Filed: Apr. 10, 2002
Latest Update: Feb. 21, 2020
Summary: IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT No. 01-60787 Conference Calendar ALFRED HUGHERY, Plaintiff-Appellant, versus PANOLA COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT; DAVID BRIANT, Sheriff; “UNKNOWN” WEE, Nurse for Panola County Sheriff’s Department, Defendants-Appellees. - Appeal from the United States District Court for the Northern District of Mississippi USDC No. 2:01-CV-53-P-B - April 10, 2002 Before SMITH, DeMOSS, and PARKER, Circuit Judges. PER CURIAM:* Alfred Hughery, Mississippi p
Summary: IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT No. 01-60787 Conference Calendar ALFRED HUGHERY, Plaintiff-Appellant, versus PANOLA COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT; DAVID BRIANT, Sheriff; “UNKNOWN” WEE, Nurse for Panola County Sheriff’s Department, Defendants-Appellees. - Appeal from the United States District Court for the Northern District of Mississippi USDC No. 2:01-CV-53-P-B - April 10, 2002 Before SMITH, DeMOSS, and PARKER, Circuit Judges. PER CURIAM:* Alfred Hughery, Mississippi pr..
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IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT
No. 01-60787
Conference Calendar
ALFRED HUGHERY,
Plaintiff-Appellant,
versus
PANOLA COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT; DAVID BRIANT, Sheriff;
“UNKNOWN” WEE, Nurse for Panola County Sheriff’s Department,
Defendants-Appellees.
--------------------
Appeal from the United States District Court
for the Northern District of Mississippi
USDC No. 2:01-CV-53-P-B
--------------------
April 10, 2002
Before SMITH, DeMOSS, and PARKER, Circuit Judges.
PER CURIAM:*
Alfred Hughery, Mississippi prisoner # 49240, appeals the
district court’s dismissal as frivolous of his pro se and in
forma pauperis (IFP) civil rights complaint against Panola County
Sheriff David Briant, the Panola County Sheriff’s Office, and
Nurse Wee of the Sheriff’s Office. After a hearing pursuant to
Spears v. McCotter,
766 F.2d 179 (5th Cir. 1985), the district
court determined that the Sheriff was not personally involved in
*
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that this opinion should not be published and is not precedent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. 01-60787
-2-
any of the alleged civil rights violations and that Hughery’s
claim against Nurse Wee was one of negligence not actionable in a
42 U.S.C. § 1983 proceeding.
A prisoner’s IFP civil rights complaint shall be dismissed
if the district court determines that the action is frivolous or
fails to state a claim upon which relief may be granted. Black
v. Warren,
134 F.3d 732, 733 (5th Cir. 1998); see 28 U.S.C.
§ 1915(e)(2). A claim is frivolous if it lacks an arguable basis
in law or fact. Berry v. Brady,
192 F.3d 504, 507 (5th Cir.
1999). We review the dismissal of a prisoner’s complaint as
frivolous for an abuse of discretion.
Id.
Hughery argues that Sheriff Briant had a responsibility to
see that he had medical treatment while he was housed in Briant’s
facility. Supervisory liability may exist without “overt
personal participation" in the offensive act; however, in order
for his claim to be successful, Hughery must have shown that
Sheriff Briant implemented “a policy so deficient that the policy
itself is a repudiation of constitutional rights and is the
moving force of the constitutional violation." See Thompkins v.
Belt,
828 F.2d 298, 304 (5th Cir. 1987). Hughery makes no
allegation of such a policy, nor do his allegations reflect that
such a policy was responsible for the alleged constitutional
deprivation committed by Nurse Wee.
Hughery also argues that Nurse Wee acted negligently in
administering a tuberculosis “shot.” Although inadequate medical
No. 01-60787
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treatment may, at a certain point, reach the level of a
constitutional violation, negligence or medical malpractice does
not. Stewart v. Murphy,
174 F.3d 530, 534 (5th Cir. 1999).
Hughery has not demonstrated that the district court abused
its discretion by dismissing his complaint. See
Berry, 192 F.3d
at 507. Accordingly, the judgment of the district court is
AFFIRMED.
The district court’s dismissal of the complaint as frivolous
counts as a "strike" for purposes of 28 U.S.C. § 1915(g). See
Adepegba v. Hammons,
103 F.3d 383, 385-87 (5th Cir. 1996).
Hughery is WARNED that if he accumulates three strikes pursuant
to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(g), he may not proceed IFP 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.
Id.
AFFIRMED; SANCTION WARNING ISSUED.