for new trial. 1 . The Honorable Scott O. Wright, United States District Judge for the Western District of Missouri. 2 . In early 1994, Watson was detailed into an "Acting Building Management Specialist” position. During-his ninety-day detail, he was responsible for maintaining the environment and overseeing service contracts owned and leased by the IRS. The person ultimately selected for the open position, Milling Canon, replaced Watson in the ninety-day detail position. 3 . The only aspect of the district court's partial summary-judgment order addressed in Watson’s appeal is the court’s ruling on his retaliation claim. Thus, we will only consider this portion of the partial summary-judgment order in our analysis. See In re MidAmerican Energy Co., 286 F.3d 483, 487 (8th Cir.2002) (<HOLDING>). 4 . Because Watson offers no argument on
holding issues not raised in appellate brief are waived holding that claims not raised in an appellants initial brief to our court are waived holding that issues not raised in an appellants initial brief are deemed abandoned holding that issues not argued in initial brief are deemed waived holding that arguments not raised in the opening brief are waived