Court Opinion

ID: 63499
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2010-04-26 04:57:57+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:20:18.893186
License: Public Domain

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

                                                                FILED
                                                               August 12, 2008
                               No. 07-60637
                             Summary Calendar             Charles R. Fulbruge III
                                                                  Clerk

TONY TERRELL BUNTON

                                         Plaintiff-Appellant

v.

CORRECTIONAL CORPORATION OF AMERICA; JODY BRADLEY,
Superintendent at Delta Correctional Facility; DELTA CORRECTIONAL
FACILITY; UNKNOWN JOHNSON, Facility at Delta Correctional Facility, in
his individual and official capacities; UNKNOWN JONES, Sergeant at Delta
Correctional Facility, in his individual and official capacities; UNKNOWN
MCTIMS, Correctional Officer, in his individual and official capacities;
UNKNOWN NORAL, Lieutenant at Delta Correctional Facility, in his individual
and official capacities; GWEN PORTER, Medical Supervisor at Delta
Correctional Facility, in his individual and official capacities; UNKNOWN
THOMAS, Case Manager at Delta Correctional Facility, in her individual and
official capacities

                                         Defendants-Appellees

                Appeal from the United States District Court
                  for the Northern District of Mississippi
                          USDC No. 4:04-CV-354

Before BARKSDALE, GARZA and PRADO, Circuit Judges.
PER CURIAM:*

     *
      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should not be published and is not precedent except under the limited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.
                                  No. 07-60637

      Tony Bunton, Mississippi prisoner # R5106, moves to proceed in forma
pauperis (IFP) to appeal the summary judgment dismissal of his 42 U.S.C.
§ 1983 suit. Bunton argues that (1) he was injured as a result of being housed
under constitutionally inadequate prison conditions when he slipped in a puddle
caused by a roof leak and (2) he received constitutionally inadequate medical
care for his injury. By moving for leave to proceed IFP, Bunton is challenging
the district court’s certification that his appeal was not taken in good faith. See
Baugh v. Taylor, 117 F.3d 197, 202 (5th Cir. 1997).
      Bunton, however, has not shown that the district court’s summary
judgment dismissal presents a nonfrivolous issue. The summary judgment
evidence did not objectively establish that Bunton’s prison conditions were
inhumane or constituted an “extreme deprivation of any minimal civilized
measure of life’s necessities.” See Gates v. Cook, 376 F.3d 323, 332 (5th Cir.
2004) (internal quotation marks and citation omitted). Even if it is assumed
arguendo that the leaking roof constituted a condition that posed a substantial
risk of serious harm to Bunton, the evidence established that the defendants
took reasonable remedial measures and, thus, did not act with deliberate
indifference. See Farmer v. Brennan, 511 U.S. 825, 847 (1994). Bunton’s prison
conditions did not, as a matter of law, rise to the level of inhumane treatment
such that his Eighth Amendment rights were violated.
      Bunton’s contention that his injury was met with deliberate indifference
and constitutionally inadequate medical care is refuted by evidence that his
medical complaints were not ignored, he was seen by members the medical staff
on numerous occasions, and he was treated for those complaints with various
medications. See Domino v. Texas Dep’t of Criminal Justice, 239 F.3d 752, 756
(5th Cir. 2001). Bunton’s allegations that the pain medication he was given was
inadequate and that he should have received a bone scan to better diagnose his
injury are merely disagreements over the type of care provided, which are not
actionable under § 1983. See Varnado v. Lynaugh, 920 F.2d 320, 321 (5th Cir.

                                        2
                                  No. 07-60637

1991). The summary judgment evidence establishes that Bunton’s medical care
also was not violative of the Eighth Amendment.
      In light of the foregoing, Bunton’s appeal is without arguable merit and is
dismissed. Baugh, 117 F.3d at 202 n.24; 5TH CIR. R. 42.2. Our dismissal of
Bunton’s appeal counts as a strike for purposes of 28 U.S.C. § 1915(g). See
Adepegba v. Hammons, 103 F.3d 383, 387 (5th Cir. 1996). Bunton previously
earned one strike in Bunton v. Hinds County Sheriff’s Dep’t, No. 3:01-CV-684
(S.D. Miss. Feb. 20, 2003). Bunton is cautioned that if he accumulates three
strikes, he will no longer be allowed to proceed IFP in any civil action or appeal
filed while he is detained or incarcerated in any facility unless he is under
imminent danger of serious physical injury. See § 1915(g).
      IFP DENIED; APPEAL DISMISSED; SANCTION WARNING ISSUED.

                                        3