Filed: Dec. 21, 2001
Latest Update: Mar. 02, 2020
Summary: IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT No. 00-51072 Summary Calendar ERIC ADAMS, Plaintiff-Appellee, versus BERNEY KESZLER, DR.; ET AL., Defendants, BERNEY KESZLER, DR., Defendant-Appellant. - Appeal from the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas USDC No. SA-99-CV-86 - December 19, 2001 Before HIGGINBOTHAM, WIENER, and BARKSDALE, Circuit Judges. PER CURIAM:* Eric Adams, Texas prisoner # 626162, filed this 42 U.S.C. § 1983 action against Dr. Berney Ke
Summary: IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT No. 00-51072 Summary Calendar ERIC ADAMS, Plaintiff-Appellee, versus BERNEY KESZLER, DR.; ET AL., Defendants, BERNEY KESZLER, DR., Defendant-Appellant. - Appeal from the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas USDC No. SA-99-CV-86 - December 19, 2001 Before HIGGINBOTHAM, WIENER, and BARKSDALE, Circuit Judges. PER CURIAM:* Eric Adams, Texas prisoner # 626162, filed this 42 U.S.C. § 1983 action against Dr. Berney Kes..
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IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT
No. 00-51072
Summary Calendar
ERIC ADAMS,
Plaintiff-Appellee,
versus
BERNEY KESZLER, DR.; ET AL.,
Defendants,
BERNEY KESZLER, DR.,
Defendant-Appellant.
--------------------
Appeal from the United States District Court
for the Western District of Texas
USDC No. SA-99-CV-86
--------------------
December 19, 2001
Before HIGGINBOTHAM, WIENER, and BARKSDALE, Circuit Judges.
PER CURIAM:*
Eric Adams, Texas prisoner # 626162, filed this 42 U.S.C.
§ 1983 action against Dr. Berney Keszler, unit physician of the
Connally Unit, alleging that he violated his constitutional
rights under the Eighth and Fourteenth Amendments. Adams alleged
that Dr. Keszler was deliberately indifferent to his serious
medical needs, and that Dr. Keszler subjected him to retaliatory
harassment by removal of medically indicated housing and work
*
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that this opinion should not be published and is not precedent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. 00-51072
-2-
restrictions due to his good faith use of the inmate grievance
procedures and for filing civil rights complaints in federal
court. Dr. Keszler filed a motion for summary judgment based on
qualified immunity. Dr. Keszler argued that the medical records
documenting that he examined, diagnosed, and provided appropriate
treatment to Adams negated a showing of deliberate indifference.
He contends that Adams alleged merely a disagreement with the
treatment rendered.
The district court denied Dr. Keszler’s motion for summary
judgment, finding that Adams’ allegations did raise fact
questions concerning Dr. Keszler’s removal of work restrictions
without first examining Adams. The district court concluded that
Dr. Keszler was not entitled to summary judgment on whether a
constitutional violation occurred or on his entitlement to
qualified immunity. Dr. Keszler appeals the district court’s
order denying his motion for summary judgment.
District court orders denying summary judgment on the basis
of qualified immunity are immediately appealable under the
collateral order doctrine, notwithstanding their interlocutory
nature, when based on a conclusion of law. Mitchell v. Forsyth,
472 U.S. 511, 530 (1985). A defendant invoking a qualified
immunity defense may not appeal a district court’s denial of
summary judgment insofar as the order determined whether or not
the record sets forth a genuine issue of fact for trial. Johnson
v. Jones,
515 U.S. 304, 319-20 (1996). Orders determining “only
a question of `evidence sufficiency,' i.e., which facts a party
No. 00-51072
-3-
may, or may not, be able to prove at trial,” are not based on an
issue of law and are not immediately appealable.
Id. at 313.
The motivation for Dr. Keszler’s actions is a fact question
to be determined at trial. Because the district court correctly
determined that there is a material factual dispute with regard
to Dr. Keszler’s actions, this court does not have jurisdiction
to review the denial of Dr. Keszler’s motion for summary
judgment. Accordingly, the appeal is DISMISSED FOR LACK OF
JURISDICTION.