Document ID: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-ca8-06-03962/USCOURTS-ca8-06-03962-0/pdf.json

Parties Involved:
Jerome Adams
Appellee
Doris Butler
Appellee
Jackie Davis
Appellee
Thomas James
Appellee
Terry Wayne Johnson
Appellant
Ruthie Jones
Appellee
David Knot
Appellee
Kenzie L. McDaniel
Appellee
David White
Appellee

Document Text:

United States Court of Appeals

FOR THE EIGHTH CIRCUIT

___________

No. 06-3962

___________

Terry Wayne Johnson, *

ADC #83520, *

*

Appellant, *

* Appeal from the United States

v. * District Court for the Eastern

* District of Arkansas.

Doris Butler, Sgt. Maximum *

Security Unit, ADC; Ruthie Jones, * [UNPUBLISHED]

Corporal, Maximum Security Unit, *

ADC; Kenzie L. McDaniel, *

Correctional Officer, Maximum *

Security Unit, ADC; David Knot, *

Captain, Maximum Security Unit, *

ADC; Jackie Davis, Captain, *

Maximum Security Unit, ADC; *

Jerome Adams; David White; *

Thomas James, *

*

Appellees. *

___________

Submitted: March 18, 2008

Filed: March 21, 2008

___________

Before WOLLMAN, RILEY, and GRUENDER, Circuit Judges.

___________

PER CURIAM.

Appellate Case: 06-3962 Page: 1 Date Filed: 03/21/2008 Entry ID: 3415449
1

The Honorable James M. Moody, United States District Judge for the Eastern

District of Arkansas, adopting the report and recommendations of the Honorable H.

David Young, United States Magistrate Judge for the Eastern District of Arkansas.

-2-

Arkansas inmate Terry Wayne Johnson appeals the district court’s1 dismissal

of his 42 U.S.C. § 1983 action following a pretrial evidentiary hearing. Johnson

claimed that defendants provided inadequate security and thus failed to protect him

from another inmate’s surprise attack with a mop handle. Following careful review,

see Choate v. Lockhart, 7 F.3d 1370, 1373 & n.1 (8th Cir. 1993) (standard of review

for pretrial evidentiary hearing without jury demand), we find that Johnson did not

show that defendants were deliberately indifferent “to a substantial risk of serious

harm.” See Farmer v. Brennan, 511 U.S. 825, 828 (1994). Specifically, Johnson’s

and others’ testimony that Officer McDaniel left the mop closet unlocked in violation

of prison policy showed only negligence, see Newman v. Holmes, 122 F.3d 650, 653

(8th Cir. 1997); Falls v. Nesbitt, 966 F.2d 375, 379-80 (8th Cir. 1992); Johnson’s

assertion that McDaniel acted knowingly--even if such conduct would show deliberate

indifference--came too late, see Roberts v. Apfel, 222 F.3d 466, 470 (8th Cir. 2000);

McDaniel did not violate the Eighth Amendment by calling for backup rather than

intervening in the fight, see Williams v. Willits, 853 F.2d 586, 587, 591 (8th Cir.

1988); and Johnson presented no evidence to support his allegation of inadequate

staffing levels, see Tucker v. Evans, 276 F.3d 999, 1003 (8th Cir. 2002).

The judgment is affirmed. 

______________________________

Appellate Case: 06-3962 Page: 2 Date Filed: 03/21/2008 Entry ID: 3415449