Court Opinion

ID: 2722003
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2014-08-29 05:00:31.850417+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T10:02:49.269815
License: Public Domain

Case: 14-30101      Document: 00512750023         Page: 1    Date Filed: 08/28/2014

           IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
                    FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT
                                                                         United States Court of Appeals

                                    No. 14-30101
                                                                                  Fifth Circuit

                                                                                FILED
                                  Summary Calendar                        August 28, 2014
                                                                           Lyle W. Cayce
KEVIN MORGAN,                                                                   Clerk

                                                 Plaintiff-Appellant

v.

WINN CORRECTIONAL CENTER; DOCTOR KUPLESKY; KIEFFER;
CORRECTIONS CORPORATION OF AMERICA; TIMOTHY KEITH,

                                                 Defendants-Appellees

                   Appeal from the United States District Court
                      for the Western District of Louisiana
                             USDC No. 1:13-CV-1987

Before HIGGINBOTHAM, JONES, and HIGGINSON, Circuit Judges.
PER CURIAM: *
       Kevin Morgan, Louisiana prisoner # 488677, appeals the district court’s
dismissal of his 42 U.S.C. § 1983 action pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §§ 1915(e)(2)(B)
and 1915A as frivolous and for failure to state a claim upon which relief may
be granted. In his complaint, Morgan alleged that the defendants acted with
deliberate indifference to his complaints of stomach and digestive problems.

       * 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 R. 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not
be published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5TH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.
      Case: 14-30101   Document: 00512750023     Page: 2    Date Filed: 08/28/2014

                                  No. 14-30101

       On appeal, Morgan presents six arguments.           First, he asserts in a
general fashion that there is sufficient evidence in the record to show he stated
claims against the defendants. In support of his assertion, Morgan attempts
to incorporate by reference the arguments he made in documents filed in the
district court. His conclusory assertion is insufficient to raise a constitutional
claim. See Oliver v. Scott, 276 F.3d 736, 741 (5th Cir. 2002). Moreover, he may
not incorporate by reference the arguments he made in his district court filings.
See Yohey v. Collins, 985 F.2d 222, 224-25 (5th Cir. 1993).         He has thus
inadequately briefed and waived this claim. Id.
       Second, Morgan argues that the defendants provided essentially no care
by prescribing Motrin for his repeated complaints of pain.         We decline to
consider this claim because it is raised for the first time on appeal.         See
Leverette v. Louisville Ladder Co., 183 F.3d 339, 342 (5th Cir. 1999).
       Third, Morgan contends that his constitutional rights were violated
when unspecified defendants delayed his medical treatment by requiring him
to fill out sick call forms to talk to medical personnel, who were then supposed
to refer him to Dr. Stephen Kuplesky but often never did. We likewise decline
to consider this claim because Morgan raises it for the first time on appeal. See
id.
       Fourth, Morgan argues that Dr. Kuplesky acted with deliberate
indifference to his medical needs by failing to take action when treatment
proved ineffective and that unspecified defendants acted with deliberate
indifference by knowingly providing easier but less effective treatment.
Morgan’s conclusional assertions, which express disagreement with the
treatment ordered by the defendants, are insufficient to raise a constitutional
claim or challenge the district court’s ruling. See Oliver, 276 F.3d at 741;
Gobert v. Caldwell, 463 F.3d 339, 346 (5th Cir. 2006).

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    Case: 14-30101     Document: 00512750023     Page: 3   Date Filed: 08/28/2014

                                  No. 14-30101

      Fifth, Morgan contends that the defendants were aware that unspecified
medications were not helping his abdominal pain but did nothing to treat his
pain or respond to his deterioration because they were not qualified to treat
him. We decline to consider this argument because it was not considered by
the district court in the first instance. See Leverette, 183 F.3d at 342.
      Finally, Morgan challenges the denial of appointed counsel in the district
court and asks this court to appoint counsel or remand for the appointment of
counsel. Because Morgan has not demonstrated exceptional circumstances
warranting the appointment of counsel, we find no abuse of discretion and deny
his requests.   Ulmer v. Chancellor, 691 F.2d 209, 212-13 (5th Cir. 1982).
Morgan additionally seeks leave to submit the district court’s April 4, 2014,
order affirming the magistrate judge’s denial of appointed counsel. Because
the order is already part of the appellate record, we deny his request as
unnecessary.
      Our affirmance of the district court’s dismissal counts as one strike
under § 1915(g). See Adepegba v. Hammons, 103 F.3d 383, 387 (5th Cir. 1996).
Morgan is cautioned that if he accumulates three strikes, he will not be able to
proceed in forma pauperis in any civil action or appeal filed while he is
incarcerated or detained in any facility unless he is under imminent danger of
serious physical injury. See § 1915(g).
    AFFIRMED; REQUEST FOR THE APPOINTMENT OF COUNSEL
DENIED; REQUEST FOR LEAVE TO FILE EXHIBIT DENIED AS
UNNECESSARY; SANCTION WARNING ISSUED

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