UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS

FOR THE TENTH CIRCUIT

TRACY MATTHEWS, an individual,

Plaintiff-Appellant,

v.

JOHN POTTER, Postmaster General, United States Postal Service,

Defendant-Appellee.

No. 03-1203

(D.C. Nos. 00-M-897, 00-M-1616,

00-M-1617, 01-M-134)

(D. Colo.)

ORDER AND JUDGMENT*

Before LUCERO, McKAY, and TYMKOVICH, Circuit Judges.

After examining the briefs and appellate record, this panel has determined unanimously that oral argument would not materially assist the determination of this appeal. See Fed. R. App. P. 34(a)(2); 10th Cir. R. 34.1(G). The case is therefore ordered submitted without oral argument.

Appellant Tracy Matthews challenges orders of the district court 1) granting summary judgment to defendants on all claims in his four consolidated cases; and 2) limiting discovery. Our jurisdiction over this appeal arises from 28 U.S.C. § 1291. We review the district court's summary judgment ruling de novo, applying the same standards as did the district court in determining appellant's claims. See Simms v. Okla. ex rel. Dep't of Mental Health & Substance Abuse Servs., 165 F.3d 1321, 1326 (10th Cir. 1999). Our review of the court's discovery rulings, however, is limited to determining whether the court abused its discretion. See GWN Petroleum Corp. v. OK-Tex Oil & Gas, Inc., 998 F.2d 853, 858 (10th Cir. 1993). Because appellant proceeds pro se, we liberally construe his filings. Cummings v. Evans, 161 F.3d 610, 613 (10th Cir. 1998). However, we will not imply factual allegations or create legal theories on a pro se plaintiff's behalf. Whitney v. New Mexico, 113 F.3d 1170, 1173-74 (10th Cir. 1997).

We have carefully reviewed the record in these consolidated cases, together with the parties' briefs, in light of these standards and applicable law. We note that appellant has raised arguments and theories which were not preserved for appeal, either because they were not raised to the district court or because they were not preserved by inclusion in appellant's objections to the magistrate judge's recommendation on his claims, later adopted by the district court. Therefore, we decline to consider these arguments. See Walker v. Mather (In re Walker), 959 F.2d 894, 896 (10th Cir. 1992); Whitehead v. Okla. Gas & Elec. Co., 187 F.3d 1184, 1190 (10th Cir. 1999). In light of appellant's remaining arguments, we conclude that the district court correctly granted summary judgment to defendants in these consolidated cases and that the district court's discovery rulings were not an abuse of its discretion. For substantially the same reasons contained in the magistrate judge's thorough and careful recommendation, adopted by the district court, the judgment of the district court is AFFIRMED. Appellant's "Motion to Amend" his appeal to include certain discovery rulings is GRANTED. The mandate shall issue forthwith.

Entered for the Court

Monroe G. McKay

Circuit Judge