Lumsden v. Collier

CourtCourt of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
DecidedAugust 22, 2025
Docket24-50605
StatusUnpublished

This text of Lumsden v. Collier (Lumsden v. Collier) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Lumsden v. Collier, (5th Cir. 2025).

Opinion

Case: 24-50605 Document: 86-1 Page: 1 Date Filed: 08/22/2025

United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit United States Court of Appeals Fifth Circuit ____________ FILED August 22, 2025 No. 24-50605 ____________ Lyle W. Cayce Clerk Raymond E. Lumsden,

Plaintiff—Appellant,

versus

Bryan Collier, Director TDCJ Institutions division; Hazelwood, Deputy Director of Religious Programming Division; A. Martinez, Warden; Henry, Major - Food Service Manager; Bruce Armstrong, Senior Warden; Shumaker, Captain - Supervising Manager of Laundry,

Defendants—Appellees. ______________________________

Appeal from the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas USDC No. 6:23-CV-491 ______________________________

Before King, Smith, and Douglas, Circuit Judges. Per Curiam: * Plaintiff Raymond E. Lumsden appeals the summary judgment dis- missal of claims related to his religious exercise, medical needs, diet, safety, and exposure to heat while confined in Texas state prison. For the reasons that follow, we AFFIRM.

_____________________ * This opinion is not designated for publication. See 5th Cir. R. 47.5. Case: 24-50605 Document: 86-1 Page: 2 Date Filed: 08/22/2025

No. 24-50605

I. Factual Background Lumsden is currently incarcerated at the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (“TDCJ”) Hughes Unit in Gatesville, Texas. His claims pertain to three largely distinct aspects of his confinement: (A) the exercise of his religion, (B) his medical care, diet, and general safety, and (C) his exposure to heat. We derive the following facts from Lumsden’s verified complaint 1 and the summary judgment evidence. A. Religious Exercise Lumsden is a member of the Hughes Unit’s Native American Faith Group and was elected by other members to serve in a leadership role as the group’s Speaking Elder. The Native American Faith is one of eleven primary faith preferences recognized by the TDCJ. Relevant to this appeal, Lumsden contends that TDCJ discriminates against his faith and favors Christianity by offering privileges to those who attend a Christian “Field Minister School,” denying holiday celebrations to the Native American Faith Group, and restricting his access to sacred items. The Field Minister School is a non-profit that offers inmates serving long sentences in TDCJ a chance to earn a “Bachelor of Arts in Applied Ministry.” Graduates of the program serve as “Field Ministers” to other inmates, a role which comes with certain duties, such as being a “Tier Walker.” Tier Walkers are inmates, including Field Ministers and other volunteers, who provide peer-based counseling. The school is open to inmates of all religions, and non-Christian graduates can and have become Field Ministers in the religions they practice. But the school is run by a

_____________________ 1 “On summary judgment, factual allegations set forth in a verified complaint may be treated the same as when they are contained in an affidavit.” Lozano v. Collier, 98 F.4th 614, 625 (5th Cir. 2024) (quoting Hart v. Hairston, 343 F.3d 762, 765 (5th Cir. 2003)).

2 Case: 24-50605 Document: 86-1 Page: 3 Date Filed: 08/22/2025

“Christian-based organization,” its application materials reference “the Gospel of Jesus Christ,” and its curriculum appears heavily Christian. Because of this, Lumsden contends that attending the school would violate his beliefs. Lumsden also asserts that the Native American Faith Group is unfairly denied holiday celebrations. TDCJ “maintains an annual calendar of all major Holy Days observed by recognized faith groups.” On some Holy Days, “observants are permitted ‘lay-ins’—exemptions from work and other responsibilities—allowing them to spend more time engaging in their religious practices,” fast days, and communal meals. The holiday calendar lists the Spring and Fall Equinox, and Summer and Winter Solstice as “Native American Shamanism” Holy Days, but does not recognize the days with a lay-in, fast day, or communal meal. Finally, Lumsden alleges that he is not permitted to wear his sacred medicine bag at all times, even though Muslim and Jewish inmates are allowed “to wear their religious headgear and other religious items.” To offset the risk of inmates’ smuggling contraband through religious devotional items, TDCJ policy permits inmates to “possess certain approved devotional items associated with their designated faith preference,” including a conforming medicine bag for members of the Native American Faith Group. B. Medical Needs, Diet, and Safety Unrelated to the exercise of his faith, Lumsden asserts that TDCJ officials failed to address his medical and diet needs, and generally failed to provide a safe environment. First, Lumsden alleges he was denied a medical “zipper shirt” he was previously provided to eliminate shoulder pain from pulling a shirt over his head. While the shirt was replaced with one that

3 Case: 24-50605 Document: 86-1 Page: 4 Date Filed: 08/22/2025

fastens with ties, Lumsden claims tying the shirt “causes immense pain and swelling” because of arthritis in his hands. Second, Lumsden asserts prison officials failed to follow his prescribed “Diet for Health.” “The Diet for Health is prescribed for patients with Diabetes, Hypertension, Hyperlipidemia or Obesity, and provides 1900- 2100 calories per day.” Lumsden contends that Defendant-Appellee Major Henry’s refusal to adhere to the diet has caused him “uncontrollable heartburn” and weight gain. Third, Lumsden points to a shortage of staff and a policy implemented by Defendant-Appellee A. Martinez, Unit warden, that allows certain maximum-security inmates to “assist available staff” and move freely around the building. As a result of the staffing shortage and this policy, Lumsden contends that there have been both successful and attempted escapes, as well as rampant contraband, violence, and drug use. C. Exposure to Excessive Heat Lumsden asserts that he is exposed to excessive and life-threatening heat—an average summer heat index above 100 degrees on the Hughes Unit—despite having asthma that makes him particularly sensitive to heat. Lumsden contends that as a result of the staffing shortages, TDCJ’s measures for mitigating excessive heat conditions, outlined in TDCJ Administrative Directive 10.64, fail miserably: Cool respite areas are not available, ice runs out within a few minutes of being refilled every 12 hours, showers are rarely cold, and staff is unavailable to field requests from inmates seeking access to these measures. He further alleges that the heat has caused him difficulty breathing, skin rashes, cramps, and dizziness. Finally, Lumsden notes that officials have “threatened” to place him in a “cool bed” to address his complaints about the heat, but states that this would require

4 Case: 24-50605 Document: 86-1 Page: 5 Date Filed: 08/22/2025

moving to a high security unit and losing access to religious services and other liberties. Gene Miller, the Senior Warden of the Hughes Unit, reports that he has “the responsibility of implementing and enforcing all heat mitigation measures at the Hughes Unit” and personally oversees the implementation of the measures detailed in AD-10.64. 2 According to Miller, safety posters instruct inmates on how to avoid heat illness, and he “will ensure ice water is available to the inmates in accessible coolers 24 hours a day.” Miller reports that there are “over sixteen air-conditioned areas within the Hughes Unit that can be used as respite areas” and that inmates are “allowed to utilize and carry cooling towels,” and “purchase sports drink powder from the commissary.” II.

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