Grayum

MEMORANDUM *

Laura L. Grayum, a paramedic-firefighter, appeals the district court’s grant of summary judgment in favor of defendants, Fire Chief Michael Greene and the Mason County Fire District No. 2 in her action alleging violation of her First Amendment rights and retaliation for the exercise of Title VII rights. She also asserts a due process claim and various state law claims of defamation, outrage and wrongful discharge in violation of public policy.

The district court properly granted summary judgment on her First Amendment claims. They are now clearly precluded by the Supreme Court’s recent decision in Garcetti v. Ceballos, — U.S. -, 126 S.Ct. 1951 , 164 L.Ed.2d 689 (2006). Grayum made all of the statements at issue in her capacity as an employee in the fire department.

Grayum pleaded gender based discrimination claims in her complaint. Grayum, however, does not pursue her gender based discrimination claims on appeal. Rather Grayum only pursues a claim of retaliation in violation of Title VII that she first raised in her response to the defendants’ motion for summary judgment. This was after the close of discovery. Our law disallows the assertion of new claims *105…