Case Name: John ALDRIDGE, Appellant v. David GOOD, Superintendent; Robert Miller, Plumber; Tony Baran, Maintenance Manager; William Archey, Fire Safety Officer
Court: United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 2007-07-18
Citations: 241 F. App'x 859
Docket Number: No. 06-4887
Parties: John ALDRIDGE, Appellant v. David GOOD, Superintendent; Robert Miller, Plumber; Tony Baran, Maintenance Manager; William Archey, Fire Safety Officer.
Judges: Before: MCKEE, FUENTES and VAN ANTWERPEN, Circuit Judges.
Reporter: West's Federal Appendix
Volume: 241
Pages: 859–860

Head Matter:
John ALDRIDGE, Appellant v. David GOOD, Superintendent; Robert Miller, Plumber; Tony Baran, Maintenance Manager; William Archey, Fire Safety Officer.
No. 06-4887.
United States Court of Appeals, Third Circuit.
Submitted For Possible Dismissal Under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B) June 21, 2007.
Filed: July 18, 2007.
Before: MCKEE, FUENTES and VAN ANTWERPEN, Circuit Judges.

Opinion:
OPINION
PER CURIAM.
John Aldridge appeals from the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania's order granting summary judgment in favor of the defendants. We will dismiss the appeal pursuant to 28 U.S.C.1915(e)(2)(B).
Aldridge alleges that his Eighth Amendment right to be free from cruel and unusual punishment was violated when he was exposed to asbestos during a maintenance repair at SCI-Cresson. Aldridge claims that Defendant Miller, a plumber at the prison, cut through an insulated pipe on December 8, 2004, in order to repair it. According to Aldridge, Miller failed to take precautions to contain the asbestos that came from the pipe, and the powdery substance "covered the floor and wall surfaces." Miller left the pipe exposed and did not return to wrap the pipe until the next day.
The defendants filed a motion to dismiss, or alternatively, a motion for summary judgment, arguing, inter alia, that Aldridge had not exhausted administrative remedies. The District Court treated the motion as one for summary judgment and directed Aldridge to respond. Aldridge did. The magistrate judge agreed with the defendants that Aldridge failed to exhaust, and recommended that the defendants' motion be granted. Over Aldridge's objections, the District Court adopted the recommendation, granting summary judgment. This timely appeal followed.
We exercise plenary review over the District Court's decision to grant summary judgment. See Torres v. Fauver, 292 F.3d 141, 145 (3d Cir.2002). Under 42 U.S.C. § 1997e(a), prisoners are required to ex haust available administrative remedies before bringing a civil rights action concerning prison conditions, regardless of whether these remedies can provide the inmate with the relief sought. See Booth v. Churner, 532 U.S. 731, 741, 121 S.Ct. 1819, 149 L.Ed.2d 958 (2001). The Pennsylvania Department of Corrections has a three-tier grievance system which serves as prisoners' administrative remedy. See Spruill v. Gillis, 372 F.3d 218, 232 (3d Cir.2004).
The record clearly reflects — and Aldridge concedes — that he did not pursue any steps in the available grievance procedure. Aldridge maintains that he is entitled to an exception for numerous reasons: he was ignorant of the law; by the time he had decided to take action the fifteen-day period had elapsed; a fellow inmate had already filed a grievance regarding the same situation; asking for grievance forms causes friction between inmates and officers; and, engaging in the grievance procedure would have "servefd] no purpose to the relief' he seeks. Despite Aldridge's assertions, the exhaustion requirement is not excused. See Booth, 532 U.S. at 739-41, 121 S.Ct. 1819 (2001); Spruill, 372 F.3d at 227-30.
Because Aldridge did not exhaust administrative remedies as required by 42 U.S.C. § 1997e(a), the District Court properly granted summary judgment. Accordingly, the appeal lacks merit, and we will dismiss it pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B).