Rolly O. Kinnell v. Sgt. Connally, Chin, Co Ii, Finnley, Jr., Co II

946 F.2d 901, 1991 U.S. App. LEXIS 24428, 1991 WL 202768
CourtCourt of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit
DecidedOctober 8, 1991
Docket91-3148
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 946 F.2d 901 (Rolly O. Kinnell v. Sgt. Connally, Chin, Co Ii, Finnley, Jr., Co II) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Rolly O. Kinnell v. Sgt. Connally, Chin, Co Ii, Finnley, Jr., Co II, 946 F.2d 901, 1991 U.S. App. LEXIS 24428, 1991 WL 202768 (10th Cir. 1991).

Opinion

946 F.2d 901

NOTICE: Although citation of unpublished opinions remains unfavored, unpublished opinions may now be cited if the opinion has persuasive value on a material issue, and a copy is attached to the citing document or, if cited in oral argument,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.

Rolly O. KINNELL, Plaintiff-Appellant,
v.
Sgt. CONNALLY, Chin, Co II, Finnley, Jr., Co II, Defendants-Appellees.

No. 91-3148.

United States Court of Appeals, Tenth Circuit.

Oct. 8, 1991.

Before STEPHEN H. ANDERSON, TACHA and BRORBY, Circuit Judges.

BRORBY, Circuit Judge.

After examining the briefs and the appellate record, this three-judge panel has determined unanimously that oral argument would not be of material assistance in the determination of this appeal. See Fed.R.App.P. 34(a); 10th Cir.R. 34.1.9. The cause is therefore ordered submitted without oral argument.

Mr. Kinnell, a state inmate, commenced a pro se suit seeking damages. The trial court granted defendants summary judgment and Mr. Kinnell appeals pro se.

Mr. Kinnell alleged in his complaint he was homosexually assaulted by two of the defendants who are prison guards during a cell search and that certain papers were removed from his cell and lost. Defendants filed a Martinez report and certain other evidentiary matters establishing these acts did not occur. The trial court, in a commendably thorough Memorandum and Order, details the evidentiary material submitted by Defendants, found they were uncontroverted, and granted Defendants' motions for summary judgment. The trial court also found Mr. Kinnell had filed twenty-five separate legal actions in federal courts since 1986, most of them dismissed as frivolous. Consequently, the trial court placed restrictions on Mr. Kinnell's future filings, limiting him to two civil rights law suits per year.

Mr. Kinnell appeals asserting "no law used by Court and shown to be clearly erroneous."

Mr. Kinnell has requested permission to appeal in forma pauperis. In order for Mr. Kinnell to proceed in forma pauperis there must be "a rational argument on the law or facts" in support of the issues raised on appeal. Coppedge v. United States, 369 U.S. 438, 448 (1962); Ragan v. Cox, 305 F.2d 58, 60 (10th Cir.1962).

In this case before us Mr. Kinnell has failed to meet this minimal burden. We give to Mr. Kinnell the same benefits afforded to a pro se appellant. The record on appeal is nearly one foot thick and we have reviewed it. Mr. Kinnell has not made and indeed cannot make any rational or reasoned argument that the decision of the trial court was erroneous. We attach hereto a copy of the trial court's Memorandum and Order.

Mr. Kinnell is denied permission to proceed in forma pauperis even though he has made a showing that he is financially unable to pay the costs and fees. The mandate shall issue forthwith.

The appeal is DISMISSED.

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE DISTRICT OF KANSAS

ROLLY O. KINNELL, Plaintiff,

vs.

SERGEANT CONNALLY, et al., Defendants.

Case No. 86-3307

April 3, 1991

MEMORANDUM AND ORDER

This is a pro se civil rights action which is now before the court following a pretrial conference before John C. Tillotson, United States Magistrate. The pretrial order submitted by the magistrate was reviewed, adopted and signed by the court on January 9, 1991. Thereafter, defendants filed a motion for summary judgment, and the plaintiff Kinnell has filed various responses to the pretrial order and defendants' motion.

Kinnell has also filed a "Notice for Three Judge Court Hearing Forthwith" (Dkt. 76), and has attempted to "appeal" from the pretrial order. (Dkt. 77). In addition he has filed a paper entitled "Motion for Leave to Proceed in Forma Pauperis ...". (Dkt. 81). In this motion he complains of an "order that denied (him) to have his cause of action under Jurisdiction 28 USC 2283 for removal of State Civil Actions" and attaches to this a copy of the pretrial order. He states that the court is denying his rights to equal protection and due process, and the right of access to the court. He has also filed papers in this case entitled "Plaintiff's Offer for Full Settlement Under Civ.Rules 68, Rule 81(c) and Evidence Rules" (Dkt. 75). In this filing, he complains about "the deliberate obstruction of justice, to wit: withholding of evidence dated August 3, 1990; withheld from trial proceedings on August 16, 1990, causing cruel and unusual false imprisonment knowingly!". Attempts to appeal are, of course, inappropriate at this time and the issues to be addressed in this case are solely those set out in the pretrial order.

This is a conditions of confinement case arising from Kinnell's incarceration in the Kansas State Penitentiary at Lansing, Kansas. He alleges that on or about December 7 and 8, 1986, he was homosexually assaulted by the defendants, Sergeant Connally and Officer Finney during a cell search. He claims that the assault consisted of squeezing his genitalia during a "pat down" search after Kinnell had spit in the face of Officer Connally.

Kinnell also claims that his legal papers were removed from his cell, along with other personal property and that these items were lost. He also alleges that the search and frisk deprived him of rights under the Fourth, Fifth, and Fourteenth Amendments and that the frisk constituted cruel and unusual punishment in violation of the Eighth and Fourteenth Amendments, and that due to the loss of his legal papers, his right to access to the court was denied in violation of the Fifth, Sixth and Fourteenth Amendments.

Kinnell seeks declaratory and injunctive relief, damages of $150 for lost property, $2500 for lost legal papers, and $500 in attorney's fees.

In response, defendants deny the charges made by Kinnell; they allege that the claims are frivolous, that defendants are entitled to the defense of good faith qualified immunity, and that Kinnell's claims are barred by res judicata and collateral estoppel.

At the pretrial conference it was agreed that the institutional file including medical records, and the Martinez report filed with defendants' answer, could be received in evidence without additional foundation. It was also stipulated that Kinnell's cell was searched on December 8, 1986, by Officers Finney, Chinn and Connally, that plaintiff was patted down by Connally, and that defendants were acting in their official capacity.1

In the motion for summary judgment, defendants contend that there are no disputed issues of any material fact and that they are entitled to judgment as a matter of law.

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Related

Rolly O. Kinnell v. The State of Kansas
166 F.3d 1221 (Tenth Circuit, 1999)
Kinnell v. Kansas
Tenth Circuit, 1999

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946 F.2d 901, 1991 U.S. App. LEXIS 24428, 1991 WL 202768, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/rolly-o-kinnell-v-sgt-connally-chin-co-ii-finnley--ca10-1991.