Rhett v. Scott
145 F.3d 360
5th Cir.
1998
Check Treatment

CARDELL RHETT, JR., also known as Rhett Cardell, Jr., Plaintiff-Appellant, versus WAYNE SCOTT ET AL., Defendants, WAYNE SCOTT; CHARLES ALEXANDER, Dr.; MAXWELL GARDNER, Dr.; SWARTS, Dr.; B. ALLEN; G. PIERSON; B. CASEL; UTMB MANAGE CARE; SCHERRY MCKELVEY, Defendants-Appellees.

No. 97-10910

IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT

May 21, 1998

Summary Calendar

Before WISDOM, WIENER and DENNIS, Circuit Judges

Appeal from the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas

USDC No. 2:96-CV-114

PER CURIAM:*

Cardell Rhett, Jr., Texas prisoner # 672730, appeals the district court‘s dismissal of his 42 U.S.C. § 1983 action as frivolous under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B)(I). Rhett contends that the defendants delayed or failed to provide adequate treatment for his serious medical needs and forced him to perform duties which were inconsistent with his medical restrictions, resulting in serious damage to his knee. Rhett contends that the district court abused its discretion in dismissing his § 1983 action as frivolous under § 1915(e)(2)(B)(I).

Rhett did not raise any claims concerning Wayne Scott or Dr. Charles Alexander in his appellate brief; therefore, he has abandoned these claims on appeal. See .

Rhett argues that G. Pierson and B. Casel failed to assist him in obtaining medical treatment and a different job assignment that would be consistent with his medical restrictions. Because Rhett did not allege that Pierson or Casel actively participated in depriving him of medical treatment or adopted policies which caused the alleged constitutional violations, however, we hold that the district court did not abuse its discretion in dismissing Rhett‘s claims against Pierson and Clark. See .

Next, Rhett argues that the medical treatment he received from Dr. Swarts was constitutionally infirm. Rhett did not, however, show that the district court abused its discretion in dismissing his claim against Dr. Swarts. In view of the substantial amount of medical treatment provided by Dr. Swarts, any deficiency in this treatment amounts to mere negligence, and not deliberate indifference. See .

Rhett alleges that UTMB Manage Care improperly failed to expedite an orthopedic consultation ordered by Dr. Swarts. Rhett has not shown, however, that the district court abused its discretion in dismissing his claim. Rhett was examined by an orthopedic specialist within six weeks after the referral was made; a six-week delay does not constitute deliberate indifference to Rhett‘s serious medical need. See .

Rhett has not shown that the district court abused its discretion in dismissing his claim that he was forced to perform duties that were inconsistent with his medical restrictions. Rhett did not file any grievances concerning this claim which would have put Scherry McKelvey on notice, and McKelvey was not directly involved in supervising Rhett‘s actual duties. Further, Rhett stated at the Spears hearing that when he did complain that his job assignment was inconsistent with the change in his medical restriction to sedentary work, he was transferred to a sedentary job assignment. See (negligent work assignment is not unconstitutional).

Rhett has, however, alleged an arguable Eighth Amendment claim concerning the 14-month delay in repairing or replacing his knee brace. Rhett complained that he reported his knee brace was broken in March 1995 and did not receive a new knee brace until May 1996. Rhett did not dispute that Allen sent an E-mail message to the Brace and Limb Clinic on April 4, 1995, requesting the repair of the knee brace. However, despite Allen‘s request, Rhett did not receive a new knee brace until May 1996, 14 months after his initial request. During this period, Rhett allegedly was forced to continue working with a broken knee brace. According to Rhett, his knee progressively deteriorated during this period and he ultimately suffered a completely torn posterior ligament which required major reconstructive surgery. Delay in medical care can constitute an Eighth Amendment violation if there has been deliberate indifference which results in substantial harm. See . Rhett has arguably raised sufficient facts to state a claim that the 14-month delay in repairing or replacing his knee brace constituted deliberate indifference to his serious medical need and that the delay resulted in substantial further damage to his knee. See Because Rhett‘s claim concerning the 14-month delay in receiving a new knee brace is not frivolous, the district court abused its discretion in dismissing his claim pursuant to § 1915(e)(2)(B)(I). See ; . The district court‘s judgment is VACATED as to Rhett‘s claim concerning the 14-month delay in obtaining a new knee brace, and REMANDED for further proceedings. The remainder of the judgment is AFFIRMED.

AFFIRMED IN PART, VACATED AND REMANDED IN PART.

Notes

*
Under 5TH CIR. R. 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not be published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5TH CIR. R. 47.5.4.