Opinion ID: 405000
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: The Decision to Drop the Grievance.

Text: 15 The reason the union dropped Dogherra's grievance is a fact question, reviewed under the clearly erroneous standard. 16 Safeway conceded that Martinez told a union investigator that Dogherra had not reported for work. Safeway argues that Martinez made this statement after the union had dropped Dogherra's grievance and was deciding whether to reopen it. This argument appears for the first time in Safeway's reply brief on appeal. Dogherra has not had an opportunity to meet it. We decline to consider it. Ellingson v. Burlington Northern, Inc., 653 F.2d at 1332; Duval Corp. v. Donovan, 650 F.2d 1051, 1054 (9th Cir. 1981). 17 Safeway also argues that factors other than Martinez' statement led the union to drop Dogherra's grievance. There was evidence that Dogherra's failure to obtain a medical release did not cause the union to drop her grievance. The district court was justified in concluding that Martinez' statement had a greater effect on the union investigators than the fact that other store employees had no recollection of the occurrences. The district court did not clearly err in deciding Martinez' conduct was the determinative factor behind the union's decision to drop the grievance. No doubt had Martinez volunteered the truth during the initial investigation, Dogherra's claim would have been strong, and it seems highly probable that the union would have pursued the grievance. 18