Montelongo v. Crawford ( 2002 )


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  •                IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
    FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT
    No. 01-40769
    Summary Calendar
    ANDREW MONTELONGO, JR.,
    Plaintiff-Appellant,
    versus
    UNIDENTIFIED CRAWFORD, Doctor, Hodge
    Unit; HODGE UNIT, Medical Staff;
    UNIDENTIFIED WILLIAMS, Warden, Hodge Unit,
    Defendants-Appellees.
    --------------------
    Appeal from the United States District Court
    for the Eastern District of Texas
    USDC No. 6:01-CV-59
    --------------------
    May 21, 2002
    Before DeMOSS, PARKER and DENNIS, Circuit Judges.
    PER CURIAM:*
    Andrew Montelongo, Jr., Texas prisoner # 588641, appeals the
    lower court’s dismissal of his 42 U.S.C. § 1983 complaint under
    28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B)(i) and (ii).   He contends that he has
    shown that Dr. Crawford was deliberately indifferent to his
    serious medical needs because Montelongo did not obtain a
    magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of his back until 21 months
    after his injury.   Montelongo has failed to show that Crawford’s
    *
    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    that this opinion should not be published and is not precedent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. 01-40769
    -2-
    actions constituted deliberate indifference to his serious
    medical needs or that substantial harm resulted from the delay in
    treatment.   See Mendoza v. Lynaugh, 
    989 F.2d 191
    , 195 (5th Cir.
    1993); see also Mayweather v. Foti, 
    958 F.2d 91
    , 91 (5th Cir.
    1992).
    Montelongo also asserts that the magistrate judge
    prematurely dismissed his case without providing him with an
    opportunity to explain his claims further.   As the magistrate
    judge conducted a hearing pursuant to Spears v. McCotter, 
    766 F.2d 179
    (5th Cir. 1985), Montelongo had such an opportunity.
    See Eason v. Thaler, 
    14 F.3d 8
    , 9 (5th Cir. 1994).
    Montelongo has failed to assert on appeal that the
    magistrate judge erred in dismissing his claims against Nurse
    Williams and Warden Williams.   Issues that are not briefed on
    appeal are deemed abandoned.    Brinkmann v. Dallas County Deputy
    Sheriff Abner, 
    813 F.3d 744
    , 748 (5th Cir. 1987).
    Montelongo has failed to show that the district court erred
    in dismissing his civil rights lawsuit.    See Black v. Warren, 
    134 F.3d 732
    , 733-34 (5th Cir. 1998).   Consequently, the judgment of
    the magistrate judge is AFFIRMED.
    Montelongo has also requested appointment of counsel.   He
    has failed to show that exceptional circumstances warranting such
    an appointment exist.   See Ulmer v. Chancellor, 
    691 F.2d 209
    , 212
    (5th Cir. 1982).   The motion is DENIED.
    AFFIRMED; MOTION FOR APPOINTMENT OF COUNSEL DENIED.