Spencer v. EasterSpencer v. Easter
Before LUTTIG and KING, Circuit Judges, and HAMILTON, Senior Circuit Judge.
Affirmed by unpublished PER CURIAM opinion.
OPINION
PER CURIAM:
This case is on remand from the United States Supreme Court for “further consideration in light of Tennessee v. Lane,” 541 U.S. ___, 124 S.Ct. 1978, 158 L.Ed.2d 820 (2004). Micheal Lee Spencer appeals the district court‘s order denying relief on his
On appeal, the majority of Spencer‘s claims stem from the fact that he did not receive timely refills of his prescription drugs on several occasions. Although the case basically arises under
In Tennessee v. Lane, the Supreme Court considered whether the enactment of the ADA, as it applies to cases implicating the fundamental right of access to the courts, constitutes a valid exercise of Congress‘s authority under the enforcement provision of the Fourteenth Amendment. 124 S.Ct. at 1994. In that case, George Lane and Beverly Jones, two paraplegics who use wheelchairs for mobility, filed suit against the State of Tennessee and several counties claiming that they were denied access to courtrooms that lacked elevators. The State of Tennessee moved to dismiss the suit on the ground that states are immune from such claims under the Elev
The Supreme Court did not, however, decide whether the statutory abrogation of sovereign immunity was constitutional with regard to non-fundamental rights. After finding that the abrogation was valid as applied to the fundamental right of access to the courts, the Supreme Court stated that it “need go no further.” Id. at 1993. Thus, it appears that the actual holding is fairly narrow and is limited “to the class of cases implicating the fundamental right of access to the courts.” Id. at 1994. We therefore note that it is relatively unclear at this point to what extent the case will be applied to other public services, activities, and programs.
We need not address, however, whether the Defendants are entitled to Eleventh Amendment immunity in this case because Spencer clearly fails to state a claim under the ADA. To establish a prima facie case under Title II of the ADA, Spencer must show: (1) that he is a qualified individual with a disability; (2) that he was either excluded from participation in or denied the benefits of some public entity‘s services, programs, or activities or was otherwise discriminated against; and (3) that such exclusion, denial of benefits, or discrimination was by reason of his disability. See Race v. Toledo-Davila, 291 F.3d 857, 858 n. * (1st Cir.2002); Baird v. Rose, 192 F.3d 462, 467 (4th Cir.1999). Because there is no evidence in the record to suggest that any failure by the Defendants to obtain Spencer‘s medication in a timely manner stemmed from any discriminatory intent due to any alleged disability, we find that Spencer fails to establish a prima facie claim under the ADA. See Bryant v. Madigan, 84 F.3d 246, 249 (7th Cir.1996) (holding that the ADA is not “violated by a prison‘s simply failing to attend to the medical needs of its disabled prisoners. No discrimination is alleged; Bryant was not treated worse because he was disabled.“).
Accordingly, we affirm the district court‘s denial of Spencer‘s ADA claims on the ground that he has failed to establish a prima facie case under the ADA. We affirm the district court‘s denial of the remainder of Spencer‘s claims on the reasoning of the district court. See Spencer v. Easter, No. CA-01-1579-AM (E.D. Va. filed Oct. 24, 2002 & entered Oct. 25, 2002). We dispense with oral argument because the facts and legal contentions are adequately presented in the materials before the court and argument would not aid the decisional process.
AFFIRMED.