Source: http://ca10.washburnlaw.edu/cases/2001/09/00-6361.htm
Timestamp: 2019-04-22 17:54:24+00:00

Document:
We review de novo the dismissal of an FTCA complaint for lack of jurisdiction. See Cizek v. United States, 953 F.2d 1232, 1233 (10th Cir. 1992). The sole issue on appeal is whether plaintiffs' claim, which stated their damages as "in excess of $100,000, " Aplt. App. at 12, satisfied the notice requirements of the FTCA. Plaintiffs recognize, as they must, that this precise issue was addressed and resolved by this court in Bradley v. United States ex rel. Veterans Admin., 951 F.2d 268, 271 (10th Cir. 1991). In Bradley, we explained that "the FTCA constitutes a waiver of the government's sovereign immunity, [so that] the notice requirements established by the FTCA must be strictly construed. The requirements are jurisdictional and cannot be waived." Id. at 270 (citation omitted).
The jurisdictional statute, 28 U.S.C. § 2675(a), "requires that claims for damages against the government be presented to the appropriate federal agency by filing '(1) a written statement sufficiently describing the injury to enable the agency to begin its own investigation, and (2) a sum certain damages claim.'" Id. (quoting Warren v. U.S. Dep't of Interior Bureau of Land Mgmt., 724 F.2d 776, 780 (9th Cir. 1984)). "Failure to comply with the sum certain requirement results in the case being treated 'as if no administrative claim had ever been filed.'" Id. at 271 (quoting Caidin v. United States, 564 F.2d 284, 287 (9th Cir. 1977)).
A valuation without a ceiling does not "afford the agency sufficient information to determine whether Plaintiff's claim [is] realistic or settleable." Id. Accordingly, this court "decline[s] to hold that Plaintiff's valuation of his claim as 'in excess of $100,000.00' [is] sufficient to satisfy the sum certain requirement." Id.; see also Kendall v. Watkins, 998 F.2d 848, 852 (10th Cir. 1993) (applying Bradley and holding that letters requesting "reinstatement, back pay, front pay, damages for alleged blacklisting, and disciplinary action against certain federal employees," did not request a sum certain, and thus did not present an adequate claim).
Plaintiffs in the instant case urge us to revisit the issue and depart from the Bradley holding. We are unwilling and unable to do so. The disposition of Bradley binds this panel in the instant matter. Absent an intervening, contrary decision of the Supreme Court, one circuit panel cannot overrule the decision of another panel, without express authorization from the en banc court. See, e.g., United States v. Morris, 247 F.3d 1080, 1085 (10th Cir. 2001). Because plaintiffs did not file an administrative claim meeting the sum certain requirement, dismissal for lack of jurisdiction was appropriate. The judgment of the district court is AFFIRMED.
1. Plaintiffs also alleged violations of Gladden's constitutional rights. The district court dismissed these claims, brought under Bivens v. Six Unknown Named Agents of the Fed. Bureau of Narcotics, 403 U.S. 388 (1971), as barred by the statute of limitations. Plaintiffs do not appeal this aspect of the district court's ruling.

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