Court Opinion

ID: 4566194
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2020-09-16 20:00:41.94985+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:21:48.962378
License: Public Domain

NOT FOR PUBLICATION                        FILED
                    UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS                        SEP 16 2020
                                                                      MOLLY C. DWYER, CLERK
                                                                       U.S. COURT OF APPEALS
                              FOR THE NINTH CIRCUIT

CHARLES MASON,                                  No. 19-72488

                Petitioner,

 v.                                             MEMORANDUM*

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE; DEFENSE
COMMISSARY AGENCY,

                Respondents.

                     On Petition for Review of an Order of the
                         Merit Systems Protection Board

                          Submitted September 8, 2020**

Before:      TASHIMA, SILVERMAN, and OWENS, Circuit Judges.

      Charles Mason petitions pro se for review of the Merit Systems Protection

Board’s (“MSPB”) dismissal of his appeal in his individual right action alleging

violations of the Whistleblower Protection Act. We have jurisdiction under 5

U.S.C. § 7703(b)(1)(B). We will set aside the MSPB’s actions, findings, or

      *
             This disposition is not appropriate for publication and is not precedent
except as provided by Ninth Circuit Rule 36-3.
      **
             The panel unanimously concludes this case is suitable for decision
without oral argument. See Fed. R. App. P. 34(a)(2).
conclusions only if they are “(1) arbitrary, capricious, an abuse of discretion, or

otherwise not in accordance with law; (2) obtained without procedures required by

law, rule, or regulation having been followed; or (3) unsupported by substantial

evidence.” 5 U.S.C. § 7703(c). We deny the petition.

      The MSPB properly dismissed Mason’s appeal as barred by res judicata.

See Leon v. IDX Sys. Corp., 464 F.3d 951, 962 (9th Cir. 2006) (dismissal with

prejudice is a final judgment on the merits); Tahoe-Sierra Pres. Council, Inc. v.

Tahoe Reg’l Planning Agency, 322 F.3d 1064, 1078 (9th Cir. 2003) (“Newly

articulated claims based on the same nucleus of facts may still be subject to a res

judicata finding if the claims could have been brought in the earlier action.”);

Stewart v. U.S. Bancorp, 297 F.3d 953, 956 (9th Cir. 2002) (elements of res

judicata); Concha v. London, 62 F.3d 1493, 1507 (9th Cir. 1995) (“By obtaining [a

voluntary dismissal with prejudice], the plaintiff submits to a judgment that serves

to bar his claims forever[.]”).

      We do not consider matters not specifically and distinctly raised and argued

in the opening brief. See Padgett v. Wright, 587 F.3d 983, 985 n.2 (9th Cir. 2009).

      The MSPB’s untimely motion for leave to intervene (Docket Entry No. 11)

is denied as unnecessary.

      PETITION DENIED.

                                          2                                     19-72488