Gonzales v. Smith , 304 F. App'x 298 ( 2008 )


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  •            IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
    FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT United States Court of Appeals
    Fifth Circuit
    FILED
    December 23, 2008
    No. 08-30223                     Charles R. Fulbruge III
    Summary Calendar                           Clerk
    ANGELO GONZALES,
    Plaintiff–Appellant,
    v.
    BLANDON SMITH, Lieutenant ; WADE RIGDON, Lieutenant ; TREY MOODY,
    Sergeant; JOSH MILEY, Sergeant; MICKEY DILLON, Sergeant; CLIFF
    TURNER, Sergeant; DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND
    CORRECTIONS; UNIDENTIFIED PARTIES; JEFF WILLIAMS, Captain,
    Defendants–Appellees.
    Appeal from the United States District Court
    for the Eastern District of Louisiana
    USDC No. 2:06-cv-11215
    Before KING, DENNIS, and OWEN, Circuit Judges.
    PER CURIAM:*
    Angelo Gonzales, Louisiana prisoner # 114052, appeals the dismissal of his
    
    42 U.S.C. § 1983
     complaint, in which he sought relief arising out of incidents on
    July 17, 18, and 19, 2006. We review the dismissal of a complaint on the
    pleadings de novo, employing the same standard applied to dismissals for failure
    to state a claim under FED. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(6). Johnson v. Johnson, 
    385 F.3d 503
    , 529 (5th Cir. 2004). Finding no error, we affirm.
    *
    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 R. 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not
    be published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5TH CIR.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. 08-30223
    The Prison Litigation Reform Act requires prisoners to exhaust
    administrative remedies prior to filing a § 1983 complaint challenging prison
    conditions. 42 U.S.C. § 1997e(a); Woodford v. Ngo, 
    548 U.S. 81
    , 88-89 (2006).
    Gonzales was required to file a grievance within ninety days of the alleged
    incidents. LA. ADMIN. CODE tit. 22 § 325(A)(2) (2008); Johnson v. La. ex. rel. La.
    Dept of Pub. Safety & Corr., 
    468 F.3d 278
    , 280 (5th Cir. 2006) (per curiam).
    According to Gonzales’s own pleadings, including the complaint that he signed
    under penalty of perjury, the earliest date that he submitted a grievance was
    October 18, 2006, the ninety-first day after the July 19 incident.
    Gonzales argues that he was prevented from timely filing because he was
    denied access to writing materials. Gonzales did not raise this argument in the
    district court, and we need not consider it here. See Leverette v. Louisville
    Ladder Co., 
    183 F.3d 339
    , 342 (5th Cir. 1999) (per curiam). Further, Gonzales’s
    argument is conclusory and unsupported by any citations to evidence in the
    record. In sum, the dismissal of Gonzales’s complaint for failure to exhaust
    administrative remedies was not erroneous. Accordingly, we need not reach the
    determination that the Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections
    is immune from suit under the Eleventh Amendment, although that
    determination is supported by our precedent. See Champagne v . Jefferson
    Parish Sheriff’s Office, 
    188 F.3d 312
    , 313-14 (5th Cir. 1999) (per curiam).
    Finally, Gonzales has filed a motion for summary judgment in this
    court. He must file any such motion in the district court.
    The judgment is AFFIRMED. The motion for summary judgment is
    DENIED.
    2