November 17, 1995 [NOT FOR PUBLICATION]
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE FIRST CIRCUIT
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No. 95-1539
WILLIAM J. BURGESS,
Plaintiff, Appellant,
v.
BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF NEW HAMPSHIRE, ET AL.,
Defendants, Appellees.
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APPEAL FROM THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
[Hon. Joseph A. DiClerico, U.S. District Judge] ___________________
____________________
Before
Cyr, Boudin and Lynch,
Circuit Judges. ______________
____________________
William J. Burgess on brief pro se. __________________
Ronald F. Rodgers on brief for appellees. _________________
____________________
____________________
Per Curiam. We have reviewed the parties' briefs and __________
the record on appeal. We affirm essentially for the reasons
stated in the district court's order, dated March 28, 1995.
We add only the following comment. Appellant contends
that res judicata ought not to apply because, in this federal
proceeding, he is seeking equitable relief, which the state
district court did not have jurisdiction to award. The
argument is unavailing. Because a state court of general
jurisdiction - the state superior court - was available to
appellant, appellant is precluded from splitting his claim,
even though he brought his action first in a court of limited
jurisdiction. See e.g., Restatement (Second) of Judgments ________
24 cmt. g (1982). Moreover, appellant was told at the outset
by the state judge hearing appellant's first state court _____
small claims action that he did not have equity powers.
Nonetheless, appellant pursued his small claims action at
that time and then subsequently proceeded to file two ___
additional small claims actions. __________
We have considered appellant's other arguments on appeal
and find them to be without merit.
Appellant's motion for summary reversal of the district
court's judgment is denied. _______
The judgment of the district court is affirmed. _______________________________________________