Vargas v. State

After a successful appeal to the Washington State Personnel Appeals Board, Israel Vargas was reinstated to his position as a fraud investigator for the Office of Special Investigation. Thereafter, Mr. Vargas sued the State of Washington for wrongful termination in violation of public policy. Mr. Vargas’s case was dismissed on summary judgment. He appeals contending the court erred by (1) finding that a public employer can take disciplinary action against a civil servant for alleged misconduct during off-duty hours and (2) refusing to grant collateral estoppel effect to the ruling of the…