Hartmann v. Maybee-Freud

279 F. App'x 142

• Court: Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
• Decided: May 27, 2008
• Docket: 08-1541
• Status: Unpublished

Opinion

OPINION OF THE COURT

PER CURIAM.

Detlef Hartmann, a Delaware state prisoner proceeding pro se, appeals from an order of the United States District Court for the District of Delaware denying his motion for a preliminary injunction. We will dismiss the appeal pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B) to the extent that the order Hartmann appeals denied his motion for a preliminary injunction. We will dismiss the appeal for lack of jurisdiction to the extent Hartmann appeals the dismissal of certain claims in his civil rights complaint.

Hartmann brought a civil rights action against prison personnel asserting numerous constitutional violations related to the conditions of his confinement. The District Court afforded Hartmann two opportunities to amend his complaint and then screened his second amended complaint pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915A. The District Court allowed certain medical claims and a denial of access to the courts claim to proceed and dismissed Hartmann’s remaining claims. The District Court also denied Hartmann’s motion for a preliminary injunction, noting that the motion was all-encompassing and spoke to claims raised in the second amended complaint that would be dismissed. This appeal followed.

To the extent Hartmann seeks to appeal the District Court’s dismissal of some, but not all, of his claims, the District Court’s order can not be appealed immediately. See New York Football Giants, Inc. v. Comm’r of Internal Revenue, 349 F.3d 102, 105-06 (3d Cir.2003). The District Court has not directed the entry of a judgment under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 54(b). Thus, we lack jurisdiction to review the District Court’s order to the extent it dismissed certain claims and parties.

We have jurisdiction, however, of appeals from interlocutory orders “granting, continuing, modifying, refusing or dissolving injunctions, or refusing to dissolve or modify injunctions____” 28 U.S.C. § 1292(a)(1). An order denying a motion for a preliminary injunction is appealable where the order relates to the relief ultimately sought by the claimant. Hershey Foods Corp. v. Hershey Creamery Co., 945 F.2d 1272, 1277-78 (3d Cir.1991). Hartmann sought a preliminary injunction ordering the defendants to stop the constitutional violations alleged in his complaint. The District Court’s order denying Hartmann’s motion relates to the relief he ultimately sought, and the order is appealable under § 1292(a)(1).

The District Court did not err in denying Hartmann’s motion for a preliminary injunction. As recognized by the District Court, Hartmann was required to show that he was likely to succeed on the merits of his claims, that the denial of relief would result in irreparable harm, and that granting the injunction would not result in irreparable harm to the defendants and was in the public interest. Maldonado v. Houstoun, 157 F.3d 179, 184 (3d Cir.1998). Hartmann did not make such a showing. He did not discuss the alleged constitutional violations, and the District Court correctly stated that most of the requested relief was related to claims that the District Court had dismissed.

Accordingly, we will dismiss Hartmann’s appeal for lack of appellate jurisdiction to the extent that he appeals the order dismissing certain claims and parties. We will dismiss the appeal pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B) to the extent that the order Hartmann appeals denied his motion for a preliminary injunction.