David M. Anthony v. Earl Dowdle R. Allred Frances Deck

853 F.2d 741, 1988 U.S. App. LEXIS 10331, 1988 WL 80706

• Court: Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
• Decided: August 4, 1988
• Docket: 87-2472
• Status: Published

Opinions

CYNTHIA HOLCOMB HALL, Circuit Judge:

Plaintiff-appellant David M. Anthony, an inmate in custody of the Arizona Department of Corrections, appeals from the district court’s order granting summary judgment in favor of the defendants-appellees, Arizona state prison officials. Anthony claims violations of his civil rights under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, asserting that the defendants exhibited “deliberate indifference to [his] serious medical needs” in violation of the eighth amendment proscription against cruel and unusual punishment. Estelle v. Gamble, 429 U.S. 97, 106, 97 S.Ct. 285, 292, 50 L.Ed.2d 251 (1976).

I

Anthony alleges that on December 12, 1982 he was working at the Alpine Conservation Center while in the custody of the Arizona Department of Corrections.¹ He claims that Frances Deck, a civilian employed by the Department of Corrections,² instructed him to free a trailer that was stuck. Anthony asserts that Deck told him to hook a chain from the back of a stationary bulldozer to the tongue of the trailer. The trailer moved forward, and Anthony was pinned between the tongue of the trailer and the bulldozer.

Anthony claims that he “immediately complained of severe pain in the chest and back area and left upper arm area, and was spitting up blood.” He further alleges that he “was perspiring profusely and was suffering from delirium tremens, and immediately requested medical treatment.” Anthony contends that defendants Richard Allred, the work program supervisor, and Earl Dowdle, the warden at Safford, “knew or should have known that [Anthony’s] condition was a medical emergency with life threatening consequences” but refused Anthony medical treatment.

II

We review a district court’s grant of summary judgment de novo. Berg v. Kincheloe, 794 F.2d 457, 459 (9th Cir.1986). “There is no issue for trial unless there is sufficient evidence favoring the nonmoving party for a jury to return a verdict for that party. If the evidence is merely colorable, or is not significantly probative, summary judgment may be granted.” Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, 477 U.S. 242, 249-50, 106 S.Ct. 2505, 2510-11, 91 L.Ed.2d 202 (1986) (citations omitted).

To state a claim of cruel and unusual punishment, the alleged deliberate indifference of the prison officials must rise to the level of “ ‘unnecessary and wanton infliction of pain.’ ” Estelle, 429 U.S. at 104, 97 S.Ct. at 291 (quoting Gregg v. Georgia, 428 , 96 S.Ct. 2909, 2925, 49 L.Ed.2d 859 (1976) (joint opinion)); see Jones v. Johnson, 781 F.2d 769, 771 (9th Cir.1986) (deliberate indifference must be “substantial”). Neither “an inadvertent failure to provide adequate medical care,” nor a physician’s negligence “in diagnosing or treating a medical condition ... state a valid claim of medical mistreatment under the Eighth Amendment.” Estelle, 429 U.S. at 105-06, 97 S.Ct. at 291-92.

In this ease, Anthony’s claim does not suggest deliberate indifference by the defendants. Anthony has not set forth specific facts showing that defendant Allred either denied his request for medical treatment or that Allred was aware of the seriousness of his injuries. Similarly, Anthony has not set forth specific facts showing that defendant Dowdle was aware of the seriousness of his injuries. Anthony may not rest upon the mere allegations of his complaint. Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(e).

Anthony’s injuries were neither obvious to the defendants nor were any outward manifestations of the seriousness of his internal injuries noticed by the defendants. Anthony’s assertions in his affidavit that the defendants immediately knew of the extent of his injuries from external indicia are directed solely at defendant Deck, whose actions are not before us. With regard to Allred and Dowdle, Anthony merely states that they “were in a position to see that I had been struck and pinned by the trailer to the back of the bulldozer. Both defendants Dowdle and Allred were aware that I had been hurt and was feeling very poorly and weak.” These statements are unsupported by specific facts and are not made on the basis of personal knowledge. Id.

Further, Anthony did not continue to complain of pain to the defendants following the accident. In fact, Anthony did not become aware until August 1984 of any permanent injuries that resulted from the December 1982 accident. Finally, shortly after the accident, Dowdle inquired into Anthony’s condition, told him to lie down, and stated that he would be permitted to see a Certified Medical Assistant (“CMA”) two days after the accident upon returning to Safford. Anthony did so and asserts that the CMA, after consulting with him, denied his request for an x-ray and told him he was “just a little sore from the injury.” ³

Anthony may have made a sufficient showing to support a cause of action sounding in negligence; however, more is required to state a claim under the eighth amendment. We hold that Anthony has failed to show deliberate indifference by the defendants to his serious medical needs.

AFFIRMED.

1 . Anthony was an inmate at the state prison facility in Safford, Arizona.

2 . Deck’s actions are not before us. He was never served and did not participate in summary judgment.

3 . Anthony’s allegations concerning the care given to him by the CMA are also not before us. The CMA is not a party to this suit.