Court Opinion

ID: 40121
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2010-04-25 20:40:18+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:16:26.494863
License: Public Domain

United States Court of Appeals
                                                                Fifth Circuit
                                                             F I L E D
               IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
                       FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT                December 14, 2005

                                                         Charles R. Fulbruge III
                                                                 Clerk
                            No. 04-41754
                        Conference Calendar

CLEOFAS JOHN RUIZ,

                                    Plaintiff-Appellant,

versus

JASON CALHOUN; JOHN DOE, a Physician at John Sealy Hospital
in Galveston, TX; WILLIAM SHELBY,

                                    Defendants-Appellees.

                       --------------------
           Appeal from the United States District Court
                for the Southern District of Texas
                       USDC No. 3:03-CV-837
                       --------------------

Before KING, Chief Judge, and HIGGINBOTHAM and SMITH, Circuit Judges.

PER CURIAM:*

     Cleofas John Ruiz, Texas prisoner # 716565, appeals from the

district court’s dismissal of his civil rights suit pursuant to

28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B) as frivolous.   Ruiz argues that the

defendants were deliberately indifferent to his medical needs and

provided inadequate medical care.

     We note that the district court dismissed Ruiz’s claims

against defendants at the Price Daniel Unit due to improper

venue.   Because Ruiz has not briefed this dismissal, those claims

     *
       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this opinion should not be published and is not precedent except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. 04-41754
                                 -2-

are abandoned.    See Yohey v. Collins, 985 F.2d 222, 224-25 (5th

Cir. 1993).

     According to the complaint, Ruiz was examined for a shoulder

injury on March 9, 2001, and he was sent to John Sealy Hopsital,

where he was diagnosed with a separated right shoulder.    He

received follow-up examinations and care on March 15, 2001,

April 5, 2001, and May 10, 2001, before being transferred to

Price Daniel on June 19, 2001.   Ruiz complains that Drs. Shelby

and Calhoun failed to schedule him for immediate surgery.    Dr.

Calhoun prescribed a shoulder immobilizer, Tylenol, and

strengthening exercises.   We conclude that Ruiz’s complaints

about his medical care do not rise to the level of deliberate

indifference.    See Estelle v. Gamble, 429 U.S. 97, 105-07 (1976);

Domino v. Texas Dep’t of Criminal Justice, 239 F.3d 752, 756 (5th

Cir. 2001); Johnson v. Treen, 759 F.2d 1236, 1238 (5th Cir.

1985).    At most, Ruiz’s allegations amount to a disagreement with

the course of his treatment and/or claims for medical

malpractice, which are insufficient for relief under 42 U.S.C.

§ 1983.    See Banuelos v. McFarland, 41 F.3d 232, 235 (5th Cir.

1995); Varnado v. Lynaugh, 920 F.2d 320, 321 (5th Cir. 1991).

     Ruiz’s appeal is without arguable merit and is frivolous.

See Howard v. King, 707 F.2d 215, 219-20 (5th Cir. 1983).

Because the appeal is frivolous, it is dismissed.    See 5TH CIR.

R. 42.2.   Ruiz is cautioned that the dismissal of this appeal as

frivolous counts as a strike under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(g), as does
                           No. 04-41754
                                -3-

the district court’s dismissal of his complaint.    See Adepegba v.

Hammons, 103 F.3d 383, 387-88 (5th Cir. 1996).    If Ruiz

accumulates three strikes under 28 U.S.C. § 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.

See 28 U.S.C. § 1915(g).

     APPEAL DISMISSED; SANCTION WARNING ISSUED.