Case Name: Richard Lee MARTINEZ, Petitioner-Appellant, v. Kevin MILYARD, Warden of the Sterling Correctional Facility, Respondent-Appellee
Court: United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 2011-01-12
Citations: 407 F. App'x 297
Docket Number: No. 10-1447
Parties: Richard Lee MARTINEZ, Petitioner-Appellant, v. Kevin MILYARD, Warden of the Sterling Correctional Facility, Respondent-Appellee.
Judges: Before HARTZ, BRORBY, and TYMKOVICH, Circuit Judges.
Reporter: West's Federal Appendix
Volume: 407
Pages: 297–299

Head Matter:
Richard Lee MARTINEZ, Petitioner-Appellant, v. Kevin MILYARD, Warden of the Sterling Correctional Facility, Respondent-Appellee.
No. 10-1447.
United States Court of Appeals, Tenth Circuit.
Jan. 12, 2011.
Richard Lee Martinez, Canon City, CO, pro se.
Before HARTZ, BRORBY, and TYMKOVICH, Circuit Judges.
After examining the briefs and the appellate record, this three-judge panel has determined unanimously that oral argument would not be of material assistance in the determination of this appeal. See Fed. R. App. P. 34(a); 10th Cir. R. 34.1(G). The cause is therefore ordered submitted without oral argument.

Opinion:
ORDER AND JUDGMENT
TIMOTHY M. TYMKOVICH, Circuit Judge.
Richard Martinez, a Colorado state prisoner proceeding pro se, appeals the district court's dismissal of his 42 U.S.C. § 1988 civil rights complaint. Having jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291, we AFFIRM the district court's decision.
I. Background
In his amended complaint, Martinez asserted the conditions of confinement in administrative segregation and the confiscation of items of his personal property subjected him to cruel and unusual punishment in violation of the Eighth Amendment. Martinez named the prison warden Kevin Milyard as a defendant.
Finding the claims legally frivolous, the district court dismissed the amended complaint pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B)(i). The court held Martinez's allegations failed to demonstrate (1) an injury sufficiently serious to support a cognizable claim under the Eighth Amendment or (2) that Milyard acted with deliberate indifference in executing prison procedures. In a subsequent order, the district court denied Martinez's motion to appeal informa pauperis.
Martinez appeals the district court's dismissal of his amended complaint and renews his motion to continue in forma pauperis. For the first time on appeal, Martinez asserts his placement in administrative segregation violated his due process rights under the Fourteenth Amendment.
II. Discussion
Martinez proceeded in forma pauperis below and is subject to the strictures of § 1915. Under § 1915(e)(2)(B)(i), the district court shall dismiss an in forma pauperis complaint if its claims are "frivolous or malicious." A claim is frivolous "where it lacks an arguable basis either in law or in fact." Neitzke v. Williams, 490 U.S. 319, 325, 109 S.Ct. 1827, 104 L.Ed.2d 338 (1989). Dismissal is only appropriate "for a claim based on an indisputably meritless legal theory." Fogle v. Pierson, 435 F.3d 1252, 1259 (10th Cir.2006) (quotations omitted). We review a district court's dismissal on this basis for an abuse of discretion. Id.
After careful review of the record, we conclude the district court did not abuse its discretion in dismissing Martinez's complaint as frivolous. To assert a cognizable claim under the Eighth Amendment a plaintiff must demonstrate both that the injury he suffered was sufficiently serious and that the defendant acted with deliber ate indifference. See Tafoya v. Salazar, 516 F.3d 912, 916 (10th Cir.2008). As the district court noted, Martinez failed to demonstrate an injury sufficiently serious to constitute cruel and unusual punishment under the Eighth Amendment. Martinez simply made the conclusory statements that the conditions of his administrative segregation and the confiscation of his personal property constitute cruel and unusual punishment. Also, Martinez failed to allege facts indicating Milyard acted with deliberate indifference in executing prison procedures related to Martinez's administrative segregation and the confiscation of his personal property. In fact, nowhere does Martinez allege any specific link between actions taken by Milyard and his claims of cruel and unusual punishment. Because Martinez failed to allege facts that would support an Eighth Amendment claim the district court properly dismissed his complaint as frivolous.
Martinez did not raise his due process claim before the district court and thus we do not consider it on appeal. See Fair-child v. Workman, 579 F.3d 1134, 1144 (10th Cir.2009) ("[W]e ordinarily do not decide issues raised for the first time on appeal.").
III. Conclusion
For the foregoing reasons we AFFIRM the dismissal of Martinez's § 1983 claims. We also DENY Martinez's motion to proceed in forma pauperis on appeal and order him to pay the full amount of the filing fee. We remind him of his obligation to pay the filing fee even on an appeal that has been dismissed. See Kinnell v. Graves, 265 F.3d 1125, 1129 (10th Cir.2001).
This order and judgment is not binding precedent except under the doctrines of law of the case, res judicata, and collateral estoppel. It may be cited, however, for its persuasive value consistent with Fed. R. App. P. 32.1 and 10th Cir. R. 32.1.
. In his brief, Martinez presents this claim as a "Due Process: Fourth Amendment right violation." Aplt.'s Br. at 3 (emphasis added). However, because Martinez proceeds pro se, we construe his pleadings liberally and consider his claim to be a due process violation under the Fourteenth Amendment. See Hall v. Bellmon, 935 F.2d 1106, 1110 (10th Cir.1991) ("A pro se litigant's pleadings are to be construed liberally and held to a less stringent standard than formal pleadings drafted by lawyers.").