Filed: Dec. 20, 2002
Latest Update: Feb. 21, 2020
Summary: IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT No. 01-41255 JAMES L. HILLYER, Plaintiff-Appellee, versus TDC, TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS; ET AL., Defendants, ALEX ANTONIO CABRERA; THELMA GARZA; OMAR GARZA, DR., Defendants-Appellants. - Appeal from the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas (98-CV-60) - December 18, 2002 Before HIGGINBOTHAM, DUHÉ, and DeMOSS, Circuit Judges. PER CURIAM:1 Omar Garza, M.D., and Nurses Alex Cabrera and Thelma Garza, medical
Summary: IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT No. 01-41255 JAMES L. HILLYER, Plaintiff-Appellee, versus TDC, TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS; ET AL., Defendants, ALEX ANTONIO CABRERA; THELMA GARZA; OMAR GARZA, DR., Defendants-Appellants. - Appeal from the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas (98-CV-60) - December 18, 2002 Before HIGGINBOTHAM, DUHÉ, and DeMOSS, Circuit Judges. PER CURIAM:1 Omar Garza, M.D., and Nurses Alex Cabrera and Thelma Garza, medical ..
More
IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT
No. 01-41255
JAMES L. HILLYER,
Plaintiff-Appellee,
versus
TDC, TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS; ET AL.,
Defendants,
ALEX ANTONIO CABRERA; THELMA GARZA; OMAR GARZA, DR.,
Defendants-Appellants.
--------------------
Appeal from the United States District Court
for the Southern District of Texas
(98-CV-60)
--------------------
December 18, 2002
Before HIGGINBOTHAM, DUHÉ, and DeMOSS, Circuit Judges.
PER CURIAM:1
Omar Garza, M.D., and Nurses Alex Cabrera and Thelma Garza,
medical providers for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice-
Institutional Division, appeal the district court’s denial of their
motion for summary judgment based on qualified immunity. They
argue that the medical treatment they provided to inmate James
Hillyer for his complaints of abdominal pain was objectively
reasonable in light of clearly established law.
1
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that this opinion should not be published and is not precedent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.
We must determine the basis of our jurisdiction on our own
motion if necessary. Mosley v. Cozby,
813 F.2d 659, 660 (5th Cir.
1987). Denials of summary judgment generally are not appealable
final orders. 28 U.S.C. § 1291. Under the collateral order
doctrine, “orders denying qualified immunity are immediately
appealable only if they are predicated on conclusions of law, and
not if a genuine issue of material fact precludes summary judgment
on the question of qualified immunity.” Palmer v. Johnson,
193
F.3d 346, 351 (5th Cir. 1999). When facts material to the question
of qualified immunity are in dispute, denial of summary judgment is
appropriate, and this court lacks jurisdiction. See Mangieri v.
Clifton,
29 F.3d 1012, 1016 (5th Cir. 1994).
We do not have jurisdiction to review the district court’s
denial of qualified immunity to Dr. Garza and Nurses Cabrera and
Garza. The parties have presented conflicting affidavits of
experts. The ultimate determination involves credibility, which is
a factual issue for the jury. See Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc.,
477 U.S. 242, 255 (1986); Moore v. Willis Indep. Sch. Dist.,
233
F.3d 871, 874 (5th Cir. 2000); Martin v. Thomas,
973 F.2d 449, 453
(5th Cir. 1992). Because a decision cannot be made without
reference to the experts’ conflicting affidavits, there are facts
material to the question of qualified immunity in dispute. The
district court’s denial of summary judgment was therefore
appropriate, and this court lacks jurisdiction. See
Mangieri, 29
F.3d at 1016.
2
APPEAL DISMISSED FOR LACK OF JURISDICTION.
3