Court Opinion

ID: 154129
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2010-08-14 03:51:41+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:40:26.385776
License: Public Domain

UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
Filed 11/4/96
                              TENTH CIRCUIT

                    _________________________________

DAVID WORKMAN,

      Plaintiff-Appellant,

v.                                                       No. 96-1060
                                                     (D.C. No. 95-D-916)
COLORADO DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS;                       (D. Colo.)
UNKNOWN EMPLOYEES OF STATE OF COLO-
RADO DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS; ROY
ROMER, Governor, in his individual capacity; COLO-
RADO STATE PAROLE BOARD; DONICE NEAL, in
her official and individual capacity; OFFICER
SLYCKER, in his official and individual capacity,

      Defendants-Appellees.

DAVID WORKMAN,

      Plaintiff-Appellant,

v.                                                       No. 96-1146
                                                     (D.C. No. 95-S-2984)
ROY ROMER; ARISTEDES ZAVARAS; and UN-                     (D. Colo.)
KNOWN EMPLOYEES OF THE STATE OF COLO-
RADO DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS, individu-
ally and officially, jointly and severally,

      Defendants-Appellees.
DAVID WORKMAN, In Propia Personam,

     Plaintiff-Appellant,

v.                                                       No. 96-1145
                                                     (D.C. No. 95-D-305)
UNKNOWN SECURITY POLICE AT UNIVERSITY                     (D. Colo.)
OF COLORADO MEDICAL CENTER; UNKNOWN
POLICE OFFICERS AT DENVER CITY POLICE DE-
PARTMENT; UNKNOWN SHERIFFS AT DENVER
COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT; UNKNOWN
OFFICERS AT DENVER RECEPTION AND DIAG-
NOSTIC CENTER, individually, and in their official
capacities,

     Defendants-Appellees.

DAVID WORKMAN, In Propia Personam,

     Plaintiff-Appellant,

v.                                                       No. 96-1007
                                                     (D.C. No. 95-S-1288)
ROY ROMER, Executive Director DOC, Governor;              (D. Colo.)
ARISTEDES ZAVARAS; WARDEN MILLER;
DONICE NEAL; IRVING JACQUEZ, Major; MAJOR
HADLEY; WARDEN HESSE; DENNIS PEARSON,
CCF Programs Supervisor; JOHN CARROLL, CCF Lt.;
TOM MIESEL, Lt.; RICHARD MESSER; WILLIAM
COYLE, CCF Librarian; CAPTAIN GREGG;
CAPTAIN WILLIAMS; LT. BRADFORD; SUSAN
JONES, CCF Hearing Officer; GALE A. NORTON,
Colorado Attorney General; STEPHEN K.
ERKENBACK, Chief Deputy Attorney General;

                                   -2-
 JOSEPH HAUGHAIN, Grievance Officer; NOLAN
 RENFROW, CSP Assistant Warden; GARY
 WATKINS, Security Warden CSP; SHEILAH
 RAWLINS; CSP CHAPLAIN RAWLINS, and any and
 all others to be included and/or excluded as applicable
 upon Discovery; individually and in their official
 capacities,

      Defendants-Appellees.

                     _________________________________

                          ORDER AND JUDGMENT *
                     _________________________________

Before BRORBY, EBEL and HENRY, Circuit Judges.
                _________________________________

      After examining the briefs and appellate record, this panel has determined

unanimously that oral argument would not materially assist the determination of

this appeal. See Fed. R. App. P. 34(a); 10th Cir. R. 34.1.9. The case is therefore

ordered submitted without oral argument.

      Mr. Workman, who describes himself as a Reverend, is an inmate and a pro

se litigant. He has filed four separate appeals from three separate civil suits

      *
        This order and judgment is not binding precedent except under the
doctrines of law of the case, res judicata and collateral estoppel. The court
generally disfavors the citation of orders and judgments; nevertheless, an order
and judgment may be cited under the terms and conditions of 10th Cir. R. 36.3.

                                         -3-
which we combine for administrative convenience. We grant Mr. Workman's

motions to proceed in forma pauperis.

                                    No. 96-1060

      Mr. Workman sued under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 alleging the violation of

various federal rights. Mr. Workman filed this action on February 8, 1995. In his

complaint, he alleged that in August and September of 1992, while in custody, he

was denied his religious freedom insofar as he was ordered to cut his hair,

deprived of his religious jewelry, wrongfully disciplined, denied legal access, and

harassed.

      The trial court applied Colorado's two-year statute of limitations and

dismissed the suit.

      In his appeal to this court, Mr. Workman displays his unhappiness with

prison life by making numerous conclusory complaints, none of which are

applicable to the case at issue. Mr. Workman fails to say anything concerning the

actions of the trial court except "[h]is rights were violated herein, constituting

non-frivolousness at instant." Mr. Workman cites no authority to us showing the

law applied by the trial court was erroneous. Since Mr. Workman has failed to

                                          -4-
establish the trial court erred in dismissing his claims, we affirm the judgment of

the trial court. 1

                                    No. 96-1146

       This case is another civil rights suit filed by Mr. Workman alleging

defendants have violated a number of his rights under the United States

Constitution.

       Mr. Workman asserted thirteen claims, including "discrimination,

retaliation, violation of his due process, equal protection, cruel & unusual

punishment, violation of privacy, malicious prosecution, conspiracy, freedom of

speech & expression & religion, colusion [sic], deprivation of property, and

censorship."

       The trial court ordered Mr. Workman to file a more definite statement

stating simply and concisely the specific claims for relief, against whom those

claims are asserted, the facts forming the basis of the allegations, and the relief

       Further, as the trial court found, Mr. Workman failed to comply with
       1

Colorado's two-year statute of limitation. Colo. Rev. Stat. § 13-80-102. Mr.
Workman complained of conduct occurring in August and September 1992, but
his complaint was not filed until February 8, 1995.

                                         -5-
sought. The trial court subsequently entered a second order for a more definite

statement, and Mr. Workman indicated he was unable to respond because he did

not have access to his legal materials. Thereafter, the trial court warned Mr.

Workman his complaint would be dismissed without further notice if he failed to

comply with the court orders. Mr. Workman responded by asking the court to

disqualify itself and alleged, "some unascertainable prejudice, bias, and/or

personal interest, against him."

       In its Order of Dismissal, the trial court properly analyzed the motion to

recuse and concluded Mr. Workman's affidavit was legally insufficient. The trial

court concluded Mr. Workman failed to link the defendants' actions to the

asserted claims. The trial court also found the claims that were linked to specific

defendants (Colorado Governor Roy Romer and Department of Corrections

Executive Director Aristedes Zavaras) were vague and conclusory and not

sufficient to state even "an arguable claim of a constitutional violation."

       Mr. Workman appeals this order, not by showing how the trial court's order

was erroneous, but rather by setting forth conclusory grievances against unnamed

prison authorities. The following quotes from Mr. Workman's brief to this court

are illustrative:

                                          -6-
             I was also punished, via incident report, for a Code of Penal
      Discipline Violation which did not exist, and another one that the
      facts of which did not support the conviction of, by biased
      correctional officers, acting maliciously, so as to make me meet the
      criteria that would allow them to transfer me to a higher security
      facility.

             ....

            I may not have the skills of an attorney ... but I have read
      thousands of case law and I do know when my Rights Under
      Constitution and Federal Law have been violated.

Mr. Workman fails to persuade this Court of any error by the trial court. The

judgment of the district court is AFFIRMED for substantially the same reasons

set forth by the district court.

                                    No. 96-1145

      Mr. Workman filed this civil rights action claiming various unknown

officials violated a number of his Constitutional and statutory rights in arresting

him and confiscating his property. Mr. Workman claimed this wrongful arrest

occurred on January 6, 1992, and again on August 12, 1992. Mr. Workman

signed and dated his complaint December 29, 1994 and filed it February 7, 1995.

      The district court applied Colorado's two-year statute of limitations for

claims brought under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 and dismissed the action. Mr. Workman

appeals the district court's dismissal, arguing the two-year statute "should be

                                         -7-
tolled because of its being inadequate."

       We find Mr. Workman's argument on appeal lacks merit. The judgment of

the district court is AFFIRMED for substantially the same reasons set forth by

the district court.

                                      No. 96-1007

       In this case, Mr. Workman is apparently filing an appeal of the two orders

requiring a more definite statement as described in case No. 96-1146 above.

       Mr. Workman filed an appeal that borders upon being incomprehensible.

He alleges, in part:

                There really were no proceedings in the instant action ... and
       my action, which is definitely colorable, was dismissed as if Judge
       Sparr believed I would take no further action upon it and simply drop
       it all, if he refused to act properly upon it. He did so ... hoping I
       would give up, if he made it difficult enough for me....

             ... This action was stopped, most likely due to the influence of
       the defendants herein, before it ever even began....

              ....

              The Dist. Ct. failed to apply any fair law at all....

       Mr. Workman then filed a five-page affidavit with this court informing the

judges he will make them liable if they fail to remedy the situation. Mr.

                                           -8-
Workman also set forth a litany of complaints against prison officials.

      Assuming we have jurisdiction of this appeal, Mr. Workman has failed to

persuade this court of any error by the trial court in issuing the described orders.

The judgment of the trial court is in all respects AFFIRMED.

                                        Entered for the Court

                                        WADE BRORBY
                                        United States Circuit Judge

                                          -9-