Court Opinion

ID: 736477
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2012-04-17 18:31:50+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:16:52.832558
License: Public Domain

107 F.3d 867
NOTICE: First Circuit Local Rule 36.2(b)6 states unpublished opinions may be cited only in related cases.Lawrence THOMPSON, Plaintiff-Appellant,v.HUNTINGTON POLICE DEPARTMENT;  Allan Rhorig, Officer;  J.T.Combs, Officer, Defendants-Appellees.
No. 96-7537.
United States Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit.
Submitted Jan. 7, 1997.Decided Feb. 25, 1997.

Lawrence Thompson, Appellant Pro Se.
Before WILKINS and MICHAEL, Circuit Judges, and PHILLIPS, Senior Circuit Judge.
OPINION
PER CURIAM:

1
Appellant appeals from the district court's order dismissing without prejudice his 42 U.S.C. § 1983 (1994) complaint alleging false arrest, false imprisonment, and intentional infliction of emotional distress.  In his complaint, Appellant alleged that he was wrongly arrested and charged with distributing crack cocaine even though police found no drugs on his person.  In a subsequent filing with the court, Appellant attached a memorandum stating that he was assaulted by correctional officers while incarcerated before his acquittal, subjected to fights and arguments with inmates, subjected to racism by the correctional staff, and denied treatment for his diabetes.  In accordance with the recommendation of the magistrate judge, the district court found that there was no legal or factual basis to the claims and dismissed the complaint without prejudice pursuant to 28 U.S.C.A. § 1915(e)(2)(B)(i) (West Supp.  Sept. 1996, Pamphlet 3).

2
We have held that an allegation of arrest without probable cause states a cognizable claim under § 1983.  Brooks v. City of Winston-Salem, 85 F.3d 178 (4th Cir.1996);  Street v. Surdyka, 492 F.2d 368 (4th Cir.1974).  Moreover, allegations of assault by correctional officers and denial of medical treatment state cognizable claims as well.  See, e.g. Estelle v. Gamble, 429 U.S. 97 (1976);  United States v. Cobb, 905 F.2d 784 (4th Cir.1990).  Accordingly, we find that Appellant's complaint is not factually or legally frivolous on its face.  We therefore vacate the dismissal order and remand this matter for further proceedings.

3
We deny the motion for appointment of counsel and dispense with oral argument because the facts and legal contentions are adequately presented in the materials before the court and argument would not aid the decisional process.

4
VACATED AND REMANDED.