Opinion ID: 464871
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: California Law of Res Judicata

Text: 18 Under the Federal Full Faith and Credit Statute, 28 U.S.C. Sec. 1738, a federal court must give to a state-court judgment the same preclusive effect as would be given that judgment under the law of the State in which the judgment was rendered. Migra, 104 S.Ct. at 896. Accordingly, we look to California law to determine the claim-preclusive effect that the judgment entered in Takahshi's first suit has upon her present action. 19 Under California law, [a] valid judgment on the merits in favor of a defendant serves as a complete bar to further litigation on the same cause of action. Slater v. Blackwood, 15 Cal.3d 791, 795, 126 Cal.Rptr. 225, 226, 543 P.2d 593, 594 (1976); see 3 Witkin California Procedure Judgment Sec. 249 (1985). To determine the scope of causes of action, California courts employ the primary right theory. Under this theory, the violation of one primary right gives rise to a single cause of action. Slater, 15 Cal.3d at 795, 126 Cal.Rptr. at 226, 543 P.2d at 594. Because we conclude that Takahashi's present action is based on the violation of the same primary right as her earlier action, we find Takahashi's present action barred. 20 Takahashi's first action was based on the invasion of her contractual right to employment by the District. In that litigation, Takahashi challenged the Commission's finding that cause existed for the termination of her contract. 2 Contractual rights are a species of primary rights. See Holmes v. David H. Bricker, Inc., 70 Cal.2d 786, 76 Cal.Rptr. 431, 452 P.2d 647 (1969) (breach of express warranty creates single cause of action); Sawyer v. First City Financial Corp., 124 Cal.App.3d 390, 177 Cal.Rptr. 398 (1981) (failure to pay note distinct violation from tortious destruction of note's value). 21 In the present action, the identical primary right--the contractual right to employment--is at stake. In determining the primary right at stake, the significant factor is the harm suffered. Argarwal v. Johnson, 25 Cal.3d 932, 955, 160 Cal.Rptr. 141, 155, 603 P.2d 58, 72 (1979). Absent termination of her employment contract, Takahashi suffered no harm. Takahashi's allegations of mental distress caused as a result of her dismissal do not present a separate injury. 3 Rather, any such distress would be a consequence of the District's violation a Takahashi's primary contractual right. Consequential damages cannot support a separate cause of action. Reichert v. General Insurance Co., 68 Cal.2d 822, 832, 69 Cal.Rptr. 321, 326, 442 P.2d 377, 382 (1968); compare Argarwal v. Johnson, 25 Cal.3d at 955, 160 Cal.Rptr. 141, 603 P.2d 58 (action for intentional infliction of emotional distress resulting from unlawful discharge not barred because damages under Title VII not available for mental distress). 22 We reject Takahashi's characterization of the primary rights invaded by the District as, 23 the right to be treated in the same manner as a person of non-Japanese ancestry in the dismissal process, and ... the the right to be treated in the same manner as a person of non-Japanese ancestry and to be judged according to constitutionally adequate standards in the teacher evaluation process. 24 (Emphasis in original.) While stating the primary right asserted in her first action in constitutional terms, Takahashi has failed to alleged a new injury. Even where there are multiple legal theories upon which recovery might be predicated, one injury gives rise to only one claim of relief. Slater, 15 Cal.3d at 795, 126 Cal.Rptr. at 226, 543 P.2d at 594-95. By invoking the Constitution and Sec. 1983, Takahashi has merely presented a new legal theory upon which she seeks recovery. See City of Los Angeles v. Superior Court, 85 Cal.App.3d 143, 155, 149 Cal.Rptr. 320, 326 (1978) (section 1983 action barred where it simply asks jury to look at merits of earlier conversion action from different angle); see also Mattson v. City of Costa Mesa, 106 Cal.App.3d 441, 164 Cal.Rptr. 913 (1980) (primary right at stake in Sec. 1983 action same as in previous tort action).IV. Adequacy of Prior Forum 25 Lastly, Takahashi objects to the district court's finding of res judicata on the ground that her hearing before the Commission on Professional Competence did not allow a full presentation of the claim[s] she now wishes to assert in federal court. Takahashi misapplies this defense to res judicata. The procedural adequacy of her hearing before the Commission is irrelevant. The judgment that bars her present action is not the decision of the Commission, but the judgment of the Superior Court of Merced County. Because Takahashi could have raised her constitutional claims before the Commission, see California Government Code Sec. 11506(a)(5), there is no doubt that the trial court had jurisdiction to hear these claims under California Education Code Sec. 44945. In addition, the trial court was fully competent to decide the merits of any claims raised before it. Thus, Takahashi was afforded an opportunity to make a full presentation of her constitutional claims. 26 The judgment of the district court dismissing Takahashi's action on the ground of res judicata is AFFIRMED.