Opinion ID: 380995
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Whether the District Court Violated the Mandate.

Text: 42 Appellants claim that the district court has, under the guise of determining Houghton's physical capability, relitigated and redetermined the BFOQ issue. Appellants additionally contend that the court, by admitting evidence of age-related decline in psychomotor skills, has allowed the Company to supplement its deficient proof of a BFOQ. The Company, however, maintains that the trial court complied with this court's mandate by determining the time when Houghton became physically incapable of safely and effectively performing the duties of Chief Production Test Pilot. The Company alternatively requests that we reconsider our opinion in Houghton I in order to avoid clear error, manifest injustice and a divergence among the circuits. 43 We begin our analysis of these related issues by reiterating this circuit's longstanding view of the law of the case doctrine: 44 This court has repeatedly held that the decision on former appeal is the law of the case on a question presented in that former appeal, unless the evidence introduced at the subsequent trial is substantially different from that considered on the first appeal, and must be followed in all subsequent proceedings in such case in both district and appellate courts, unless that decision is clearly erroneous and works manifest injustice.    While this rule of practice is not a limit of power, it is nevertheless a salutary one, and should be departed from only after careful consideration on situations arising in specific cases. 45 Pyramid Life Ins. Co. v. Curry, 291 F.2d 411, 414 (8th Cir. 1961), quoting Chicago, St. P., M. & O. Ry. v. Kulp, 102 F.2d 352, 354 (8th Cir. 1939). (Otten v. Stonewall Insurance Co., 538 F.2d 210, 212 (8th Cir. 1976).) 46 At the outset, the parties disagree as to what Houghton I established as the law of the case. McDonnell Douglas asserts that Houghton's qualifications to fly, aside from a BFOQ, remained open because our mandate directed the district court to determine whether Houghton was still physically capable of safely and effectively performing the duties of Chief Production Test Pilot (.) Houghton I, supra, 553 F.2d at 565. Focusing on our reversal of the district court's finding that age constituted a BFOQ, McDonnell Douglas further asserts that the appellate panel did not determine that Houghton was physically qualified in 1977, 1975 or at any other time. 47 Appellants, however, claim that McDonnell Douglas has attempted to relitigate issues already decided. They assert that the evidence of Dr. Carter, in effect, constitutes evidence of a BFOQ under the guise of evidence relating to Houghton's alleged physical capabilities to safely and effectively perform as Chief Production Test Pilot. Thus, appellants contend that the law of the case barred the district court from considering or even admitting that evidence. See Nucor v. Tennessee Forging Steel Service, Inc., 513 F.2d 151 (8th Cir. 1975); Paull v. Archer-Daniels-Midland Co., 313 F.2d 612 (8th Cir. 1963). 48 We disagree in part with the contentions of both sides. We interpret the mandate of Houghton I as follows. 49 First, the prior opinion foreclosed McDonnell Douglas from attempting to establish that Houghton was disqualified at age fifty-two. That question has been litigated: 50 When a case has been decided by this court on appeal and remanded to the District Court, every question which was before this court and disposed of by its decree is finally settled and determined. The District Court is bound by the decree and must carry it into execution according to the mandate. It cannot alter it, examine it except for purposes of execution, or give any further or other relief or review it for apparent error with respect to any question decided on appeal   . (Thornton v. Carter, 109 F.2d 316, 319-20 (8th Cir. 1940); see also Nucor Corp. v. Tennessee Forging, supra, 513 F.2d at 152-53; Paull v. Archer-Daniels-Midland Co., supra, 313 F.2d at 616-18.) 51 Second, Houghton established his right to backpay up to February 18, 1975, for Houghton had introduced evidence of his excellent physical condition to that date. In Houghton I, supra, 553 F.2d at 563, we said with respect to the evidence: 52 In February, 1975, Houghton was examined by Dr. Proper who found him to be in exceptional physical condition even when compared to pilots and test pilots. He declared Houghton to be 99.9% certain of not suffering a heart attack or stroke while in flight. 53 McDonnell Douglas did not rebut that testimony; hence, the issue of Houghton's physical qualifications came within the compass of this court's opinion in Houghton I. 54 Under the principles applicable to the law of the case doctrine, the district court is bound by all matters within the compass of our prior opinion. As this court stated in Thornton v. Carter, supra, 109 F.2d at 320, 55 (a) mandate is completely controlling as to all matters within its compass, but on remand the trial court is free to pass upon any issue which was not expressly or impliedly disposed of on appeal. Since, however, a final judgment upon the merits concludes the parties as to all issues which were or could have been decided (Guettel v. United States, 8 Cir., 95 F.2d 229, 230, 118 A.L.R. 1060 and cases cited), it is obvious that such a judgment of this court on appeal puts all such issues out of the reach of the trial court on the remand of the case. That court is without power to do anything which is contrary to either the letter or spirit of the mandate construed in the light of the opinion of this court deciding the case. (Footnote and citation omitted.) 56 See also Quern v. Jordan, 440 U.S. 332, 347 n.18, 99 S.Ct. 1139, 1148 n.18, 59 L.Ed.2d 358 (1979); Paull v. Archer-Daniels-Midland Co., supra, 313 F.2d at 316-19. 57 The language and indeed the letter and spirit of our opinion in Houghton I precluded the district court from finding Houghton disqualified for physical reasons up to the commencement of the first trial, in February 1975. The district court simply could not make a contrary determination after we had ruled him entitled to relief. 10 Cf. In re United States Steel Corp., 479 F.2d 489, 499 (6th Cir.), cert. denied, 414 U.S. 859, 94 S.Ct. 71, 38 L.Ed.2d 110 (1973) (failure to alter disapproved awards is inexplicable). Accordingly, we hold that the district court erred in denying Houghton backpay relief from the date of his effective removal from flight pay status, March 1972, to February 18, 1975. 58