Mapp v. Dovala, s. 97-8050

• Citation: 138 F.3d 1335
• Decision Date: 17 March 1998
• Docket Number: 97-8106,97-8072,Nos. 97-8050,s. 97-8050
• Parties: 98 CJ C.A.R. 1373 Jody MAPP, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. David DOVALA, individually and in his official capacity as Natrona County Sheriff; Natrona County Board of County Commissioners; William Schreffler, individually and in his official capacity as Natrona County Detention Center Administrator; Daniel R. Potter, individually and in his official capacity as Natrona County Detention Center Correctional Officer; Ernadine Nichols, individually and in his official capacity as Natrona County Detention Center Nursing Supervisor; Butch Jacques, individually and in his official capacity as Natrona County Detention Center Officer; Cheryl Wilson, individually and in his official capacity as Natrona County Detention Center Nurse; Anne Zimmerman, individually and in her official capacity as Natrona County Detention Center Contract Physician; Craig S. Edwards, individually and in his official capacity as Natrona County Detention Center Officer, Defendants-Appellees. Jody MAPP, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. James FERGUSON, individually and in his official capacity as Warden, Wyoming Department of Corrections State Penitentiary; Scott Abbott, Officer, individually and in his official capacity as Corrections Officer, Wyoming Department of Corrections State Penitentiary; Henry I, individually and in his official capacity as Corrections Officer, Wyoming Department of Corrections; Lloyd Lascano, Corporal, individually and in his official capacity as Corrections Officer, Wyoming Department of Corrections; John Perry, individually and in his official capacity as Medical Administrator, Wyoming Department of Corrections State Penitentiary, Defendants-Appellees. Jody MAPP, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. WYOMING DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS HONOR CONSERVATION CAMP SUPERINTENDENT, in his official capacity, also known as Vance Everett, individually; Wyoming Department of Corrections Director, in her official capacity, also known as Judy Uphoff, individually; Wyoming Department of Corrections Honor Conservation
• Court: United States Courts of Appeals. United States Court of Appeals (10th Circuit)

Page 1335

138 F.3d 1335

98 CJ C.A.R. 1373

Jody MAPP, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. David DOVALA, individually and in his official capacity as

Natrona County Sheriff; Natrona County Board of County

Commissioners; William Schreffler, individually and in his

official capacity as Natrona County Detention Center

Administrator; Daniel R. Potter, individually and in his

official capacity as Natrona County Detention Center

Correctional Officer; Ernadine Nichols, individually and in

his official capacity as Natrona County Detention Center

Nursing Supervisor; Butch Jacques, individually and in his

official capacity as Natrona County Detention Center

Officer; Cheryl Wilson, individually and in his official

capacity as Natrona County Detention Center Nurse; Anne

Zimmerman, individually and in her official capacity as

Natrona County Detention Center Contract Physician; Craig

S. Edwards, individually and in his official capacity as

Natrona County Detention Center Officer, Defendants-Appellees.

Jody MAPP, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. James FERGUSON, individually and in his official capacity as

Warden, Wyoming Department of Corrections State

Penitentiary; Scott Abbott, Officer, individually and in

his official capacity as Corrections Officer, Wyoming

Department of Corrections State Penitentiary; Henry I,

individually and in his official capacity as Corrections

Officer, Wyoming Department of Corrections; Lloyd Lascano,

Corporal, individually and in his official capacity as

Corrections Officer, Wyoming Department of Corrections;

John Perry, individually and in his official capacity as

Medical Administrator, Wyoming Department of Corrections

State Penitentiary, Defendants-Appellees.

Jody MAPP, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. WYOMING DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS HONOR CONSERVATION CAMP

SUPERINTENDENT, in his official capacity, also known as

Vance Everett, individually; Wyoming Department of

Corrections Director, in her official capacity, also known

as Judy Uphoff, individually; Wyoming Department of

Corrections Honor Conservation Camp, Deputy Warden, in his

official capacity, also known as Barry Peterson,

individually; Wyoming Department of Corrections Honor

Conservation Camp, Captain of Security, in his official

capacity, also known as Ron Munoz, individually, Defendants-Appellees.

Nos. 97-8050, 97-8072, 97-8106.

United States Court of Appeals Tenth Circuit.

March 17, 1998.

Before ANDERSON, McKAY, and LUCERO, Circuit Judges.

STEPHEN H. ANDERSON, Circuit Judge.

Jody Mapp appeals the district court's dismissal of three in forma pauperis civil rights actions ¹ brought pursuant to 42 U.S.C § 1983. Mapp contends that the district court erred in dismissing Civil Nos. 97-8050 and 97-8106 for failure to state a claim and in dismissing Civil No. 97-8072 for failure to exhaust administrative remedies.

As the record indicates, two of Mapp's current appeals involve cases which were dismissed for failure to state a claim, and, hence, both these actions count as "prior occasions" under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(g). Moreover, a review of four other previously-filed appeals by Mapp indicates at least one prior district court dismissal for failure to state a claim. See Mapp v. Everett, Nos. 96-8097, 96-8112, 1997 WL 447323, at * 1 (10th Cir.1997) (noting that "[t]he district court dismissed the complaint for failure to state a claim").

"Section 1915(g) generally prevents a prisoner from proceeding in forma pauperis in civil actions if three or more of his prior suits have been dismissed as frivolous or malicious, or for failure to state a claim." Green v. Nottingham, 90 F.3d 415, 418 (10th Cir.1996). Accordingly, Mapp cannot file these appeals without prepayment of costs and fees. Therefore, the district court erred in granting Mapp's motions pursuant to § 1915(b), and the appeals were not properly filed pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(g).

However, even if we were to consider these appeals, we would find no error, substantially for the reasons stated in the district court's orders of May 1997, June 1997, and September 1997. As the district court properly determined, Mapp offers nothing of substance to support his claims. See Hall v. Bellmon, 935 F.2d 1106, 1110 (10th Cir.1991). Even though we construe a pro se plaintiff's pleadings liberally, we do not assume the role of advocate, and "conclusory allegations without supporting factual averments are insufficient to state a claim on which relief can be based." Id.

Thus, in Civil No. 97-8050, Mapp provides no factual support for his claim that he was racially discriminated against. And, in those instances in which he does provide any facts, he still fails to demonstrate a constitutional violation. For example, his claims regarding denial of access to the courts and inadequate medical treatment do not rise to the level of a constitutional deprivation. See Lewis v. Casey, 518 U.S. 343, ----, 116 S.Ct. 2174, 2180-82, 135 L.Ed.2d 606 (1996) (noting that an inmate must demonstrate "actual injury" by showing that the denial of legal resources hindered his efforts to pursue a nonfrivolous claim); Farmer v. Brennan, 511 U.S. 825, 837, 114 S.Ct. 1970, 1978-79, 128 L.Ed.2d 811 (1994) (requiring conscious disregard of a known, serious risk to inmate health or safety to establish a constitutional violation). Nor is Mapp's claim relating to loss of personal property or his challenge to the disallowance of good time credits cognizable...