Case ID: f-appx_169/html/0285-01.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

Deangelo WILLIAMS, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. Jerry THOMAS, Doctor, General Physician at Washington Correctional Institute; Kathy McGinnis, Warden of Medical Treatment; Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections, Defendants-Appellees.
    No. 04-31248.
    Conference Calendar.
    United States Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit.
    Decided Feb. 23, 2006.
    Deangelo Williams, Angie, LA, pro se.
    Susan H. Shuey, Office of the Attorney General for the State of Louisiana, New Orleans, LA, for Defendants-Appellees.
    Before GARZA, DENNIS, and PRADO, Circuit Judges.
   PER CURIAM:

Deangelo Williams, Louisiana prisoner # 416929, appeals from the dismissal of his 42 U.S.C. § 1983 suit, in which he alleged that he received constitutionally inadequate medical care. He argues that the district court erroneously dismissed his claims against Dr. Jerry Thomas and Warden Kathleen McGinnis in their official capacities without prejudice pursuant to Fed.R.Civ.P. 12(b)(1) and, additionally, that the district court erroneously dismissed his monetary damages and injunctive claims against them in their individual capacities as frivolous pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B).

Given that Dr. Thomas and Warden McGinnis are agents of the Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections, Williams’s monetary damages claim against them in their official capacities was properly dismissed under the Eleventh Amendment. Hafer v. Melo, 502 U.S. 21, 26, 112 S.Ct. 358, 116 L.Ed.2d 301 (1991); Will v. Michigan Dep’t of State Police, 491 U.S. 58, 71, 109 S.Ct. 2304, 105 L.Ed.2d 45 (1989).

Williams’s complaint and his Spears hearing testimony both evidence that his Eighth Amendment claim was based solely on a disagreement over the type and quality of medical treatment he has received. However, unsuccessful medical treatment, acts of negligence or medical malpractice, or a prisoner’s disagreement with prison officials regarding medical treatment are insufficient to establish an unconstitutional denial of medical care. Varnado v. Lynaugh, 920 F.2d 320, 321 (5th Cir.1991); see Norton v. Dimazana, 122 F.3d 286, 292 (5th Cir.1997). Therefore, the district court did not abuse its discretion in dismissing Williams’s individual-capacity claims as frivolous. See Harper v. Showers, 174 F.3d 716, 718 (5th Cir.1999).

The district court’s 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B) dismissal counts as a strike. See Adepegba v. Hammons, 103 F.3d 383, 385-87 (5th Cir.1996). Williams is cautioned that if he accumulates three strikes, he will not be able to proceed in forma pauperis 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 28 U.S.C. § 1915(g). ,

AFFIRMED; SANCTIONS WARNING ISSUED. 
      
       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.
     
      
      
         Spears v. McCotter, 766 F.2d 179 (5th Cir. 1985).