{ "id": 4246587, "name": "Douglas LARSEN, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. FARMINGTON MUNICIPAL SCHOOLS, Defendant-Appellee", "name_abbreviation": "Larsen v. Farmington Municipal Schools", "decision_date": "2010-07-27", "docket_number": "No. 28,429; No. 32,566", "first_page": "926", "last_page": "930", "citations": [ { "type": "official", "cite": "148 N.M. 926" }, { "type": "parallel", "cite": "242 P.3d 493" }, { "type": "parallel", "cite": "2010-NMCA-094" } ], "court": { "name_abbreviation": "N.M. Ct. App.", "id": 9025, "name": "Court of Appeals of New Mexico" }, "jurisdiction": { "id": 52, "name_long": "New Mexico", "name": "N.M." }, "cites_to": [ { "cite": "119 N.M. 500", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.M.", "case_ids": [ 1561211 ], "weight": 3, "year": 1995, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "505", "parenthetical": "internal quotation marks and citation omitted" }, { "page": "952", "parenthetical": "internal quotation marks and citation omitted" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nm/119/0500-01" ] }, { "cite": "117 N.M. 602", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.M.", "case_ids": [ 1552692 ], "weight": 7, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "605" }, { "page": "1269" }, { "page": "606" }, { "page": "1270" }, { "page": "606" }, { "page": "1270" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nm/117/0602-01" ] }, { "cite": "1998-NMSC-046", "category": "reporters:neutral", "reporter": "NMSC", "case_ids": [ 827320 ], "weight": 4, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "\u00b6 6" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nm/126/0396-01" ] }, { "cite": "1998-NMCA-067", "category": "reporters:neutral", "reporter": "NMCA", "case_ids": [ 834363 ], "weight": 3, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nm/125/0206-01" ] }, { "cite": "108 N.M. 674", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.M.", "case_ids": [ 1592807 ], "weight": 2, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "676-77" }, { "page": "915-16" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nm/108/0674-01" ] }, { "cite": "120 N.M. 408", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.M.", "case_ids": [ 1558934 ], "weight": 2, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "414" }, { "page": "569" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nm/120/0408-01" ] }, { "cite": "2010-NMCA-093", "category": "reporters:neutral", "reporter": "NMCA", "case_ids": [ 4248306 ], "weight": 3, "year": 2010, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nm/148/0920-01" ] } ], "analysis": { "cardinality": 616, "char_count": 12409, "ocr_confidence": 0.685, "pagerank": { "raw": 5.810952403791719e-08, "percentile": 0.361780165561776 }, "sha256": "446c57ef8f94e72d1d6d550b2048473d49de0a53e511ff27097a050b1e5e058b", "simhash": "1:bfe20cc5a8931d53", "word_count": 1930 }, "last_updated": "2023-07-14T17:58:33.542282+00:00", "provenance": { "date_added": "2019-08-29", "source": "Harvard", "batch": "2018" }, "casebody": { "judges": [ "WE CONCUR: MICHAEL D. BUSTAMANTE and MICHAEL E. VIGIL, Judges." ], "parties": [ "Douglas LARSEN, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. FARMINGTON MUNICIPAL SCHOOLS, Defendant-Appellee." ], "opinions": [ { "text": "OPINION\nCASTILLO, Judge.\n{1} Following discharge from his position at Farmington High School, Plaintiff Douglas Larsen filed an action in district court for breach of contract and damages. The district court ordered the parties to arbitrate, and the arbitrator entered an award finding just cause for Plaintiffs discharge. Defendant Farmington Municipal Schools then moved for summary judgment on the basis of the award. The district court granted the motion, and Plaintiff appeals. We affirm.\nBACKGROUND\n{2} On January 8, 2003, Defendant\u2019s Superintendent of Schools provided Plaintiff with a notice of intention to recommend discharge of Plaintiff from his position as a high school teacher pursuant to allegations that he had made lewd suggestions to a student, had inappropriate photographs in his classroom, and was insubordinate based upon a prior warning about similar behavior toward a different student. The notice advised Plaintiff that he had a right to request a hearing before the school board \u201cby submitting a written request to the Superintendent within five working days from the date\u201d the notice was served upon him. In a memorandum dated January 8, 2003, Plaintiff notified Defendant\u2019s Executive Director of Personnel that he declined Defendant\u2019s request that he resign and stated his protest of Defendant\u2019s actions, insisting that Defendant follow collective bargaining agreements and advising that he intended to sue Defendant for violation of his first amendment rights and discrimination. On January 23, 2003, Defendant\u2019s school board took official action discharging Plaintiff. By letter of January 27, 2003, Plaintiff informed Defendant\u2019s Superintendent of Schools that he requested \u201ca hearing before the school board and/or an independent arbitrator whichever is necessary, due to the fact that the school board has already taken action on this matter without informing [him] prior to the meeting.\u201d Plaintiff filed a complaint for damages in district court on November 22, 2004, alleging breach of contract and violation of due process and state law for Defendant\u2019s failure to provide him with a hearing.\n{3} After briefing on Defendant\u2019s amended motion for summary judgment on the basis that Plaintiff did not file a timely request for a post-termination hearing, the district court denied the motion, ordered arbitration, and stayed the proceedings pending the outcome of an arbitration under the School Personnel Act (the Act), NMSA 1978, \u00a7\u00a7 22-10-1 to -27 (1967, as amended through 2002) (recompiled in 2003 at NMSA 1978, Sections 22-10A-1 to -39 (1967, as amended through 2009)). The arbitration hearing was held on October 19, 2007. The arbitrator issued an award upholding Plaintiffs discharge, which we have affirmed in Larsen v. Board of Education of Farmington Municipal Schools, 2010-NMCA-093, 148 N.M. 920, 242 P.3d 487 (2010). After the arbitration award, Defendant filed a motion for summary judgment, arguing that Plaintiffs claims were now moot. The district court granted Defendant\u2019s motion, and this appeal followed.\nAPPLICATION OF DOCTRINE OF COLLATERAL ESTOPPEL\n{4} Defendant employed Plaintiff as a high school teacher for the 2002-2003 school year under a contract entered in July 2002. The contract provided that it may be can-celled for reasons that include just cause and that such cancellation \u201cmay be effected only in accordance with\u201d New Mexico statutes and rules of the state and local boards of education. The Act prior to recompilation applied to the contract. Under the Act, a school board cannot discharge a teacher who has been employed by the school district for three consecutive years without just cause. Section 22-10-14(D) (recompiled at Section 22-10A-24(D)). \u201cJust cause\u201d is defined as \u201ca reason that is rationally related to an employee\u2019s competence or turpitude or the proper performance of his duties and that is not in violation of the employee\u2019s civil or constitutional rights.\u201d Section 22-10-2(F) (recompiled at Section 22-10A-2(G)). Plaintiff was employed by Defendant for more than three years.\n{5} The Act also addresses discharge procedures. It provides that a school superintendent must serve a certified school employee with a written notice of intent to recommend discharge, affording the employee the right to a hearing before the school board if the employee gives the superintendent written notice of the employee\u2019s exercise of the right within five days of receipt of the superintendent\u2019s notice. Section 22-10-17(A), (B) (recompiled at Section 22-10A-27(A), (B)). The Act allows an appeal to an independent arbitrator by a certified school employee aggrieved by a decision of a school board. Section 22-10-17.1(A) (recompiled at Section 22-10A-28(A)). In his arbitration award, the arbitrator found that Plaintiff did not make a written request for a hearing before the school board within the five days allowed him and concluded that the procedural errors concerning Plaintiffs request for a hearing or an appeal were mooted by the district court\u2019s ruling requiring arbitration.\n{6} Plaintiffs brief addresses the same procedural errors as addressed by the arbitrator. Plaintiff alleges, however, that his claim for damages survives the arbitration award. Defendant counters that an arbitration hearing was all the relief to which Plaintiff was entitled, and, further, Plaintiffs claim is barred by the doctrine of collateral estoppel because it has already been denied by the arbitrator. We agree with Defendant that the doctrine of collateral estoppel applies.\n{7} We first address the manner in which Defendant raised its collateral estoppel argument in the district court. Its brief in support of its motion for summary judgment contends that Plaintiffs claim became moot as a result of the arbitration award affirming Plaintiffs discharge. After Plaintiff argued in response that his claim for damages negated mootness, Defendant replied that the doctrine of collateral estoppel precluded Plaintiffs claim. The district court granted the motion, stating that \u201cPlaintiff has had his day in court via the arbitration and there is no other relief he is entitled to.\u201d \u201cThe purpose of the doctrine of collateral estoppel is to foster judicial economy by precluding the relitigation of ultimate facts or issues actually and necessarily decided in a prior suit.\u201d In re Forfeiture of Fourteen Thousand Six Hundred Thirty Nine Dollars ($14,639), 120 N.M. 408, 414, 902 P.2d 563, 569 (Ct.App.1995) (internal quotation marks and citation omitted). We thus infer from the district court\u2019s statement that \u201cPlaintiff has had his day in court via the arbitration\u201d that the district court determined that Plaintiff was precluded from relitigating issues that had previously been decided in the arbitration and was relying on the doctrine of collateral estoppel in making its ruling. Cf. Callison v. Naylor, 108 N.M. 674, 676-77, 777 P.2d 913, 915-16 (Ct.App.1989) (concluding that the party \u201chad his day in court\u201d and was thus barred by the doctrine of collateral estoppel), limited on other grounds by Tedford v. Gregory, 1998-NMCA-067, 125 N.M. 206, 959 P.2d 540. We review the district court\u2019s decision to grant summary judgment accordingly.\n{8} \u201cSummary judgment is appropriate where there are no genuine issues of material fact and the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.\u201d Self v. United Parcel Serv., Inc., 1998-NMSC-046, \u00b6 6, 126 N.M. 396, 970 P.2d 582 (citation omitted). \u201cWe review these legal questions de novo.\u201d Id.\n{9} For a claim to be barred by-collateral estoppel, \u201c(1) the party against whom collateral estoppel is asserted must have been a party in or in privity with a party to the original action; and (2) the two cases must have concerned the same ultimate issue or fact, which was (a) actually litigated, and (b) necessarily determined in the first suit.\u201d DeLisle v. Avallone, 117 N.M. 602, 605, 874 P.2d 1266, 1269 (Ct.App.1994). The party invoking the doctrine of collateral estoppel bears the burden of establishing a prima facie showing. Id. at 606, 874 P.2d at 1270. Once a prima facie showing is made, the burden shifts to the party opposing collateral estoppel to show that the party was not afforded a full and fair opportunity to litigate the issue in the prior proceeding. Id. The doctrine of collateral estoppel applies to arbitration awards if the \u201carbitration affords opportunity for presentation of evidence and argument substantially similar in form and scope to judicial proceedings.\u201d Rex, Inc. v. Manufactured Hous. Comm., 119 N.M. 500, 505, 892 P.2d 947, 952 (1995) (internal quotation marks and citation omitted). However, \u201cbecause arbitration proceedings tend to be more informal than judicial proceedings, with fewer procedural safeguards, [a] court should be particularly vigilant in examining whether the arbitration proceeding provided the parties with a full and fair opportunity to litigate the issues.\u201d Id.\n{10} As discussed above, Plaintiff was afforded an arbitration hearing before an independent arbitrator. The parties to the district court case and to the arbitration were the same \u2014 Plaintiff and Defendant. The issue in the district court and in the arbitration was the same: did Defendant breach its contract with Plaintiff by wrongfully discharging him without due process. Plaintiff had notice of the allegations against him and a full and fair opportunity to have counsel represent him, testify on his own behalf, confront witnesses against him, and present evidence for the arbitrator to consider. See \u00a7 22-10.17.1 (recompiled at \u00a7 22-10A-28). He was represented by counsel and did present evidence and cross-examine the witnesses against him. There was evidence that Plaintiff had requested a hearing before the school board, although not within the appropriate time frame. Defendant has therefore established a prima facie showing that collateral estoppel applies. The burden then shifts to Plaintiff to show that he was not afforded a full and fair opportunity to litigate his claims. See DeLisle, 117 N.M. at 606, 874 P.2d at 1270.\n{11} Although it is not clearly stated, Plaintiff\u2019s only argument seems to be that the nearly five-year delay between his discharge and the arbitration hearing denied him due process and entitles him to damages. Plaintiff does not contend on appeal that he suffered any prejudice from the delay or that he was denied the opportunity to litigate his claim.\n{12} Plaintiff argues instead that the arbitrator\u2019s ruling on \u201cprocedural errors\u201d only referred to Plaintiffs failure to request a hearing before the school board and did not embrace the basis for Plaintiffs contract claim \u2014 that Defendant failed to provide Plaintiff a post-termination arbitration hearing. We disagree. The arbitrator found that \u201c[t]he procedural errors regarding [Plaintiffl\u2019s request for hearing and/or appeal are rendered moot by virtue of the ruling of the [district [c]ourt.\u201d The arbitrator was referring to the district court\u2019s requirement that Defendant be given a post-termination hearing \u2014 the arbitration. This language indicates that the arbitrator\u2019s ruling extends to both Plaintiffs failure to timely request a hearing before the school board and the school board\u2019s failure to timely provide an arbitration hearing at which Plaintiff could have appealed his discharge. The hearing before an independent arbitrator is the appeals process afforded by statute following a certified school employee\u2019s discharge. See \u00a7\u00a7 22-10-17, -17.1 (recompiled at Sections 22-10A-27, -28). Plaintiff failed to meet his burden of showing that he was denied a full and fair opportunity to litigate his claim for breach of contract and damages. As a result, the district court could properly conclude that Plaintiffs claim for damages was determined by the arbitrator and grant summary judgment to Defendant.\nCONCLUSION\n{13} We affirm the district court\u2019s order of summary judgment in favor of Defendant.\n{14} IT IS SO ORDERED.\nWE CONCUR: MICHAEL D. BUSTAMANTE and MICHAEL E. VIGIL, Judges.", "type": "majority", "author": "CASTILLO, Judge." } ], "attorneys": [ "Hawk Law, P.A., Sharon B. Hawk, Albuquerque, NM, for Appellant.", "Brown & German, Stephen L. Cash, Kevin M. Brown, Albuquerque, NM, for Appellee." ], "corrections": "", "head_matter": "2010-NMCA-094\n242 P.3d 493\nDouglas LARSEN, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. FARMINGTON MUNICIPAL SCHOOLS, Defendant-Appellee.\nNo. 28,429.\nCourt of Appeals of New Mexico.\nJuly 27, 2010.\nCertiorari Denied, Sept. 16, 2010,\nNo. 32,566.\nHawk Law, P.A., Sharon B. Hawk, Albuquerque, NM, for Appellant.\nBrown & German, Stephen L. Cash, Kevin M. Brown, Albuquerque, NM, for Appellee." }, "file_name": "0926-01", "first_page_order": 960, "last_page_order": 964 }