Moore v. Cooksey ( 2000 )

F I L E D
United States Court of Appeals
Tenth Circuit
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
DEC 14 2000
FOR THE TENTH CIRCUIT
PATRICK FISHER
Clerk
ALDEN LAMONT MOORE,
Plaintiff-Appellant,
v. No. 00-1109
(D.C. No. 98-WM-2321)
MICHAEL COOKSEY, MICHAEL (D. Colo.)
PUGH, G.L. HERSHBERGER,
and L.R. KOWALSKI,
Defendants-Appellees.
ORDER AND JUDGMENT *
Before BRORBY , KELLY , and LUCERO , Circuit Judges.
After examining the briefs and 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This order and judgment is not binding precedent, except under the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.
Plaintiff Alden Lamont Moore, a federal prisoner, appeals the dismissal
of his pro se complaint filed under Bivens v. Six Unknown Named Agents of
the Federal Bureau of Narcotics , 403 U.S. 388 (1971), and the Rehabilitation Act,
29 U.S.C. § 794(a). We affirm.
Moore was transferred from a prison in Lompoc, California, to the control
unit in the Administrative Maximum facility (ADX) at Florence, Colorado, after
he stabbed another inmate with an ice pick-type weapon. In his complaint, Moore
claimed that the transfer to ADX, the conditions of confinement there, and the
ADX medical treatment for his AIDS-related symptoms violate his rights under
the Constitution and the Rehabilitation Act. Specifically, he asserted that he was
transferred to ADX because of his HIV-positive status, that his access to showers
at ADX was limited based on discriminatory motives, and that medical care
providers at ADX improperly concluded that his needs could be met at that
facility. Moore sought money damages and an injunction requiring his transfer to
a facility that houses a general population of HIV-positive prisoners.
Upon defendants’ motion to dismiss pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(6) for
failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted, the matter was referred
to a magistrate judge. As to Moore’s claims for damages under the Rehabilitation
Act, the magistrate judge recommended dismissal because none of the named
defendants are subject to personal liability for damages, R., Vol. 2, Doc. 16 at 5
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(citing Hiler v. Brown , 177 F.3d 542, 545-46 (6th Cir. 1999) (stating that the
Rehabilitation Act does not permit actions against persons in their individual
capacities)). Furthermore, the magistrate judge concluded that the Bureau of
Prisons and its director are shielded by sovereign immunity. R., Vol. 2, Doc. 16
at 6 (citing Lane v. Pena , 518 U.S. 187, 197, 200 (1996)). Finally, Moore
failed to allege facts demonstrating that his treatment was due to his disability.
R., Vol. 2, Doc. 16 at 10-12 (citing Randolph v. Rodgers , 170 F.3d 850, 858
(8th Cir. 1999) (setting out elements of a prima facie case under the
Rehabilitation Act)).
Concerning Moore’s constitutional claims, the magistrate judge determined
that:
(1) Conditions in ADX are within “‘the range of confinement to be
normally expected for one serving’” a federal prison sentence and therefore the
transfer to ADX did not involve an interest protected by the Due Process Clause.
R., Vol. 2, Doc. 16 at 7 (quoting Sandin v. Conner , 515 U.S. 472, 487 (1995));
see also Meachum v. Fano , 427 U.S. 215, 225 (1976) (explaining that the Due
Process Clause does not protect a prisoner against transfer to a more restrictive
prison);
(2) Moore’s allegations of disparate treatment did not support an equal
protection claim. R., Vol. 2, Doc. 16 at 7-8 (citing, e.g. , Romer v. Evans ,
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517 U.S. 620, 631 (1996) (stating that a classification which bears a “rational
relation to some legitimate end” generally complies with the Equal Protection
Clause)); and
(3) Moore’s disagreement with practitioners as to appropriate medical
treatment was not actionable as a constitutional claim because Moore did not
exhaust his available administrative remedies, R., Vol. 2, Doc. 16 at 9-10
(citing 42 U.S.C. § 1997e(a)), and failed to allege facts showing that defendants
acted with deliberate indifference to his serious medical needs, R., Vol. 2 at 13-15
(citing Estelle v. Gamble , 429 U.S. 97, 104 (1976)).
The magistrate judge therefore recommended dismissal of Moore’s claims
for damages and denial of his requests for injunctive relief. After considering
Moore’s objections, the district court adopted the magistrate judge’s
recommendation and dismissed the case. On appeal, Moore challenges the
dismissal. Additionally, he contests the magistrate judge’s denial of his request
for appointment of counsel and refusal to conduct an investigation into alleged
malpractice on the part of a government attorney.
This court reviews de novo a dismissal under Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(6) for
failure to state a claim, accepting the facts pleaded as true. See Sutton v.
Utah State Sch. for the Deaf & Blind , 173 F.3d 1226, 1236 (10th Cir. 1999).
A Rule 12(b)(6) dismissal is upheld only if it appears “beyond doubt that the
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plaintiff can prove no set of facts in support of his claim which would entitle
him to relief.” Id. (quotation omitted). After a careful review of the record,
we conclude that the district court correctly determined that Moore’s allegations
are insufficient to impose liability under the Rehabilitation Act or demonstrate
violations of Moore’s constitutional rights.
Concerning the denial of appointment of counsel in a civil case, we
review the district’s court determination for an abuse of discretion. Rucks v.
Boergermann , 57 F.3d 978, 979 (10th Cir. 1995). In considering whether to
appoint counsel, the factors the district court should take into account include
“‘the merits of the litigant’s claims, the nature of the factual issues raised in the
claims, the litigant’s ability to present his claims, and the complexity of the legal
issues raised by the claims.’” Id. (quoting Williams v. Meese , 926 F.2d 994, 996
(10th Cir. 1991)). Because Moore’s claims lack merit, there was no abuse of
discretion in denying the motion to appoint counsel. Furthermore, we find no
error in the refusal to investigate alleged malpractice on the part of government
counsel.
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The judgment of the district court is AFFIRMED for substantially the
reasons stated in the Recommendation of United States Magistrate Judge filed
February 11, 2000.
Entered for the Court
Paul J. Kelly, Jr.
Circuit Judge
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