Court Opinion

ID: 161198
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2010-08-14 07:02:22+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:24:36.376791
License: Public Domain

F I L E D
                                                                  United States Court of Appeals
                                                                          Tenth Circuit
                   UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
                                                                          JUN 13 2001
                          FOR THE TENTH CIRCUIT
                                                                     PATRICK FISHER
                                                                              Clerk

 J.T. GARNER,

              Plaintiff-Appellant,

 v.                                                     No. 00-3238
                                                (D.C. No. 96-CV-3133-MLB)
 CONNIE M. JOHNSON,                                       (D. Kan.)
 Correctional Officer,

              Defendant-Appellee.

                          ORDER AND JUDGMENT            *

Before SEYMOUR , BALDOCK , and LUCERO , Circuit Judges.

      *
         After examining the briefs and appellate record, this panel has
determined unanimously that oral argument would not materially assist the
determination of this appeal. See Fed. R. App. P. 34(a)(2); 10th Cir. R. 34.1(G).
The case is therefore ordered submitted without oral argument. This order and
judgment is not binding precedent, except under the doctrines of law of the case,
res judicata, and collateral estoppel. The court generally disfavors the citation of
orders and judgments; nevertheless, an order and judgment may be cited under the
terms and conditions of 10th Cir. R. 36.3.
      Plaintiff J. T. Garner, an inmate of the Kansas Department of Corrections,

appearing pro se, appeals from a judgment entered for the defendant, Connie M.

Johnson, following a bench trial of his civil rights action under 42 U.S.C. § 1983.

We have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291 and affirm.   1

      Garner filed his § 1983 complaint against Ms. Johnson, a corrections

officer, and other defendants. Garner had assisted another inmate file a report

against Ms. Johnson claiming she wrongfully confiscated the inmate’s long

underwear. In his § 1983 complaint, Garner claimed Ms. Johnson was

reprimanded as a result of that report, and that Ms. Johnson retaliated against him

by planting antacids in his cell and by submitting false disciplinary reports against

him. In these reports, Garner was charged with having improperly marked

cassette tapes in his cell and with hoarding contraband antacid medicine. Garner

was found guilty following disciplinary hearings, which resulted in his change

from medium security to maximum security status. Garner claims his civil rights

were violated because of Ms. Johnson’s alleged false and retaliatory disciplinary

      1
          Contrary to the district court’s finding in its July 12, 2000, order,
Garner’s Fed. R. Civ. P. 59(e) motion for review and reconsideration was timely
filed. Final judgment was entered by the district court on May 15, 2000, (see
district court docket sheet and R. Doc. 65) rather than May 12, 2000, as stated by
the district court. Applying Fed. R. Civ. P. 6(a) and 59(e) and Fed. R. App. P.
4(c), Garner timely filed his Rule 59(e) motion prior to the expiration of the May
30, 2000, deadline. Accordingly, Garner’s notice of appeal was timely filed.

                                          -2-
reports. 2 The district court dismissed the complaint as being too vague and

conclusory to state a claim for relief under Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(6). On appeal,

we affirmed the dismissal of all defendants except Ms. Johnson, holding that the

factual allegations against her were sufficient to withstand a Rule 12(b)(6)

motion. Garner v. Simmons , No. 96-3189, 1996 WL 477571 (10th Cir. Aug. 23,

1996) (unpublished disposition).

      On remand, the district court held a one day bench trial, at which Garner

called several witnesses, including Ms. Johnson, and presented evidence.

Thereafter, the district court made numerous findings of fact, including findings

that Garner failed to produce any evidence in support of his allegations that (1)

Ms. Johnson was reprimanded as a result of the long underwear complaint or

otherwise had a motive to retaliate against him; (2) Ms. Johnson believed

Garner’s possession of the cassette tapes was lawful when she filed the

disciplinary report against him; (3) Ms. Johnson planted antacid medicine in his

cell; and (4) that the disciplinary hearing officer ruled against Garner based on

unauthorized contact with witnesses. Accordingly, the district court entered

judgment in favor of Ms. Johnson.

      2
         Garner’s complaint also alleged that he did not receive due process in the
disciplinary hearing relating to these reports. The district court ruled that this
claim was barred by the doctrine of res judicata. Garner does not appeal that
ruling.

                                         -3-
       Garner appeals, contending that the evidence was sufficient to establish that

Ms. Johnson’s disciplinary reports were false and that the disciplinary hearing

officer made unauthorized contact with witnesses. When sufficiency of the

evidence is at issue on appeal, the entire relevant trial transcript must be provided

to this court. 10th Cir. R. 10.1(A)(1)(a). Fed. R. App. P. 10(b) states that it is

the appellant’s duty to “order . . . a transcript of such parts of the proceedings not

already on file.”   However, “[i]n a pro se appeal . . . the district clerk must send

the record to the circuit clerk . . . . The record must include any transcript that has

been filed . . . .” 10th Cir. R. 11.2 (emphasis added). In this case, no transcript

was filed below, and thus the district court clerk did not provide one as part of the

record on appeal.

       A plaintiff in a civil proceeding may obtain a transcript at government

expense under 28 U.S.C. § 753(f) if: (1) he is permitted to proceed in forma

pauperis; (2) moves for a transcript; and (3)         demonstrates that the appeal “is not

frivolous (but presents a substantial question).” Garner has met only the first

requirement. Even were he to make the necessary motion, our review of the

pleadings convinces us that Garner cannot demonstrate a substantial question for

appeal. Garner’s four-page opening brief gives no indication why any of the

district court’s factual findings might be in error; he simply makes conclusory

statements that sufficient evidence supports his allegations.

                                                -4-
       Absent a trial transcript, we cannot review the evidence before the district

court, but must accept its factual findings as correct and affirm.    Collins v.

Romer , 962 F.2d 1508, 1514 (10th Cir. 1992);       Trujillo v. Grand Junction Reg’l

Ctr. , 928 F.2d 973, 976 (10th Cir. 1991).

       The judgment is AFFIRMED . The district court granted Garner’s motion

to proceed in forma pauperis on appeal. Garner is reminded the he remains

obligated to continue making partial payments until the full amount of the filing

fee has been paid.    See 28 U.S.C. § 1915(b)(1). The mandate shall issue

forthwith.

                                                   Entered for the Court

                                                   Carlos F. Lucero
                                                   Circuit Judge

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