United States Court of Appeals,
Fifth Circuit.
No. 92-7815.
Seshadri RAJU, Plaintiff-Appellant,
v.
Robert S. RHODES, M.D., Defendant-Appellee.
Nov. 26, 1993.
Appeal from the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi.
Before SNEED*, REYNALDO G. GARZA and JOLLY, Circuit Judges.
SNEED, Circuit Judge:
Plaintiff Seshadri Raju, M.D., appeals a district court order granting Defendant Robert
Rhodes, M.D., summary judgment on the ground that Raju was collaterally estopped from relitigating
his claims in district court. We affirm.1
I.
FACTS AND PRIOR PROCEEDINGS
Seshadri Raju, M.D., is a professor of surgery on the faculty of the University of Mississippi
School of Medicine at the University of Mississippi Medical Center ("UMC") in Jackson, Mississippi.
He has been employed there since 1972 pursuant to a contract with the Board of Trustees of State
Institutions of Higher Learning ("Board of Trustees"). Until September 1990, Raju was director of
UMC's transplant program. Robert Rhodes, M.D., was Chairman of the UMC Department of
Surgery and was Raju's departmental and academic supervisor.
In 1989, Raju and Rhodes entered into a "Management Services Agreement," under which
Rhodes provided management services in return for a part of Raju's income from his private practice.
Raju terminated this agreement in 1991.
*
Senior Circuit Judge of the Ninth Circuit, sitting by designation.
1
Although the above description of this case appears quite simple, the relevant litigation history
is quite complex. It is set forth in summary form in the margin to which references can be made
to understand its relevance to the issues before this court. See infra note 3.
In October 1990, Rhodes reorganized UMC's transplant program. Raju was removed from
his position as program director and was assigned Chief of Lung Transplantation and Chief of Liver
Transplantation. Apparently displeased with his new positions and other changes implemented by
Rhodes, Raju filed a formal grievance complaint on October 9, 1990, and sought to enjoin Rhodes's
actions. Raju's grievance alleged that Rhodes's reorganization of the transplant program resulted in
his demotion, adversely affected patient care, subjected him to harassment by Rhodes, interfered with
his private practice, and resulted in a breach of the Management Services Agreement. A faculty
grievance committee heard Raju's complaint on six separate dates, receiving evidence from people
involved in the transplant program and allowing parties to present wi tnesses, documents, and
testimony. The committee unanimously concluded that Raju's grievance lacked merit.
Having exhausted all administrative remedies at the institutional level, Raju requested a review
by the Board of Trustees. On October 17, 1991, the Board affirmed the grievance committee's
finding that Raju's claims against Rhodes lacked merit.
Pursuant to Miss.Code Ann. § 11-51-95, Raju appealed to the Circuit Court of the First
Judicial District of Hinds County, Mississippi. The circuit court, affirming that decision, found that
substantial evidence supported the Board's decision and that all proceedings complied with due
process.
However, before the circuit court reached its decision, Raju brought a separate state court
action on December 18, 1990, against Rhodes in the Circuit Court of the First Judicial District of
Hinds County, Mississippi (No. 90-66-371). Initially, he alleged breach of contract, breach of the
duty of good faith and fair dealing, and tortious interference with business and contractual relations.2
After Raju amended his complaint to assert constitutional violations under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, Rhodes
removed the action to the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi,
Jackson Division, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §§ 1441 and 1443. On November 20, 1992, the district
court granted Rhodes's motion for summary judgment, holding that the grievance committee decision
2
These claims were based upon the Management Services Agreement between Raju and
Rhodes.
and circuit court affirmance collaterally estopped Raju from relitigating his claims, that Raju suffered
no procedural nor substantive due process violation, and that Rhodes was immune from suit under
Mississippi law.
II.
JURISDICTION AND STANDARD OF REVIEW
The district court had jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §§ 1441 and 1443. This court has
jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1291.
Our review of the district court's grant of summary judgment is de novo. Fireman's Fund
Ins. Co. v. Murchison, 937 F.2d 204, 207 (5th Cir.1991). This court must ask whether there exist
no questions of material fact such that the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.
Schuster v. Martin, 861 F.2d 1369, 1371 (5th Cir.1988). We must draw all inferences in the light
most favorable to the party opposing the motion. Reid v. State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co., 784 F.2d
577, 578 (5th Cir.1986). Nevertheless, some deference is due to the district court's interpretation of
the law in the state in which it sits. Thus, we must accord the district court some deference on its
rulings on Mississippi law. See Schuster, 861 F.2d at 1371.
III.
DISCUSSION
This controversy began when Rhodes reorganized the UMC transplant program, removing
Raju from his position as program director and assigning him to two new positions. The antecedents
of this case are long and complicated and require being set forth in some detail in the margin.3 As the
3
A. The Administrative Proceedings and Review Thereof
The proceedings began when Raju filed his grievance complaint on October 9,
1990. The grievance committee met on February 5, 1991, March 5, 1991, April 16, 1991,
May 21, 1991, June 4, 1991, and June 19, 1991, and unanimously held that Raju's
complaint lacked merit. The committee concluded that: (1) Raju was not demoted by
Rhodes; (2) Raju was not harassed by nor discriminated against by Rhodes; and (3)
Rhodes's actions were within the scope of his authority, responsibility, and prerogatives as
chairman of the surgery department. Further, the committee found that the reorganization
of the transplant program was for valid administrative, financial, and operational reasons,
and that allegations that Rhodes was guilty of professional or ethical misconduct were
meritless.
Raju requested review by the Board of Trustees, which affirmed the grievance
committee decision on October 17, 1991. The Board determined that: (1) the UMC due
process procedures were followed, and (2) the UMC grievance committee's decision was
neither arbitrary nor capricious. On November 21, 1991, Raju filed his petition for
certiorari appealing the Board's decision to the Circuit Court of the First Judicial District
of Hinds County, Mississippi, pursuant to Miss.Code Ann. § 11-51-95. This action was
Raju v. Board of Trustees of the State Institutions of Higher Learning (No. 91-69-405).
Seeking to overturn the Board's refusal to enjoin the reorganization of the transplant
program, Raju claimed: (1) The reorganization resulted in a substantial demotion to Raju;
(2) evidence presented to the grievance committee did not support its decision or the
Board's decision; (3) the reorganization was Rhodes's effort to bring the practice income
of other surgeons in the department under his financial control; (4) the Board's decision
will have an adverse impact on the current and future prospects of the UMC; and (5) the
Board's decision was tainted by serious violations of due process which occurred during
the grievance procedure.
Judge Gibbs in Raju v. Board of Trustees (No. 91-69-405) denied the petition,
thereby affirming the administrative decisions, on August 31, 1992. Specifically, Judge
Gibbs found that no evidence established that the reorganization adversely affected the
current or future interest of UMC, that substantial evidence supported the Board's
determination that the grievance committee decision was not arbitrary—particularly that
Raju was not demoted, that he was not personally harassed by Rhodes, that Rhodes's
actions were within the scope of his responsibility and authority as department
chairman—and that the Board's decision finding no due process violations during the
grievance proceedings was supported by substantial evidence. The court explained that
Raju received notice, the opportunity to be heard through testimony and other evidence,
and the opportunity to present witnesses and to respond to testimony of adverse witnesses
in writing and in person.
B. Raju's Suit Based on State Law Claims (Raju v. Rhodes, No. 90-66-371)
Before Judge Gibbs in Raju v. Board of Trustees (No. 91-69-405) reached his
decision on August 31, 1992, Raju filed a complaint against Rhodes in the Circuit Court of
the First Judicial District of Hinds County, Mississippi, on December 18, 1990 (Raju v.
Rhodes, No. 90-66-371). This complaint alleged breach of contract, breach of the duty of
good faith and fair dealing, and tortious interference with business and contractual
relations. Raju sought damages in the amount of $5 million. On January 29, 1991,
Rhodes moved for early determination of his immunity, for protective order, and for
dismissal. This motion was based on the privilege of qualified immunity under Mississippi
law. On April 5, 1991, the court denied the motion and allowed discovery to proceed
only on the issue of qualified immunity.
On April 8, 1991, Rhodes filed his answer and defenses to Raju's complaint in this
state law proceeding, Raju v. Rhodes (No. 90-66-371), and moved for certification of
interlocutory appeal. After the circuit court denied certification, Rhodes on April 24,
1991, petitioned the Mississippi Supreme Court for certification of an interlocutory appeal
of the denial of his motion to dismiss and also made a direct appeal. On October 9, 1991,
the Mississippi Supreme Court denied Rhodes's petition for interlocutory appeal and
dismissed his direct appeal.
On January 16, 1992, Rhodes moved for leave to amend his answer and defenses
to include collateral estoppel. On January 31, 1992, the circuit court granted Raju's
chronology reveals, this dispute initially was determined by t he authorities of the University of
Mississippi. From that disposition, Raju initiated state court proceedings in the Circuit Court of the
First Judicial District of Hinds County, Mississippi (Raju v. Rhodes, No. 90-66-371), on December
18, 1990, in which he sought restoration of his former position and damages. He alleged state law
tort and contract claims. Those proceedings began as indicated by note three, and in due course were
motion to amend his complaint. Raju then filed his amended complaint on March 30,
1992, in which he relied on constitutional claims for damages under 42 U.S.C. § 1983. He
asserted that Rhodes violated his due process rights under the Fifth and Fourteenth
Amendments in that Rhodes's reorganization of the transplant program deprived him of his
property—income allegedly lost because of Rhodes's interference with Raju's position and
standing at UMC and imposition of the Management Services Agreement upon Raju—his
liberty interests in the management of his career, practice, and income, and both
procedural and substantive due process. Raju also alleged a substantive due process
violation on the ground that he was entitled to funds that were diverted to Rhodes and
others at UMC through the imposition of the Management Services Agreement.
C. Raju's Federal Case After Removal By Rhodes (Raju v. Rhodes, No. J92-0206(L)(N))
Rhodes removed the case to the United States District Court for the Southern
District of Mississippi, Jackson Division, on April 10, 1992, because Raju had amended
his complaint in the Circuit Court of the First Judicial District of Hinds County,
Mississippi (Raju v. Rhodes, No. 90-66-371) to assert that his constitutional rights were
violated. Rhodes also moved for determination of immunity, dismissal with prejudice, and
stay of discovery. Raju filed his second amended complaint on July 14, 1992, to include
additional facts affecting Raju's 42 U.S.C. § 1983 action. On September 21, 1992,
Rhodes filed a supplement to his motion for determination of immunity, dismissal with
prejudice, and stay of discovery. Attached to this was the circuit court opinion of Judge
Gibbs (No. 91-69-405, Raju v. Board of Trustees ), filed on August 31, 1992, in which
the circuit court affirmed the prior administrative decisions.
On November 20, 1992, the district court granted Rhodes's motion for summary
judgment in Raju v. Rhodes, 809 F.Supp. 1229 (S.D.Miss.1992). The court held that
Mississippi's combined administrative proceedings and judicial review satisfied due process
and that collateral estoppel barred relitigation of issues decided by the grievance
committee and affirmed by the Board of Trustees and Circuit Court of the First Judicial
District of Hinds County, Mississippi (Raju v. Board of Trustees, No. 91-69-405, August
31, 1992). The district court also held that the preclusive effect of the circuit court
judgment of August 31, 1992, foreclosed Raju's overcoming Rhodes's qualified immunity
in order to sustain his 42 U.S.C. § 1983 claims, including alleged deprivation of his
property or liberty interest without procedural or substantive due process. The court
further noted that even if it had concluded that collateral estoppel did not apply to the
state court findings in Raju v. Board of Trustees (No. 91-69-405, August 31, 1992), it
nevertheless would conclude that Raju failed to overcome Rhodes's qualified immunity.
The court found no protected property nor liberty interest of which Raju could have been
deprived. Finally, the court concluded that Rhodes is immune from suit as to Raju's state
law tort and contract claims. Judgment became final on November 30, 1992. On
December 23, 1992, Rhodes filed his notice of appeal.
removed to the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, Jackson
Division, on April 10, 1992, No. J92-0206(L)(N), following an amendment to the complaint adding
alleged violations of Raju's federal civil rights. That action was disposed of adversely to Raju on
November 20, 1992, and is here being reviewed. The issue before us is whether the district court
erred in granting summary judgment to Rhodes on the ground that Raju was collaterally estopped
from litigating his claims by the preceding separate administrative proceedings and judicial review.
We find no error.
A.
The district court's November 20, 1992, summary judgment granted Rhodes judgment in
Raju's action asserting constitutional violations under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 and state law claims of
breach of contract, breach of the duty of good faith and fair dealing, and interference with contractual
and business relations. Raju is appealing the adverse judgment with respect to both his state law and
constitutional claims.
The Full Faith and Credit Act, 28 U.S.C. § 1738, requires federal courts to give the same
preclusive effect to state court judgments that those judgments would receive in the courts of the
state from which the judgments emerged. See, e.g., Allen v. McCurry, 449 U.S. 90, 96, 101 S.Ct.
411, 415, 66 L.Ed.2d 308 (1980). Under the doctrine of collateral estoppel, once a court of
competent jurisdiction decides an issue of fact or law necessary to its judgment, the same parties to
that judgment cannot relitigate that issue in a different action. Montana v. United States, 440 U.S.
147, 153, 99 S.Ct. 970, 973, 59 L.Ed.2d 210 (1979). Collateral estoppel conserves judicial
resources, protects parties from multiple lawsuits, and promotes confidence in judgments and comity
between state and federal courts. See Allen, 449 U.S. at 94-96, 101 S.Ct. at 414-16.
Mississippi recognizes the doctrine of collateral estoppel. See, e.g., Dunaway v. W.H.
Hopper & Assocs., 422 So.2d 749, 751 (Miss.1982); Magee v. Griffin, 345 So.2d 1027, 1032
(Miss.1977). Under proper circumstances, it can preclude relitigation of issues determined in
administrative proceedings. See Mississippi Employment Sec. Comm'n v. Philadelphia Mun.
Separate Sch. Dist., 437 So.2d 388, 396 (Miss.1983); City of Jackson v. Holliday, 246 Miss. 412,
149 So.2d 525, 527 (1963).
Mississippi's law of collateral estoppel requires that four elements be satisfied: (1) A party
must be seeking to relitigate a specific issue; (2) that issue already had been litigated in a prior
lawsuit; (3) that issue actually was determined in the prior lawsuit; and (4) that determination of the
issue was essential to the judgment in the prior lawsuit. Dunaway, 422 So.2d at 751. Mississippi
courts consistently have followed this test. See, e.g., Estate of Stutts v. Stutts, 529 So.2d 177, 179
(Miss.1988).
B.
The application of this four-part test dictates that Raju properly was barred from relitigating
his state law claims. The issues raised in his complaint were litigated, determined, and essential to
the administrative and circuit court decisions. First, in June 1991, the grievance committee
determined that Raju's complaint lacked merit. The Board of Trustees affirmed that decision on
October 17, 1991. The Circuit Court of the First Judicial District of Hinds County, Mississippi,
affirmed all administrative proceedings on August 31, 1992, in Raju v. Board of Trustees (No. 91-69-
405). The United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, Jackson Division,
held on November 20, 1992, in Raju v. Rhodes, 809 F.Supp. 1229, that the adm inistrative
proceedings had been subjected to constitutionally appropriate judicial review and were entitled to
preclusive effect.
C.
We also agree with the district court that the combined administrative hearing and judicial
review proceedings satisfy the minimum procedural requirements of due process. See Kremer v.
Chemical Constr. Corp., 456 U.S. 461, 481-85, 102 S.Ct. 1883, 1897-99, 72 L.Ed.2d 262 (1982).
Therefore, we will not remand this case to the district court for further proceedings. Administrative
hearings were held on six separate days; the committee heard about 600 pages of transcribed
testimony and reviewed voluminous documents offered by both parties. Each party had ample
opportunity to present both written and oral testimony, and the committee could call its own
witnesses. True, some of the safeguards employed in court, such as cross-examination and access
to compulsory process, were absent, but we have not reached the point at which every dispute within
the academic community must be removed either to the court house or to an on-campus equivalent.
There remain differences between disputes arising between scholars and those between ordinary
people, to which lawyers are summoned, that should be recognized, and which the law should not
destroy. The administrative proceedings in this instance not only satisfied the mores of the academic
community but also amply satisfied the minimum procedural due process requirements which permit
invocation of collateral estoppel.
Raju's efforts to show an impairment of his constitutional rights have been considered by the
district court at great length, and we agree with its decision. Raju has suffered no violations of his
substantive nor procedural due process rights. He has been accorded incredibly complete
administrative and judicial review and at all levels has failed.
D.
The district court also correctly held that the preclusive effect of the decision of the Circuit
Court of the First Judicial District of Hinds County, Mississippi, on August 31, 1992 (Raju v. Board
of Trustees, No. 91-69-405), foreclosed Raju's overcoming Rhodes's qualified immunity in order to
sustain his 42 U.S.C. § 1983 act ion. Qualified immunity shields government officials performing
discretionary functions from civil damages liability if their conduct does not violate clearly established
statutory or constitutional rights of which a reasonable person would have known. Harlow v.
Fitzgerald, 457 U.S. 800, 818, 102 S.Ct. 2727, 2738, 73 L.Ed.2d 396 (1982). "[B]are allegations
of malice should not suffice to subject government officials either to the costs of trial or to the
burdens of broad-reaching discovery." Id. at 817-18, 102 S.Ct. at 2738. The court properly found
that Raju did not have a constitutionally protected property nor liberty interest of which he could have
been deprived by Rhodes's actions. Therefore, Raju could show neither a procedural nor substantive
due process violation and consequently could not sustain his 42 U.S.C. § 1983 action.
E.
The district court further explained that even if it had concluded that collateral estoppel did
not bar Raju from challenging Rhodes's immunity from suit with respect to his 42 U.S.C. § 1983
action, it nevertheless would conclude that Raju failed to provide sufficient evidence to overcome
Rhodes's qualified immunity. We agree. The facts of the case dictate a finding that Raju has no
constitutionally protected property nor liberty interest of which he could have been deprived. Thus,
Raju failed to sustain his burden of establishing that Rhodes forfeited his immunity as to Raju's
asserted constitutional claims.
Moreover, we agree with the district court that Rhodes was protected by Mississippi's
qualified immunity law as to Raju's state law tort and contract claims. See Womble v. Singing River
Hosp., 618 So.2d 1252, 1262-65 (Miss.1993); Hudson v. Rausa, 462 So.2d 689, 695-96
(Miss.1984).4 These claims were directly related to Rhodes's actions taken in his public official
capacity as chairman of UMC's surgery department; they were discretionary, involved public policy,
and were within the scope o f his public official duties. Rhodes did nothing to forfeit his qualified
immunity. See Grantham v. Mississippi Dep't of Corrections, 522 So.2d 219, 225 (Miss.1988)
(public officials lose their qualified immunity when they exceed the scope of their authority, commit
an intentional tort, or commit a tort outside the scope of their public office).
F.
Finally, in this appeal, Raju has sought to preclude the above district court actions by
suggesting that the state court's denial of Rhodes's motion for determination of immunity, protective
order, and dismissal in Raju v. Rhodes (No. 90-66-371) constitutes a holding on the merits in favor
of Raju.5 This is reading far too much into that action. Viewed in light of later developments in that
proceeding, it is clear that the denial of the motion was intended merely to forestall a premature
resolution of the dispute.6 Therefore, we agree with the district court's grant of summary judgment
4
In Womble, the Mississippi Supreme Court overruled Hudson to the extent that it had
extended to medical personnel in public service qualified immunity for making individual medical
treatment decisions. 618 So.2d at 1262-65. Womble maintained qualified immunity to protect
public medical officials from liability stemming from their discretionary policy-making decisions.
Id. at 1265.
5
See supra note 3.B.
6
The county circuit court (Raju v. Rhodes, No. 90-66-371) in denying Rhodes's motion never
decided the collateral estoppel issue because Rhodes's motion did not present that defense to the
court for a decision on the merits. Moreover, when the court summarily denied the motion, the
to Rhodes on the ground that Raju was collaterally estopped from relitigating his claims in federal
court.
AFFIRMED.
grievance committee decision was unreviewed. This case was removed to district court on April
10, 1992; the administrative proceedings were affirmed by the county circuit court on August 31,
1992, in Raju v. Board of Trustees, No. 91-69-405. Therefore, even assuming that the court
denied the motion because collateral estoppel did not apply, this decision was limited to the
proceedings that were completed at that time.