Court Opinion

ID: 4124623
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2017-02-09 01:00:51.36947+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:36:59.499786
License: Public Domain

Case: 15-11104      Document: 00513868277         Page: 1    Date Filed: 02/08/2017

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

                                                                                  FILED
                                    No. 15-11104                           February 8, 2017
                                  Summary Calendar
                                                                             Lyle W. Cayce
                                                                                  Clerk
OSCAR ARMANDO, also known as Oscar Armando Sarrez, also known as
Oscar Armando Mendoza, also known as Oscar A. Escobar,

                                                 Plaintiff-Appellant

v.

NFN TENORIO, N.P; DAVID R. BASSE, M.D.; STATE EMPLOYEES TEXAS
TECH TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE; K. WALLACE, FHA
Administrator; J. C. WALLACE, FMA,

                                                 Defendants-Appellees

                  Appeals from the United States District Court
                       for the Northern District of Texas
                             USDC No. 2:15-CV-270

Before JONES, WIENER, and CLEMENT, Circuit Judges.
PER CURIAM: *
       Oscar Armando, Texas prisoner # 1361831, appeals the dismissal of his
42 U.S.C. § 1983 complaint as frivolous under 28 U.S.C. §§ 1915A and
1915(e)(2) and under 42 U.S.C. § 1997e(c). Additionally, he moves for judicial
notice, enforcement of relief, and a temporary restraining order.

       * 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 R. 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not
be published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5TH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.
    Case: 15-11104    Document: 00513868277     Page: 2   Date Filed: 02/08/2017

                                 No. 15-11104

      In his § 1983 complaint, Armando alleged that the defendants acted with
deliberate indifference to his serious medical needs. He argues in this court
that he sustained injuries while in prison; he should not be forced to file a
lawsuit in order to get the proper medical care in prison; the defendants have
refused to refer him to a non-prison specialist; his medical needs have not been
adequately addressed by the medication prescribed by the defendants; he is
still experiencing daily pain; he needs surgery; there is insufficient money in
the prison budget to treat his injuries in the proper manner; prison officials
have not disclosed his MRI results to him; and prison officials denied his
grievances. Further, Armando contends that the district court had a conflict
of interest, was prejudiced against him, was biased in favor of the defendants,
and helped to cover up the actions of the defendants. Finally, he argues that
the district court erroneously denied him leave to proceed in forma pauperis
(IFP) on appeal.
      Armando’s arguments regarding his medical care amount to a
disagreement with the treatment provided and are insufficient to show a
constitutional violation. See Varnado v. Lynaugh, 920 F.2d 320, 321 (5th Cir.
1991). His conclusory claim of judicial bias is apparently based on the district
court’s adverse ruling. However, such rulings “will support a claim of bias only
if they reveal an opinion based on an extrajudicial source or if they
demonstrate such a high degree of antagonism as to make fair judgment
impossible.” United States v. Scroggins, 485 F.3d 824, 830 (5th Cir. 2007).
Nothing in the record supports Armando’s bias claim.          See id.   Finally,
Armando’s argument regarding the district court’s denial of IFP status is
unavailing as the district court, in fact, granted Armando leave to proceed IFP.
Accordingly, the dismissal of Armando’s § 1983 action is AFFIRMED.

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    Case: 15-11104      Document: 00513868277   Page: 3   Date Filed: 02/08/2017

                                 No. 15-11104

      Armando’s motions for judicial notice are DENIED.         Judicial notice
applies only to facts not subject to reasonable dispute. FED. R. EVID. 201(b)).
The facts alleged in Armando’s first motion are subject to reasonable dispute.
Regarding the second motion, Armando has provided inadequate briefing. See
Yohey v. Collins, 985 F.2d 222, 224-25 (5th Cir. 1993). Furthermore, we may
not consider evidence that was not before the district court when it dismissed
Armando’s § 1983 action. See Theriot v. Parish of Jefferson, 185 F.3d 477, 491
n.26 (5th Cir. 1999).
      Next, in light of our affirmance of the district court’s dismissal and the
lack of clarity in Armando’s motion to enforce relief, we DENY that motion.
See Grant v. Cuellar, 59 F.3d 523, 524-25 (5th Cir. 1995). Finally, we DENY
Armando’s motion for a temporary restraining order because he has not made
the requisite showing. See FED. R. APP. P. 8(a)(2)(A).
      The district court’s dismissal of Armando’s § 1983 complaint as frivolous
counts as a strike under § 1915(g). See Coleman v. Tollefson, 135 S. Ct. 1759,
1761 (2015); Adepegba v. Hammons, 103 F.3d 383, 387 (5th Cir. 1996).
Armando is WARNED that if he accumulates three strikes, he will not be
allowed to proceed IFP in any civil action or appeal unless he is “under
imminent danger of serious physical injury.” § 1915(g).

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