Filed: Jun. 17, 2005
Latest Update: Feb. 21, 2020
Summary: F I L E D United States Court of Appeals Tenth Circuit UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS June 17, 2005 TENTH CIRCUIT PATRICK FISHER Clerk MICHAEL R. FAGAN, Plaintiff-Appellant, No. 05-3125 v. (D.C. No. 04-CV-3114-GTV) (FNU) LINNEMAN, Mental Health (D. Kansas) Professional, Corrections Care Services, El Dorado Correctional Facility, in his official and private capacities; and ROGER WERHOLTZ, Secretary, Kansas Department of Corrections, in his official and private capacities, Defendants-Appellees. OR
Summary: F I L E D United States Court of Appeals Tenth Circuit UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS June 17, 2005 TENTH CIRCUIT PATRICK FISHER Clerk MICHAEL R. FAGAN, Plaintiff-Appellant, No. 05-3125 v. (D.C. No. 04-CV-3114-GTV) (FNU) LINNEMAN, Mental Health (D. Kansas) Professional, Corrections Care Services, El Dorado Correctional Facility, in his official and private capacities; and ROGER WERHOLTZ, Secretary, Kansas Department of Corrections, in his official and private capacities, Defendants-Appellees. ORD..
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F I L E D
United States Court of Appeals
Tenth Circuit
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
June 17, 2005
TENTH CIRCUIT
PATRICK FISHER
Clerk
MICHAEL R. FAGAN,
Plaintiff-Appellant, No. 05-3125
v. (D.C. No. 04-CV-3114-GTV)
(FNU) LINNEMAN, Mental Health (D. Kansas)
Professional, Corrections Care
Services, El Dorado Correctional
Facility, in his official and private
capacities; and ROGER WERHOLTZ,
Secretary, Kansas Department of
Corrections, in his official and private
capacities,
Defendants-Appellees.
ORDER AND JUDGMENT *
Before EBEL, McKAY, and HENRY, Circuit Judges.
After examining Appellant’s brief and the appellate record, this panel has
determined unanimously that oral argument would not materially assist the
determination of this appeal. See Fed. R. App. P. 34(a)(2); 10th Cir. R. 34.1(G).
The case is therefore ordered submitted without oral argument.
*
This order and judgment is not binding precedent, except under the
doctrines of law of the case, res judicata, and collateral estoppel. The court
generally disfavors the citation of orders and judgments; nevertheless, an order
and judgment may be cited under the terms and conditions of 10th Cir. R. 36.3.
This is a pro se civil rights appeal under 42 U.S.C. § 1983. In his
complaint, Mr. Fagan asserts that his civil rights were violated by Kansas
Department of Corrections officials (Defendants). Mr. Fagan claims Defendants
violated the Eighth Amendment guarantee against cruel and unusual punishment
by depriving him of adequate medical care for his previously diagnosed bipolar
disorder. The district court dismissed Mr. Fagan’s complaint because he failed to
state a claim for relief under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 and entered judgment in
Defendants’ favor. Mr. Fagan appeals to this court.
We agree with the district court that Mr. Fagan fails to state a cognizable
Eighth Amendment claim. To pursue his § 1983 claim based on such a
constitutional violation, Mr. Fagan must show “deliberate indifference.” Estelle
v. Gamble,
429 U.S. 97, 104 (1976). “Deliberate indifference” occurs when an
official “knows of and disregards an excessive risk to inmate health or safety.”
Farmer v. Brennan,
511 U.S. 825, 837 (1994). Proof of “deliberate indifference”
requires evidence that the pain or deprivation was sufficiently serious and that the
offending official’s state of mind was sufficiently culpable. Wilson v. Seiter,
501
U.S. 294, 298-99 (1991). Mr. Fagan failed to allege facts that meet this two-part
test. Thus, Mr. Fagan’s § 1983 claim is not cognizable.
After a thorough review of Appellant’s brief and the record, and for
substantially the same reasons set forth in the district court’s well-reasoned
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August 9, 2004, order and judgment of dismissal, we hold that Mr. Fagan failed to
state a claim upon which relief may be granted.
The decision of the district court is AFFIRMED.
Entered for the Court
Monroe G. McKay
Circuit Judge
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