Brandon Smith v. Officer Owens

575 F. App'x 173

• Court: Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
• Decided: June 10, 2014
• Docket: 14-6126
• Status: Unpublished

Opinion

PER CURIAM:

Brandon Jerod Smith appeals the district court’s order accepting the recommendation of the magistrate judge and denying relief on his 42 U.S.C. § 1983 (2006) complaint. We have reviewed the record and find no reversible error. Accordingly, we deny Smith’s motion for appointment of counsel and affirm for the reasons stated by the district court. Smith v. Owens, No. 7:13-cv-00060-SGW-PMS, 2013 WL 6709467 (W.D.Va. Dec. 18, 2013).

We note that our holding with respect to Smith’s excessive force claim is determined by the deferential standard of review. Following a bench trial, this court may reverse a district court’s factual findings only if they are clearly erroneous. Roanoke Cement Co. v. Falk Corp., 413 F.3d 431, 433 (4th Cir.2005). The area of the prison in which Smith alleges the assault took place — the kitchen hallway — is not covered by the prison’s surveillance system, so the district court’s findings as to the incident were necessarily based on assessments of witness credibility. “[Wjhen a district court’s factual finding in a bench trial is based upon assessments of witness credibility, such finding is deserving of the highest degree of appellate deference.” Evergreen Int'l, S.A. v. Norfolk Dredging Co., 531 F.3d 302, 308 (4th Cir.2008) (quotation marks and citation omitted). Because the district court’s factual findings are not clearly erroneous, we must affirm those findings and the judgment in favor of defendants.

We dispense with oral argument because the facts and legal contentions are adequately presented in the materials before this court and argument would not aid the decisional process.

AFFIRMED.