Court Opinion

ID: 4013587
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-07-07 00:00:57.716591+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:44:52.283718
License: Public Domain

Case: 15-30651      Document: 00513580177         Page: 1    Date Filed: 07/06/2016

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

                                    No. 15-30651                             FILED
                                  Summary Calendar                        July 6, 2016
                                                                        Lyle W. Cayce
                                                                             Clerk
MICHAEL JEROME JETT,

                                                 Plaintiff–Appellant,

v.

TIM KEITH; CORRECTIONS CORPORATION OF AMERICA; MECHELLE
KENNEDY; DOCTOR WHEAT; NICOLE WALKER; et al,

                                                 Defendants–Appellees.

                   Appeal from the United States District Court
                      for the Western District of Louisiana
                             USDC No. 1:15-CV-215

Before KING, OWEN, and HIGGINSON, Circuit Judges.
PER CURIAM: *
       Michael Jerome Jett, Louisiana prisoner # 337652, filed a 42 U.S.C.
§ 1983 complaint against Winn Correctional Center, and various employees
and medical staff members at that institution, alleging that he was denied
adequate medical care and subjected to unconstitutional conditions of
confinement, including cruel and unusual punishment.                  The district court

       * 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 R. 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not
be published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5TH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: 15-30651     Document: 00513580177      Page: 2   Date Filed: 07/06/2016

                                  No. 15-30651

dismissed Jett’s suit as frivolous and for failure to state a claim under 28 U.S.C.
§ 1915(e)(2)(B)(i) and (ii) and 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(b)(1). On appeal, Jett argues
that prison doctors and nurses provided inadequate medical care and were
deliberately indifferent to his medical needs. He also claims that the medical
staff was verbally abusive toward him. Jett also has filed a motion for the
appointment of counsel.
      We review the dismissal of a complaint as frivolous and for failure to
state a claim de novo. See Geiger v. Jowers, 404 F.3d 371, 373 (5th Cir. 2005).
Jett makes no argument challenging the district court’s determination that the
Winn Correctional Center is not a juridical entity that is amenable to suit, or
that his claim regarding duty status was nonresponsive. Therefore, he has
abandoned these issues. See Brinkmann v. Dallas Cnty. Deputy Sheriff Abner,
813 F.2d 744, 748 (5th Cir. 1987).
      Jett complains the medical staff ignored his requests for a walking cane
in February 2015 and, after he received one, took away the cane on March 5,
2015. However, sick call notes from that day reflect that the cane, in fact, was
returned to him. Jett also claims that the medical staff erroneously ignored
his request for eyeglasses and x-rayed the wrong foot on one occasion.
However, he does not provide any evidence to support these assertions and,
moreover, any negligent action in taking the x-ray or neglect in regard to his
eye care do not give rise to a § 1983 action. See Varnado v. Lynaugh, 920 F.2d
320, 321 (5th Cir. 1991) (per curiam). Jett avers that the doctors and nurses
at the prison lack the required medical certification. It does not appear that
Jett raised this claim in the district court and, thus, that argument is waived.
See Leverette v. Louisville Ladder Co., 183 F.3d 339, 342 (5th Cir. 1999) (per
curiam). Finally, Jett’s assertion that the staff was verbally abusive toward

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                                  No. 15-30651

him does not give rise to a claim of an Eighth Amendment violation. See
Bender v. Brumley, 1 F.3d 271, 274 n.4 (5th Cir. 1993).
      In light of the foregoing analysis, we conclude that the district court
properly dismissed Jett’s appeal as frivolous and for failure to state a claim
upon which relief could be granted. See Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678
(2009); Samford v. Dretke, 562 F.3d 674, 678 (5th Cir. 2009) (per curiam);
§ 1915(e)(2)(B)(i),(ii); § 1915A(b)(1). His motion for the appointment of counsel
is also denied. See Cooper v. Sheriff, Lubbock Cnty., Tex., 929 F.2d 1078, 1084
(5th Cir. 1991) (per curiam).
      The district court’s dismissal of Jett’s complaint as frivolous and for
failure to state a claim counts as one strike for purposes of § 1915(g). See
Adepegba v. Hammons, 103 F.3d 383, 387-88 (5th Cir. 1996). We caution Jett
that if he accumulates three strikes, he will no longer be able to proceed in
forma pauperis in any civil action or appeal while he is incarcerated or
detained in any facility unless he is under imminent danger of serious physical
injury. See § 1915(g).
      JUDGMENT AFFIRMED; MOTION DENIED; SANCTION WARNING
ISSUED.

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