Bunton v. Corrtl Corp of Amer , 286 F. App'x 242 ( 2008 )


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  •          IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
    FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT United States Court of Appeals
    Fifth Circuit
    FILED
    August 12, 2008
    No. 07-60637
    Summary Calendar             Charles R. Fulbruge III
    Clerk
    TONY TERRELL BUNTON
    Plaintiff-Appellant
    v.
    CORRECTIONAL CORPORATION OF AMERICA; JODY BRADLEY,
    Superintendent at Delta Correctional Facility; DELTA CORRECTIONAL
    FACILITY; UNKNOWN JOHNSON, Facility at Delta Correctional Facility, in
    his individual and official capacities; UNKNOWN JONES, Sergeant at Delta
    Correctional Facility, in his individual and official capacities; UNKNOWN
    MCTIMS, Correctional Officer, in his individual and official capacities;
    UNKNOWN NORAL, Lieutenant at Delta Correctional Facility, in his individual
    and official capacities; GWEN PORTER, Medical Supervisor at Delta
    Correctional Facility, in his individual and official capacities; UNKNOWN
    THOMAS, Case Manager at Delta Correctional Facility, in her individual and
    official capacities
    Defendants-Appellees
    Appeal from the United States District Court
    for the Northern District of Mississippi
    USDC No. 4:04-CV-354
    Before BARKSDALE, GARZA and PRADO, Circuit Judges.
    PER CURIAM:*
    *
    Pursuant to 5TH CIR. R. 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion
    should not be published and is not precedent except under the limited
    circumstances set forth in 5TH CIR. R. 47.5.4.
    No. 07-60637
    Tony Bunton, Mississippi prisoner # R5106, moves to proceed in forma
    pauperis (IFP) to appeal the summary judgment dismissal of his 
    42 U.S.C. § 1983
     suit. Bunton argues that (1) he was injured as a result of being housed
    under constitutionally inadequate prison conditions when he slipped in a puddle
    caused by a roof leak and (2) he received constitutionally inadequate medical
    care for his injury. By moving for leave to proceed IFP, Bunton is challenging
    the district court’s certification that his appeal was not taken in good faith. See
    Baugh v. Taylor, 
    117 F.3d 197
    , 202 (5th Cir. 1997).
    Bunton, however, has not shown that the district court’s summary
    judgment dismissal presents a nonfrivolous issue. The summary judgment
    evidence did not objectively establish that Bunton’s prison conditions were
    inhumane or constituted an “extreme deprivation of any minimal civilized
    measure of life’s necessities.” See Gates v. Cook, 
    376 F.3d 323
    , 332 (5th Cir.
    2004) (internal quotation marks and citation omitted). Even if it is assumed
    arguendo that the leaking roof constituted a condition that posed a substantial
    risk of serious harm to Bunton, the evidence established that the defendants
    took reasonable remedial measures and, thus, did not act with deliberate
    indifference. See Farmer v. Brennan, 
    511 U.S. 825
    , 847 (1994). Bunton’s prison
    conditions did not, as a matter of law, rise to the level of inhumane treatment
    such that his Eighth Amendment rights were violated.
    Bunton’s contention that his injury was met with deliberate indifference
    and constitutionally inadequate medical care is refuted by evidence that his
    medical complaints were not ignored, he was seen by members the medical staff
    on numerous occasions, and he was treated for those complaints with various
    medications. See Domino v. Texas Dep’t of Criminal Justice, 
    239 F.3d 752
    , 756
    (5th Cir. 2001). Bunton’s allegations that the pain medication he was given was
    inadequate and that he should have received a bone scan to better diagnose his
    injury are merely disagreements over the type of care provided, which are not
    actionable under § 1983. See Varnado v. Lynaugh, 
    920 F.2d 320
    , 321 (5th Cir.
    2
    No. 07-60637
    1991). The summary judgment evidence establishes that Bunton’s medical care
    also was not violative of the Eighth Amendment.
    In light of the foregoing, Bunton’s appeal is without arguable merit and is
    dismissed. Baugh, 
    117 F.3d at
    202 n.24; 5TH CIR. R. 42.2. Our dismissal of
    Bunton’s appeal counts as a strike for purposes of 
    28 U.S.C. § 1915
    (g). See
    Adepegba v. Hammons, 
    103 F.3d 383
    , 387 (5th Cir. 1996). Bunton previously
    earned one strike in Bunton v. Hinds County Sheriff’s Dep’t, No. 3:01-CV-684
    (S.D. Miss. Feb. 20, 2003). Bunton is cautioned that if he accumulates three
    strikes, he will no longer be allowed to proceed IFP in any civil action or appeal
    filed while he is detained or incarcerated in any facility unless he is under
    imminent danger of serious physical injury. See § 1915(g).
    IFP DENIED; APPEAL DISMISSED; SANCTION WARNING ISSUED.
    3