Court Opinion

ID: 58067
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2010-04-26 02:25:22+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:19:42.056880
License: Public Domain

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

                                                              FILED
                                                          January 14, 2008
                             No. 07-40421
                           Summary Calendar             Charles R. Fulbruge III
                                                                Clerk

DECARLOS M. GARRETT,

                                       Plaintiff-Appellant,

v.

UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS MEDICAL BRANCH;
DR. D. PORRAS; K. SMITH, Nurse;
J. HANSON, Mid Level Practitioner;
L. CURRY, Nurse Clinician; A. ZOND, Medical Director;
BILLY HIRSCH, Assistant Warden,

                                       Defendants-Appellees.

               Appeal from the United States District Court
                    for the Eastern District of Texas
                            No. 9:06-CV-246
                                  No. 07-40421

Before REAVLEY, SMITH, and BARKSDALE, Circuit Judges.
PER CURIAM:*

      DeCarlos Garrett, Texas prisoner # 1097076, appeals the 28 U.S.C.
§ 1915A dismissal, as frivolous and for failure to state a claim, of his 42 U.S.C.
§ 1983 lawsuit asserting deliberate indifference to his serious medical needs.
Specifically, he asserts that the district court erred in dismissing his claims
against medical personnel at the Polunsky Unit for refusing to treat him and for
providing inadequate medical care. He does not brief any argument challenging
the magistrate judge’s reasons for dismissing his claims against Dr. Zond, Assis-
tant Warden Hirsch, or the University of Texas Medical Branch and has thus
abandoned any such challenge. See Yohey v. Collins, 985 F.2d 222, 224-25
(5th Cir. 1993).
      We review the § 1915A dismissal de novo. Ruiz v. United States, 160 F.3d
273, 275 (5th Cir. 1998). Garrett continues to complain that he received incor-
rect and inadequate treatment by virtue of having been misdiagnosed with a
urinary tract infection when in fact he suffered from appendicitis. According to
Garrett, the treatment he received worsened his condition to the point of assault,
and the extreme pain he suffered establishes deliberate indifference. Because
he has neither alleged nor shown that the defendants intentionally treated him
incorrectly, his allegations amount to no more than unsuccessful treatment or
negligence, which do not give rise to a constitutional claim.1 Varnado v. Ly-
naugh, 920 F.2d 320, 321 (5th Cir. 1991).

      *
      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.
      1
        Garrett also contends, for the first time on appeal, that Nurse Maciel
perjured himself at the Spears hearing. Because it was not raised in the district
court, this claim will not be considered. See Varnado v. Lynaugh, 920 F.2d 320,
321 (5th Cir. 1991).

                                        2
                                   No. 07-40421

      Garrett argues that he is not exclusively challenging the medical treat-
ment but also complains of an intentional decision not to treat him. Specifically,
he contends that his Eighth Amendment rights were violated when Nurse Smith
refused to see him on June 26, 2006, and when Nurse Hanson discontinued
treatment on July 7, 2006.
      Garrett’s claim that Smith denied him medical care on June 26 is unavail-
ing. At the Spears hearing,2 Garrett testified that Smith would not have securi-
ty bring him to the infirmary, and, when they brought him anyway, she placed
him in a waiting area and returned him to his cell when he did not throw up
again. Because Garrett’s complained-of vomiting did not manifest itself while
he waited at the infirmary, Smith’s conduct in returning him to his cell was not
done in wanton disregard for his medical needs and thus did not amount to de-
liberate indifference. See Johnson v. Treen, 759 F.2d 1236, 1238 (5th Cir. 1985).
      Garrett additionally complains that he was not seen again for treatment
until he collapsed on June 28. But, his testimony and the medical records dem-
onstrate that when he was seen on June 28 he was diagnosed with a urinary
tract infection and treated accordingly. He has not shown deliberate indifference
or that he suffered any substantial harm as a result of the two-day delay. He
thus cannot show an Eighth Amendment violation. See Mendoza v. Lynaugh,
989 F.2d 191, 195 (5th Cir. 1993).
      Garrett’s claim that Hanson denied him medical care when she discontin-
ued treatment on July 7 is likewise unavailing. The argument is premised on
Garrett’s new assertion that he never told Hanson that he felt better. Because
it is raised for the first time on appeal, this new allegation will not be considered.
See Varnado, 920 F.2d at 321. Moreover, the assertion is belied by Garrett’s sub-
missions, which include a copy of the clinic notes from his July 7 visit with Han-
son, which quote him as saying “I feel much better” and denying nausea, abdom-

      2
          Spears v. McCotter, 766 F.2d 179 (5th Cir. 1985).

                                          3
                                  No. 07-40421

inal pain, burning, or pain upon urination. Additionally, Garrett has never as-
serted that he specifically requested medical treatment from July 7 through 14
but was denied. Accordingly, he has not shown an Eighth Amendment violation.
See Mendoza, 989 F.2d at 195.
      At most, any delays in treatment were attributable to negligence, which
does not establish a constitutional violation. See Varnado, 920 F.2d at 321. The
judgment is AFFIRMED. The dismissal of Garrett’s complaint counts as a strike
for purposes of 28 U.S.C. § 1915(g). See Adepegba v. Hammons, 103 F.3d 383,
388 (5th Cir. 1996). Garrett is cautioned that if he accumulates three strikes un-
der § 1915(g), 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.

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