Garza v. Correct Care Solutions

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit December 16, 2011

Garza v. Correct Care Solutions, 451 F. App'x 775 (10th Cir. 2011)

Opinion

ORDER AND JUDGMENT *

HARRIS L. HARTZ, Circuit Judge.

Jose Garza filed this action under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 in the United States District Court for the District of Kansas, claiming constitutional violations arising from the denial of medical treatment after an alleged sexual assault while he was an inmate at Lansing Correctional Facility. Defendant Correct Care Solutions, LLC (CCS) is a contractor providing medical care to inmates at Kansas correctional facilities. CCS moved to dismiss, see Fed. R.Civ.P. 12(b) or, in the alternative, for summary judgment, see Fed.R.Civ.P. 56. The district court issued an order (1) treating CCS’s motion as a motion for summary judgment on its affirmative defense of failure to exhaust administrative remedies and (2) giving Mr. Garza time to respond on the issue of exhaustion.

Mr. Garza submitted a number of documents but the district court found that none showed that he had filed an administrative grievance. It granted CCS’s motion for summary judgment, dismissing the *776 claims against the defendants without prejudice.

Mr. Garza timely appealed. But his briefs include no discussion of the only relevant issue — whether he exhausted his administrative remedies. We construe pro se petitions liberally, but “we are not required to fashion [the plaintiffs] arguments for him.” United States v. Fisher, 38 F.3d 1144, 1147 (10th Cir. 1994). Arguments not raised are waived. See United States v. Martinez, 518 F.3d 763, 767 n. 2 (10th Cir. 2008) (argument not raised in opening brief was waived).

We AFFIRM the judgment of the district court. We DENY plaintiffs request to proceed informa pauperis.

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. This order and judgment is not binding precedent except under the doctrines of law of the case, res judicata, and collateral estoppel. It may be cited, however, for its persuasive value consistent with Fed. R.App. P. 32.1 and 10th Cir. R. 32.1.

Reference

Full Case Name: Jose GARZA, Plaintiff—Appellant, v. CORRECT CARE SOLUTIONS, Contracted With Lansing Correctional Facility and With Larned Correctional Mental Health Facility; John Doe, Guard, Employed at Lansing Correctional Facility in 2003, Defendants—Appellees
Cited By: 13 cases
Status: Unpublished