Court Opinion

ID: 9911195
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-12-19 18:01:06.71923+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:56:25.513825
License: Public Domain

NOT FOR PUBLICATION                           FILED
                    UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS                       DEC 19 2023
                                                                      MOLLY C. DWYER, CLERK
                                                                       U.S. COURT OF APPEALS
                           FOR THE NINTH CIRCUIT

CLARENCE A. GIPBSIN, AKA Clarence               No.    21-15627
Gibson,
                                                D.C. No.
                Plaintiff-Appellant,            2:12-cv-00556-KJM-DB

 v.
                                                MEMORANDUM*
SCOTT KERNAN; et al.,

                Defendants-Appellees.

                  Appeal from the United States District Court
                      for the Eastern District of California
               Kimberly J. Mueller, Chief District Judge, Presiding

                          Submitted December 19, 2023**
                             San Francisco, California

Before: WALLACE, O’SCANNLAIN, FERNANDEZ, Circuit Judges.

      Clarence Gipbsin appeals from the district court’s summary judgment. We

have jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1291. We review a district court’s

summary judgment de novo. See Toguchi v. Chung, 391 F.3d 1051, 1056 (9th Cir.

      *
             This disposition is not appropriate for publication and is not precedent
except as provided by Ninth Circuit Rule 36-3.
      **
             The panel unanimously concludes this case is suitable for decision
without oral argument. See Fed. R. App. P. 34(a)(2).
2004). We review a district court’s denial of a motion to appoint counsel for abuse

of discretion. See Palmer v. Valdez, 560 F.3d 965, 970 (9th Cir. 2009). We affirm.1

      The district court did not err in holding that the Defendants did not act with

deliberate indifference to any serious medical needs that Gipbsin may have. Gipbsin

provided no evidence that any Defendant knew of and disregarded any excessive

risks to Gipbsin’s health and safety while he was housed and treated at High Desert

State Prison awaiting transfer. See Toguchi, 391 F.3d at 1057. Gipbsin received

mental health care, and Gipbsin provided no evidence that this care was

constitutionally inadequate. To the extent Gipbsin disagrees with the treatment he

received, “[a] difference of opinion does not amount to deliberate indifference[.]”

Sanchez v. Vild, 891 F.2d 240, 242 (9th Cir. 1989). Moreover, the delay in his

transfer was not caused by any disregard to his health and safety, but by a staff

shortage and an accompanying waitlist at Atascadero State Hospital.

      The district court did not abuse its discretion in denying Gipbsin’s motions

for the appointment of counsel, as there were no “exceptional circumstances”

warranting such relief. See Terrell v. Brewer, 935 F.2d 1015, 1017 (9th Cir. 1991).

      AFFIRMED.

1
 We deny Gipbsin’s request for judicial counsel review (Dkt. No. 19); motion for
supplemental damages (Dkt. No. 32); and motion to stay responses (Dkt. No. 60).

                                         2