George Mallard v. Larry Fields

162 F.3d 1173

98 CJ C.A.R. 5806

NOTICE: Although citation of unpublished opinions remains unfavored, unpublished opinions may now be cited if the opinion has persuasive value on a material issue, and a copy is attached to the citing document or, if cited in oral argument, copies are furnished to the Court and all parties. See General Order of November 29, 1993, suspending 10th Cir. Rule 36.3 until December 31, 1995, or further order.

George MALLARD, Plaintiff-Appellant,
v.
Larry FIELDS, Defendant-Appellee.

No. 98-7012.

United States Court of Appeals, Tenth Circuit.

Nov. 6, 1998.

SEYMOUR, Chief Judge, BRORBY, and BRISCOE, Circuit Judges.

1

ORDER AND JUDGMENT*

2

BRISCOE.

3

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); 10th Cir. R. 34.1.9. Therefore, the case is ordered submitted without oral argument.

4

George Mallard, an Oklahoma state prisoner appearing pro se, appeals the district court's dismissal of his 42 U.S.C. § 1983 action. We exercise jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1291 and affirm.

5

Mallard has been in the custody of the Oklahoma Department of Corrections (DOC) since May 28, 1970, when he began serving a life sentence for murder. Between September 14, 1994, and December 18, 1995, he was transferred several times between DOC facilities. The transfers were the result of an order by the governor requiring that inmates serving life sentences for murder be assessed for security risks and ultimately housed in medium or maximum security level facilities. Mallard was housed in the maximum security East Cell House (ECH) at Oklahoma State Penitentiary (OSP) for approximately five days in September 1994 and for approximately eighteen days in December 1995.

6

Mallard filed this § 1983 action against DOC Director Larry Fields and unknown DOC employees on August 22, 1996. He alleged his transfers to ECH (1) were unconstitutional because they were executed without a classification hearing; (2) violated the district court's orders in Battle v. Anderson, Case No. 79-096-B, which allegedly closed ECH due to unconstitutional conditions of confinement; and (3) were in retaliation for the actions of two other inmates who committed crimes while apparently confined in lower security level facilities. Mallard further alleged the initial transfer to ECH was unconstitutional because it deprived him of his opportunity to work for compensation at Oklahoma State Industries. He alleged the conditions of confinement at ECH violated the Eighth Amendment because the facility was unfit for human habitation. He also alleged he was denied access to the OSP law library while housed at ECH.

7

At the direction of the district court, Fields prepared and filed a Martinez report. Fields filed a motion to dismiss and/or for summary judgment. The court allowed Mallard to respond and granted the motion, dismissing the action in its entirety.

8

We review de novo the district court's decision on a motion to dismiss or a motion for summary judgment. See Swoboda v. Dubach, 992 F.2d 286, 289 (10th Cir.1993). Dismissal of a complaint is proper only where, after taking all well-pleaded factual allegations as true, "it appears beyond doubt that the plaintiff can prove no set of facts in support of his claim which would entitle him to relief." Conley v. Gibson, 355 U.S. 41, 45-46, 78 S.Ct. 99, 2 L.Ed.2d 80 (1957). Summary judgment is appropriate if "there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and ... the moving party is entitled to a judgment as a matter of law." Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(c). Because defendant's Martinez report may not be used to resolve factual disputes, see Hall v. Bellmon, 935 F.2d 1106, 1111 (10th Cir.1991), we treat the statement of facts presented in Mallard's verified complaint as true for purposes of reviewing defendant's motion and construe those facts and inferences reasonably made from them in the light most favorable to Mallard. See Jaxon v. Circle K Corp., 773 F.2d 1138, 1139 n. 1 (10th Cir.1985). However, Mallard's failure to establish the existence of an element essential to his case on which he bears the burden of proof at trial will result in a determination that no genuine dispute exists over material facts. Celotex Cop. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 322-23, 106 S.Ct. 2548, 91 L.Ed.2d 265 (1986).

9

After reviewing the record on appeal, we agree with the district court that Mallard has failed to establish a cognizable constitutional claim. Mallard has clearly suffered no constitutional violation from the changes in his security classification, his transfers to ECH, or the resulting loss of his prison job. Generally speaking, prison inmates have no legally protected interest in a particular security or job classification, or in the location of their confinement. See Sandin v. Conner, 515 U.S. 472, 486, 115 S.Ct. 2293, 132 L.Ed.2d 418 (1995); Ingram v. Papalia, 804 F.2d 595, 596 (10th Cir.1986). Nothing presented by Mallard persuades us Oklahoma law or DOC regulations otherwise create valid interests in these items.

10

Mallard has failed to offer any evidence in support of his conclusory allegation that he was denied access to the OSP law library while housed at ECH. In contrast, the evidence submitted by Fields indicates Mallard submitted no requests for law library services while housed at ECH. We agree with the district court that Mallard's allegations of constitutional deprivations in this regard are "unsubstantial."

11

Although we disagree with the district court that Mallard's Eighth Amendment challenge to the conditions of confinement at ECH is precluded by the existence of an ongoing class action challenging those same conditions, see McNeil v. Guthrie, 945 F.2d 1163, 1166 n. 4 (10th Cir.1991), we nevertheless conclude Mallard's allegations in this regard are vague, conclusory, and entirely insufficient to support his burden of surviving summary judgment. Considering his short stay at ECH, as well as the uncontroverted evidence presented by Fields regarding conditions of confinement at ECH, there is no basis for a reasonable factfinder to conclude Mallard was deprived of the " 'minimal civilized measure of life's necessities.' " Farmer v. Brennan, 511 U.S. 825, 834, 114 S.Ct. 1970, 128 L.Ed.2d 811 (1994) (quoting Rhodes v. Chapman, 452 U.S. 337, 347, 101 S.Ct. 2392, 69 L.Ed.2d 59 (1981)).

12

The judgment of the district court is AFFIRMED. The mandate shall issue forthwith.

*

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