. 

However, plaintiff is granted leave to amend the portions of his purported ADEA claim that 

would not barred by Egan, if he can allege sufficient facts in support of such a claim. Lopez v. 

Smith, 203 F.3d 1122, 1126-27 (9th Cir. 2000) (en banc) (district courts must afford pro se 

litigants an opportunity to amend to correct any deficiency in their complaints). Should plaintiff 

choose to file an amended complaint, the amended complaint shall clearly set forth the allegations 

against defendants and shall specify a basis for this court’s subject matter jurisdiction. Any 

amended complaint shall plead plaintiff’s claims in “numbered paragraphs, each limited as far as 

practicable to a single set of circumstances,” as required by Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 

10(b), and shall be in double-spaced text on paper that bears line numbers in the left margin, as 

required by Eastern District of California Local Rules 130(b) and 130(c). Any amended 

complaint shall also use clear headings to delineate each claim alleged and against which 

defendant or defendants the claim is alleged, as required by Rule 10(b), and must plead clear facts 

that support each claim under each header. 

 Additionally, plaintiff is informed that the court cannot refer to prior pleadings in order to 

make an amended complaint complete. Local Rule 220 requires that an amended complaint be 

complete in itself. This is because, as a general rule, an amended complaint supersedes the 

original complaint. See Loux v. Rhay, 375 F.2d 55, 57 (9th Cir. 1967). Accordingly, once 

plaintiff files an amended complaint, the original no longer serves any function in the case. 

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Therefore, “a plaintiff waives all causes of action alleged in the original complaint which are not 

alleged in the amended complaint,” London v. Coopers & Lybrand, 644 F.2d 811, 814 (9th Cir. 

1981), and defendants not named in an amended complaint are no longer defendants. Ferdik v. 

Bonzelet, 963 F.2d 1258, 1262 (9th Cir. 1992). Finally, the court cautions plaintiff that failure to 

comply with the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, this court’s Local Rules, or any court order 

may result in a recommendation that this action be dismissed. See Local Rule 110. 

 Accordingly, it is hereby ORDERED that: 

 1. Defendants’ motion for leave to file a supplement to the motion to dismiss (ECF No. 

40) is denied as moot; and 

 2. Plaintiff’s motion for sanctions (ECF No. 25) is denied. 

 Further, it is RECOMMENDED that defendants’ motion to dismiss (ECF No. 22) be 

granted as follows: 

 1. Plaintiff’s Title VII and ADEA claims be dismissed without leave to amend to the 

extent they are predicated on agency action that occurred after June 11, 2013. The balance of 

plaintiff’s age discrimination claim be dismissed with leave to amend. 

 2. Plaintiff’s defamation claim and due process claims (and related harmful procedural 

error claim) be dismiss without leave to amend. 

 3. Plaintiff be granted thirty days from the date of any order adopting these findings and 

recommendations to file an amended complaint as provided herein. The amended complaint must 

bear the docket number assigned to this case and must be labeled “Second Amended Complaint.” 

Should plaintiff fail to timely file an amended complaint, this action will proceed on plaintiff’s 

Title VII claim challenging defendants’ conduct prior to the suspension of his security clearance. 

 These findings and recommendations are submitted to the United States District Judge 

assigned to the case, pursuant to the provisions of 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(l). Within fourteen days 

after being served with these findings and recommendations, any party may file written 

objections with the court and serve a copy on all parties. Such a document should be captioned 

“Objections to Magistrate Judge’s Findings and Recommendations.” Failure to file objections 

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within the specified time may waive the right to appeal the District Court’s order. Turner v. 

Duncan, 158 F.3d 449, 455 (9th Cir. 1998); Martinez v. Ylst, 951 F.2d 1153 (9th Cir. 1991). 

DATED: February 16, 2017. 

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