Opinion ID: 2770839
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: The FTCA’s Judgment Bar

Text: The defendants allege that the plaintiffs’ Bivens claims against the individual officials are precluded by the FTCA’s judgment bar. The FTCA’s judgment bar states: “The judgment in an action under section 1346(b) of this title shall constitute a complete bar to any action by the claimant, by reason of the same subject matter, against the employee of the government whose act or omission gave rise to the claim.” 28 U.S.C. § 2676. According to the defendants, the statute’s reference to “[t]he judgment” should be construed broadly as a reference to “any judgment,” regardless of whether the claim was adjudicated on the merits. The defendants therefore argue that the dismissal of the plaintiffs’ FTCA claims against the United States for lack of jurisdiction bars their Bivens claims against the individual federal officials. The defendants have raised this argument for the first time on appeal. We do not consider evidence or arguments that were not presented to the 5 Case: 13-50890 Document: 00512906499 Page: 6 Date Filed: 01/16/2015 No. 13-50890 district court for its consideration in ruling on the motion. Tradewinds Envtl. Restoration, Inc. v. St. Tammany Park, LLC, 578 F.3d 255, 262 (5th Cir. 2009). Because the defendants failed to present this argument to the district court, they have waived review of the issue on appeal.