Case ID: f-appx_85/html/0387-02.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

Thomas F. UNGER, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. WACKENHUT; Emmitt L. Sparkman, Warden of Marshall County Correctional Facility in Holly Springs, in his individual and official capacities; Willie Mae Williams, Assistant Warden at Marshall County Correctional Facility, in her individual and official capacities; Reginald Blanchard, Sergeant; Charles Smith, Sergeant, in his individual and official capacities, Defendants-Appellants.
    No. 03-60345.
    Summary Calendar.
    United States Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit.
    Jan. 13, 2004.
    Thomas F. Unger, pro se, Greenville, MS, for Plaintiff-Appellee.
    James Lawson Hester, Craig, Hester, Luke & Dodson, Ridgeland, MS, for Defendants-Appellants.
    Before REAVLEY, JOLLY and DENNIS, Circuit Judges.
   PER CURIAM.

The appellee-defendant Reginald Blanchard appeals the judgment entered upon the jury verdict finding Blanchard had used excessive force against Thomas F. Unger, Mississippi state prisoner # 68203, and finding him liable for damages to Unger in the amount of $5000. Blanchard also appeals the district court’s order denying his postjudgment motions to alter or amend the judgment, for judgment as a matter of law notwithstanding the verdict, for stay of enforcement of the judgment and alternatively, for his motion for a new trial.

Viewing all reasonable inferences from the evidence in favor of Unger, the non-moving party, and giving deference to the jury’s credibility findings, there was a legally sufficient evidentiary basis for a reasonable jury to find that unreasonable force was used, without provocation, by Officer Blanchard and that the use of such force resulted in an injury to Unger. Therefore, the district court did not err in denying Blanchard’s motion for a judgment as a matter of law nor did it abuse its discretion in denying his motion for a new trial. See Reeves v. Sanderson Plumbing Prods. Inc., 530 U.S. 133, 149, 120 S.Ct. 2097, 147 L.Ed.2d 105 (2000); Streber v. Hunter, 221 F.3d 701, 736 (5th Cir.2000); Hudson v. McMillian, 503 U.S. 1, 6-7, 112 S.Ct. 995, 117 L.Ed.2d 156 (1992).

As discussed below, the district court did not err in denying Blanchard’s post-judgment motion to amend the judgment or in refusing to stay the judgment in Unger’s favor.

The prevailing defendants/appellees, Wackenhut, Sparkman, Williams, and Smith, argue that the district court erred in denying their motion for attorney’s fees and costs because the district court dismissed the claims against them as frivolous. They contend that the district court erred in failing to amend the judgment to offset the attorney’s fees and costs due to them against the judgment rendered in Unger’s favor against Blanchard.

Although the district court dismissed as frivolous the claims against these defendants prior to the jury’s verdict, its ruling on the prevailing defendants’ motion implied that it did not believe that the facts of the case warranted an award to the prevailing defendants. The record also indicated that the claims against these defendants were not totally vexatious and without any foundation. Therefore, the prevailing defendants failed to demonstrate that the district court abused its discretion in denying the motion for attorney’s fees. See Christiansburg Garment Co. v. EEOC, 434 U.S. 412, 421, 98 S.Ct. 694, 54 L.Ed.2d 648 (1978); Hughes v. Rowe, 449 U.S. 5, 14, 101 S.Ct. 173, 66 L.Ed.2d 163 (1980).

This determination renders moot the motion of Blanchard and the prevailing defendants seeking to amend the judgment to offset the attorney’s fees award against the judgment rendered in Unger’s favor and against Blanchard. Blanchard has failed to make any argument or to cite any authority to support his claim that he should not have been taxed the costs of the proceeding. Thus, this claim is deemed abandoned. Yohey v. Collins, 985 F.2d 222, 225 (5th Cir.1993).

The district court’s judgment on the jury verdict in favor of Unger and against Blanchard and the orders denying the defendants’ postjudgment motions are 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.