Windham v. McKnight
Windham v. McKnight
Opinion
IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT
No. 99-30007 Conference Calendar
KERRY WINDHAM,
Plaintiff-Appellant,
versus
UNKNOWN MCKNIGHT; UNKNOWN DUNBAR; MS. SUSAN; MR. MICHAEL, Dialysis Unit, EKL; TAMMY, Dialysis Unit, EKL; CANDICE, Dialysis Unit, MR. PATRICK, Dialysis Unit, EKL,
Defendants-Appellees.
-------------------- Appeal from the United States District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana USDC No. 97-CV-877 --------------------
October 20, 1999
Before JONES, WIENER, and STEWART, Circuit Judges.
PER CURIAM:*
Kerry Windham, Texas inmate #92138, proceeding pro se and in
forma pauperis (IFP), appeals the district court’s grant of
summary judgment in favor of the defendants and the dismissal of
his civil rights complaint. Windham contends that the defendants
acted with deliberate indifference to his medical needs. He
asserts that the defendants gave him illegal chemicals that
caused his condition to worsen. He contends that the defendants
* Pursuant to 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 R. 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not be published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5TH CIR.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. No. 99-30007 -2-
discontinued his hypertension medication and prescribed
psychotropic drugs without providing the proper medical
examinations. He contends that he has not been examined by a
physician while he has been receiving dialysis treatments.
We review the grant of summary judgment de novo. Fraire v.
City of Arlington,
957 F.2d 1268, 1273(5th Cir. 1992). Summary
judgment is proper if the pleadings, discovery, and any affidavits filed in support of the motion
show that there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and that the moving party is entitled to
judgment as a matter of law. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(c). If the moving party meets the initial burden, the nonmovant must set forth specific facts showing the existence of a genuine issue for
trial. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(e). The nonmovant cannot satisfy his summary judgment burden
with conclusional allegations, unsubstantiated assertions, or only a scintilla of evidence. Little v.
Liquid Air Corp.,
37 F.3d 1069, 1075(5th Cir. 1994) (en banc). Windham’s allegations indicate his disagreement with the
medical treatment that he has received or, at most, negligent or
unsuccessful treatment, which is not actionable under
42 U.S.C. § 1983. See Varnado v. Lynaugh,
920 F.2d 320, 321(5th Cir. 1991)(unsuccessful medical
treatment, negligence, or medical malpractice do not give rise to a § 1983 cause of action;
disagreement with medical treatment is not actionable under § 1983 absent exceptional
circumstances). Accordingly, the district court did not err in
granting summary judgment in favor of the defendants.
By failing to brief them properly in this court, Windham has
abandoned his claims involving a conflict of interest and that
the district court denied his motion for an injunction, denied
his motion for a default judgment, dismissed his state law
claims, and allowed the defendants additional time to respond.
See Yohey v. Collins,
985 F.2d 222, 225(5th Cir. 1993)(claims No. 99-30007 -3-
not adequately argued in the body of the brief are deemed
abandoned on appeal).
Windham’s appeal is without arguable merit and is frivolous.
See Howard v. King,
707 F.2d 215, 219-20(5th Cir. 1983).
Because the appeal is frivolous, it is DISMISSED. See 5TH CIR.
R. 42.2.
The dismissal of Windham’s appeal as frivolous counts as a
strike for purposes of
28 U.S.C. § 1915(g). See Adepegba v.
Hammons,
103 F.3d 383, 388(5th Cir. 1996). We caution Windham
that once he accumulates three strikes, he may not proceed IFP in
any civil action or appeal filed while he is incarcerated or
detained in any facility unless he is under imminent danger of
serious physical injury. See § 1915(g).
DISMISSED AS FRIVOLOUS; SANCTION WARNING ISSUED.
Reference
- Status
- Unpublished