Case ID: f-appx_144/html/0377-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "PER CURIAM: \n    ", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Barbara DeLOACH, natural mother of Shelby Dawson individually and on behalf of all wrongful death beneficiaries, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. David M. BRYAN, individually and in his official capacity as sheriff of Panola County, Mississippi; Panola County Mississippi; Hugh Bright, individually and in his official capacity as Jail Administrator of the Panola County Jail; Edward Dickson, individually and as a Jailer for Panola County Jail; Rick Johnson, individually and as a Jailer for Panola County Jail, Defendants-Appellees.
    No. 04-60757.
    Summary Calendar.
    United States Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit.
    Decided June 24, 2005.
    
      Charles E. Webster, Webster Gresham & Kittell, Clarksdale, MS, for Plaintiff-Appellant.
    Suite R, Daniel, Coker, Horton & Bell, Oxford, MS, Robert Mims, for DefendantAppellee.
    Before GARZA, DeMOSS, and CLEMENT, Circuit Judges.
   PER CURIAM:

Barbara DeLoach filed a 42 U.S.C. § 1983 suit against Panola County, David M. Bryan, individually and in his official capacity as sheriff of Panola County, Mississippi; Hugh Bright, individually and in his official capacity as Jail Administrator of the Panola County Jail; Edward Dickson, individually and as a Jailer for Panola County Jail; and Rick Johnson, individually and as a Jailer for Panola County Jail. DeLoach sought damages arising out of the suicide of her son, Shelby Dawson, while Dawson was being held in the Panola County Jail. The district court granted summary judgment in favor of the defendants, dismissing DeLoaeh’s claims. De-Loach now appeals.

DeLoach does not argue that the district court erred in dismissing her federal claims against Panola County and her state law claims. She also does not argue that the district court erred in dismissing her claims against Bryan, Bright, Dickson, and Johnson in their official capacities. Lastly, she does not reiterate her claims regarding improper training and instruction. Accordingly, these claims are deemed abandoned on appeal. Yohey v. Collins, 985 F.2d 222, 224-25 (5th Cir. 1993)(claims not adequately argued in the body of the brief are deemed abandoned on appeal).

We review the district court’s decision to grant summary judgment de novo, drawing all inferences in favor of the non-moving party. Fraire v. Arlington, 957 F.2d 1268, 1273 (5th Cir.1992). In order to prevail on a 42 U.S.C. § 1983 claim based on the alleged failure of law enforcement officials to prevent the suicide of a pretrial detainee, the plaintiff must demonstrate that the officials acted with deliberate indifference to the detainee’s needs. Flores v. County of Hardeman, 124 F.3d 736, 738 (5th Cir.1997).

Viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to DeLoach, we conclude that DeLoach failed to show that a genuine issue of material fact existed with regard to whether the defendants had actual knowledge of Dawson’s suicidal tendencies and disregarded that risk. During his five-month incarceration, Dawson did not appear suicidal. At no time did Dawson, DeLoach, or any other individual ever notify the defendants that Dawson was suicidal or had suicidal tendencies. At the time of his death, Dawson had spent approximately five months in the Panola County Jail without incident. The evidence of the alleged “suicide note” and of Dawson’s pri- or mental health treatment was too remote in time. The more recent history of Dawson’s behavior as related by the jail staff was a better indication of Dawson’s mental health at the time of his death. The judgment of the district court is AFFIRMED. 
      
       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.