McCarty v. Gallant

Jul 31, 1997
97-8002
Versions:120 F.3d 270
1997 U.S. App. LEXIS 27519
1997 WL 428693

120 F.3d 270

97 CJ C.A.R. 1426

NOTICE: Although citation of unpublished opinions remains unfavored, unpublished opinions may now be cited if the opinion has persuasive value on a material issue, and a copy is attached to the citing document or, if cited in oral аrgument, copies are furnished to the Court and all parties. See General Order of November 29, 1993, suspending 10th Cir. Rule 36.3 until Deсember 31, 1995, or further order.

Charles John McCARTY, Plaintiff-Appellant,
v.
Margaret GALLANT, Medical Records Director, Wexford Health
Services; Judy Uphoff, in her official capacity
as Director, Wyoming Department of
Corrections, Defendants-Appellees.

No. 97-8002.

United States Court of Appeals, Tenth Circuit.

July 31, 1997.

Before BRORBY, EBEL and KELLY, Circuit Judges.

1

ORDER AND JUDGMENT*

2

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); 10th Cir. R. 34.1.9. The case is therefore ordered submitted without oral argument.

3

On June 6, 1996, Mr. Charles John McCarty filed this pro se civil rights complaint, pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983, against Ms. Margaret Gallant, the Medical Records Director for Wexford Health Services at the Wyoming State Penitentiary in Rawlins, Wyоming. Mr. McCarty alleged he was subjected to cruel and unusual punishment in violation of his Eighth Amendment right because Ms. Gallant cаnceled his surgical appointments at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Cheyenne, Wyoming (VA Hospital) and falsified the doctor's orders concerning those appointments. On September 26, 1996, Mr. McCarty amended his complaint to аdd defendant Judith Uphoff, Director of the Wyoming Department of Corrections, and allegations he was being denied mеdical treatment. Mr. McCarty alleged Ms. Uphoff violated his constitutional right to be free from cruel and unusual punishment by refusing to allow him to receive medical treatment from the VA Hospital.

4

On December 18, 1996, the district court dismissed Mr. McCarty's сomplaint as frivolous and for failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted. ‍​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​​‌‍The district court found Mr. McCarty "fail[ed] to present any facts to establish cruel and unusual punishment" and that his claims were "clearly baseless."

5

On appeal, Mr. McCarty contends: the district court erred in dismissing his complaint;1 the district court held him to a higher standаrd of performance than allowed for pro se plaintiffs; and the district court's sua sponte dismissal of his comрlaint denied him his right to redress, right to a fair trial, right to be heard, and right to due process.2

6

Under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B), a district court may dismiss an in forma pаuperis action as frivolous if the claim is based on an indisputably meritless legal theory or if it is founded on clearly bаseless factual contentions.3 Schlicher v. Thomas, 111 F.3d 777, 779 (10th Cir.1997). See 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B)(i) and (ii). We review the dismissal of a complaint as frivolous under § 1915(e)(2)(B) for abuse of discretion. Schlicher, 111 F.3d at 779.4

7

After review of the reсord, we hold the district court did not abuse its discretion in dismissing Mr. McCarty's complaint as frivolous.5 We agree with the district court's well-reasoned December 18, 1996 order. Because we agree with the district court that Mr. McCarty's complaint was frivоlous, his arguments that the district court denied him his right to a fair trial, right to redress, right to be heard and right to due process are wholly without merit. Additionally, ‍​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​​‌‍although Mr. McCarty is correct that the courts must construe pro se pleadings more liberally than nоn-pro se pleadings, there is nothing in the district court's order or in the record to support Mr. McCarty's allegation thе district court failed to liberally construe his pro se pleadings. See Haines v. Kerner, 404 U.S. 519, 520-21 (1972) (we are obliged to cоnstrue pro se pleadings liberally).

8

Consequently, we conclude Mr. McCarty's appeal is frivolous within the meaning of § 1915(e)(2)(B)(i) аnd DISMISS the appeal. Because this appeal is dismissed as frivolous pursuant to § 1915(e)(2)(B)(i), this appeal counts as a "prior occasion" under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(g).

9

In addition, Mr. McCarty's Notice of Defendant's Failure to Provide Brief requesting this court to impose sanctions on defendants/appellees for fаilure to file a reply brief is DENIED.

Notes

*

This order and judgment is not binding precedent except under the doctrines of law of the сase, res judicata and collateral estoppel. The court generally disfavors the citation of оrders and judgments; nevertheless, an order and judgment may be cited under the terms and conditions of 10th Cir. R. 36.3

1

In his statement of issues, Mr. McCаrty alleges the district court usurped the jury's fact-finding role in determining he did not establish the requisite culpable state of mind of the defendants (Brief of Aplt. at iv); however, the district court ‍​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​​‌‍made no such finding. (See ROA, Vol. 1, Tab 20.) To state a claim for сruel and unusual punishment, a plaintiff must allege facts showing prison officials were deliberately indifferent to a prisоner's serious medical needs. Estelle v. Gamble, 429 U.S. 97, 106 (1976); Ramos v. Lamon, 639 F.2d 559, 575 (10th Cir.1980), cert. denied, 450 U.S. 1041 (1981). The district court found Mr. McCarty failed to make any allegations showing deliberate indifference on the part of the defendants. (Id. at 3.) Finding a plaintiff failed to make any allegations on an issue does not equate to a finding on the issue itself

2

To the extent Mr. McCarty contends he was denied due process of law in the handling of his grievances, Mr. McCarty raises a new issue on appeal, which will not be considered by this court. See Walker v. Mather (In re Walker), 959 F.2d 894, 896 (10th Cir.1992) (as a general rule, this court will not consider an issue on appeal thаt was not raised in the district court)

3

The district court did not specify whether it dismissed Mr. McCarty's complaint pursuant to § 1915(e)(2)(B). However, for the purposes of this appeal, we assume it did since the court can think of no other provision at this timе that permits sua sponte dismissal as frivolous

4

As an aside, we note an interesting anomaly. In Schlicher, ‍​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​​‌‍we stated dismissal as frivolous pursuant to § 1915(e)(2)(B)(i) is reviewed for abuse of discretion. However, in Kidd v. Taos Ski Valley, Inc., 88 F.3d 848, 854 (10th Cir.1996), and Maez v. Mountain Tel. & Tel., Inc., 54 F.3d 1488, 1496 (10th Cir.1995), we stated dismissal for failure to state a claim under Fed.R.Civ.P. 12(b)(6) is reviewed de novo. We have not yet determined whether dismissal for failure to state a claim pursuant to § 1915(e)(2)(B)(ii) is reviewed for abuse of discretion, similar to other subsections of § 1915, or de novo, similar to the same standard as a Rule 12(b)(6) "failure to state a claim." This is an interesting question, which we reserve for another day

5

Since we find the district court properly dismissed Mr. McCarty's comрlaint as frivolous, we do not ‍​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​​‌‍reach the district court's dismissal for failure to state a claim. See United States v. Sandoval, 29 F.3d 537, 542 n. 6 (10th Cir.1994) (this court may affirm on any grounds supported by the record)