Document: 478 U.S. 788 106 S.Ct. 3220 92 L.Ed.2d 635 UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE, et al., Petitionersv.Robert B. ELLIOTT. No. 85-588. Argued April 21, 1986. Decided July 7, Syllabus When petitioner University of Tennessee informed respondent, a black employee, that he would be discharged for inadequate work performance and misconduct on the job, requested an administrative hearing. Prior to commencement proceedings, respondent filed suit in Federal District Court against others (also petitioners), alleging his proposed discharge was racially motivated seeking relief under Title VII Civil Rights Act 1964 Reconstruction civil rights statutes. The court allowed proceedings go forward, resulting ruling by Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) (affirmed Vice President appeal) respondent's not motivated. Instead state-court review returned Court, which granted summary judgment petitioners ground ALJ's entitled preclusive effect. Appeals reversed, holding claim governed Kremer v. Chemical Construction Corp., 456 461, 102 1883, 72 262, held final judgments are full faith credit actions, but indicated unreviewed determinations state agencies do preclude trial de novo federal claims. As regards claims other statutes, 28 U.S.C. § 1738, accords same courts as it have State's courts, does require bound findings agencies. also declined fashion common law preclusion. Held: 1. 1738 is applicable factfinding at issue here. However, common-law rules preclusion been frequently fashioned absence governing statute. Because antedates development represent congressional determination agency decisions should given Pp. 794-795. 2. correctly Congress did intend effect claims, thus rule appropriate. analysis Kremer, supra, Chandler Roudebush, 425 840, 96 1949, 48 416, language legislative history supports this conclusion. 795-796. 3. when acting judicial capacity resolves disputed issues fact properly before parties had adequate opportunity litigate, actions statutes must give agency's (a matter resolution remand here). In enacting those create exception general preclusion, or foreclose adaptation such subsequent developments use adjudication. Giving factfindings bodies serves both value enforcing repose, underlies principles collateral estoppel, federalism. 796-799. 766 F.2d 982, affirmed part, reversed remanded. WHITE, J., delivered opinion BURGER, C.J., POWELL, REHNQUIST, O'CONNOR, JJ., joined, Parts I, II, III BRENNAN, BLACKMUN, STEVENS, joined. concurring part dissenting BRENNAN post, p. 799. MARSHALL, took no consideration decision case. Beauchamp E. Brogan, Knoxville, Tenn., petitioners. Ronald L. Ellis, New York City, respondent. Justice WHITE Court. 1 A determined (hereafter University) racial prejudice question presented whether finding court, where has raised discrimination various laws, including 1964, 78 Stat. 253, amended, 42 2000e seq., 1983. 2 * 1981, employee University's Agricultural Extension Service, job. Respondent hearing Uniform Procedures Act, Tenn.Code Ann. 4-5-101 seq. (1985), contest termination. start hearing, United States Western Tennessee, 1983.1 sought included damages, injunction prohibiting discharge, classwide from alleged patterns petitioner. 3 initially entered temporary restraining order taking any job action later lifted permitted proceeding forward. App. Pet. Cert. A27. There followed assistant Agriculture presided (ALJ). focus 10 particular charges gave grounds discharge. denied these charges, contended were prejudice, argued subjecting him violated Constitution, VII, ALJ lacked jurisdiction adjudicate allow present, affirmative defense, evidence actually hence proper basis Id., A44-45. 4 After extensive evidence,2 found proved some all A177-179. Concluding too severe penalty, ordered transferred new assignment with supervisors than whom experienced conflicts. A179-181. appealed Agriculture, who ruling. A33-35. stated record persuaded A34. 5 seek courts; instead, pursue There, moved improper attack ruling, agreed, relied "were intended afford plaintiff means relitigating what heretofore litigated over five-month period." A32. 6 Sixth Circuit, Court's judgment. 982 (1985). claim, looked guidance our 262 (1982).3 While teaches indicates stand different footing. Circuit following passage directly point: 7 "EEOC [pursuant 2000e-5(b) ] previously rejected pointless if decisions. Batiste Furnco Constr. 503 447, 450, n. (CA7 1974), cert. denied, 420 928, 95 1127, 43 399 (1975). Nor plausible suggest further EEOC. Since settled EEOC clear even afforded own courts. Garner Giarrusso, 571 1330 (CA5 1978), supra; Cooper Philip Morris, Inc., 464 9 (CA6 1972); Voutsis Union Carbide 452 889 (CA2 1971), 406 918, 1768, 32 117 (1972)." U.S., 470, S.Ct., 1891, 7. 8 accordingly res judicata claim. applying 1983 more difficult question. It 1738,4 concerns "judicial [state] court," declaring "[a]t least implicit section recognition relevant constitutional adjudication substitute access court." F.2d, 992. recognized similar argument denying Allen McCurry, 449 90, 101 411, 66 308 (1980), Migra Warren City School Board Education, 465 75, 104 892, 79 56 (1984), distinguished cases based explicit command 1738. We certiorari consider petitioner's contention erred never 474 1004, 522, 88 455 II 11 governs records we See, e.g., Parklane Hosiery Co. Shore, 439 322, 99 645, 58 552 (1979); Blonder-Tongue Laboratories, Inc. Illinois Foundation, 402 313, 91 1434, (1971); Chicot County Drainage Dist. Baxter State Bank, 371, 60 317, 84 L.Ed. 329 (1940); Stoll Gottlieb, 305 165, 59 134, 83 (1938); Gunter Atlantic Coast Line R. Co., 200 273, 289-291, 26 252, 258-259, 50 477 (1906). Although statute regard because clearly Accordingly, will appropriate, first respect next Constitution 12 Under 2000e-5(b), Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), investigating "substantial weight orders made local authorities commenced [employment discrimination] law." noted make little sense write provision court. 13 Moreover, 416 (1976), strongly one position Chandler, whose her employing after reviewing considerable detail 1972 amendments statute, concluded: 14 "The reinforces plain meaning confirms accord employees right [following proceedings] enjoyed private-sector governments political subdivisions amended 1964." 848, 1953. 15 Like case pursued contrary rationale apply deny 16 Invoking presumption implied repeal, distinguishes involving Reply Brief Petitioners 16. This erroneous premise applies proceedings. See Part supra. us consistent Congress' intent VII. On conclude claims.5 IV 17 requires supra (issue preclusion); (claim preclusion). Those controlling case, apply; nonetheless, they support view Congress, Allen: 18 "[N]othing remotely expresses contravene repeal express statutory requirements predecessor . 19 "Moreover, way restrict traditional doctrines preclusion." 97-98, 416. 20 discussion suggests reached result see reason suppose wished burgeoning 20th century. 21 sound policy capacity. unanimous Utah & Mining 384 394, 86 1545, 642 (1966), Advisory Contract binding Claims contract dispute between parties. explained: 22 "Although here rests upon agreement modified Wunderlich note reach harmonious estoppel. Occasionally used certainly broad. hesitated enforce repose." 421-422, 1559-1560 (1966) (footnotes omitted). 23 Thus, Construction, subsequently approved 484-485, 26, 1899, giving underlying estoppel: repose.6 value, encompasses parties' interest avoiding cost vexation repetitive litigation public's conserving resources, 94, 414, equally implicated done agency. 24 Having tribunals Significantly, opinions Thomas Washington Gas Light 448 261, 100 2647, 65 757 Full Faith Credit Clause compels tribunal sister State. 281, 2660 (opinion J.); 287-289, 2663-2664 (WHITE, judgment); 291-292, 2666 (REHNQUIST, dissenting). course can look policies fashioning "Perhaps major purpose act nationally unifying force," id., 289, 2664 judgment), served rather leaving second forum, federal, free conflicting results.7 hold "acting litigate," 422, 1560, courts.8 25 remanded opinion. so ordered. 27 MARSHALL BLACKMUN join, part. 29 An conducted today holds litigation. refuses bar litigating 1964. I agree conclusions therefore join 30 its opinion, however, concludes may Reconstruction-era Acts. reading persuades interpose judicially created cause authorized creates earlier Acts without mentioning prompted their enactment. consequence, incomplete ultimately unconvincing. 31 Preclusion brought post-Civil War advance objectives typically associated finality employment setting here, precluding fails conserve resources either litigants complainant's companion still today's decision.1 show determinations, apprised presumably forgo currently determinations—to protect entitlement forum. Cf. Patsy Florida Regents, 457 496, 532-533, 2557, 2576, 73 172 (1982) (POWELL, joined dissenting) (intimating necessary encourage exhaustion remedies); Fair Assessment Real Estate Assn., McNary, 454 100, 136, 177, 196, 70 271 (1981) (BRENNAN, judgment) (same); Moore East Cleveland, 431 494, 524, 2, 97 1932, 1948 52 531 (1977) (BURGER, (same). required, relies analogy construction (1966). my seriously flawed. arising Government contract, factual Claims. dictum "harmonious estoppel," 421, 1559, plainly conclusive.2 33 1871 Act. Needless say, there nothing legislation suggesting rulings administrators Quite contrary, explained Monroe Pape, 365 167, 180, 81 473, 480, 492 (1961): 34 "It abundantly passed because, passion, neglect, intolerance otherwise, laws might enforced citizens enjoyment rights, privileges, immunities guaranteed Fourteenth Amendment agencies." 35 Mitchum Foster, 407 225, 238-239, 242, 2151, 2159-2160, 2161, 705 (1972). Briscoe LaHue, 460 325, 338, 103 1108, 1117, 75 (1983). Due enacted 1871, revealed voluminous creating judge-made bars remedy Congress. 36 respectfully dissent Respondent's complaint §§ 1985, 1986, 1988, well First, Thirteenth, Amendments. 17. continued intermittently five months, involved witnesses 150 exhibits, generated 5,000 pages transcript. charge Commission, pursuant 2000e-5 referred Division Human Rights, charged administering laws. employee's appellate level then action, employer defense. court's affirming action. provides pertinent part: State, Territory Possession [of States], copies thereof, shall admitted within Territories Possessions attestation clerk seal annexed, exists, together certificate judge said form. "Such authenticated, every usage taken." being compelled participate weigh favor "[T]he manifests individual independently statutes." Alexander Gardner-Denver 415 36, 48, 94 1011, 1019, 39 147 (1974) (footnote respected authority observed: judicata, much most segments law, rhyme, reason, rhythm—something good poetry. Its inner logic satisfying. consists entirely elaboration obvious principle controversy resolved once, once. needed To extent adjudications resemble courts' decisions—a very great extent—the worked out K. Davis, Treatise 21.9, (2d ed. 1983). Restatement (Second) Judgments 83, 269 (1982), reaches conclusion: "Where forum essential procedural characteristics accorded importance bringing legal conclusion generally less decide, values outweigh according factfinding. III, argues satisfy standard set 39-76, 99-105. These contentions below, leave them remand. difficulties encountered schizophrenic approach [ruling establish Acts, time relitigated claim] obvious. remains found. retried, perhaps inconsistent results, prove better simply retry Application saves effort, prevent risk findings, distort process issues. repose substantially weakened remaining exposure liability. Insistence circumstances worth." C. Wright, A. Miller, Cooper, Practice Procedure 4471, 169 (Supp.1985). many well, determining complainant fair litigate tribunal. ante, 799, 8. quoted approval excerpt Davis Claims: " 'This nourishes doctrine reluctant, nature genesis boards. applied Bianchi, dispel doubts. Supreme boards (and like representatives) fact-finders area competence, just Interstate Commerce Trade National Labor Relations purposes. light Bianchi's evaluation policy, squint crabbed board's stayed sphere, accept primary fact-finding (in disputes contract) received, valid, independent modern view, latter, adjudicatory capacity, considered final, related proceeding, unless inquiry into facts. 566 (1951); Fairmont Aluminum Commissioner, 222 622, 627 (4th Cir., 1955). only reasons majority now offers re-trial questions already valid board considerations discarded Bianchi [Utah States,] 168 Ct.Cl. [522,] 541-542, 339 [606,] 618 [1964].' 18, 18.

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