Snow v. Gladden, 19326.

Decision Date10 November 1964
Docket NumberNo. 19326.,19326.
Citation338 F.2d 999
PartiesWilliam W. SNOW, Appellant, v. Clarence T. GLADDEN, Warden, Oregon State Penitentiary, Appellee.
CourtU.S. Court of Appeals — Ninth Circuit

William W. Snow, in pro. per.

Robert Y. Thornton, Atty. Gen. of Or., C. L. Marsters, Asst. Atty. Gen. of Or., Salem, Or., for appellee.

Before HAMLIN, MERRILL and BASTIAN, Circuit Judges.

HAMLIN, Circuit Judge.

Appellant William W. Snow, an inmate of the Oregon State Penitentiary, tendered a complaint in the United States District Court for the District of Oregon seeking damages against Clarence T. Gladden, the warden of said penitentiary.1 Jurisdiction was asserted under 28 U.S.C. § 1343(3) and (4), it being alleged that the claim arose under 42 U.S. C. § 1983 (1958).2

Snow, in his complaint, alleged that he had been incarcerated in the Oregon State Penitentiary since October 6, 1959, pursuant to a judgment rendered in the Oregon state courts. He further alleges that in January, 1961, a prison doctor made a diagnosis that he had an ulcer and directed that he be fed upon an ulcer diet. Snow alleges that he received this ulcer diet for approximately a year and a half until on or about June 30, 1962, at which time he was ordered to be confined in the isolation quarters of the penitentiary where he remained until he was released from isolation on February 24, 1964. He further alleges that he did not receive his ulcer diet for a period from approximately the 25th of September, 1962, until the 24th of February, 1964. He further alleges "that by reason of the aforesaid refusal defendant acting under the color of state law and through his duly authorized agents has denied plaintiff the equal protection of the law; aggravated plaintiff's ulcer condition, and caused plaintiff great physical pain and mental anguish." The prayer of his complaint asks for some $15,000 in damages and for an order to the defendant "to cease and desist from refusing to give plaintiff his ulcer diet."

The district court made an order permitting the filing of the complaint in forma pauperis and then held that the complaint "fails to state facts sufficient to constitute a cause of action or upon which the court can grant any relief, and, further that the subject matter of said complaint is frivolous.", and dismissed the complaint. A timely appeal was taken to this court which has jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291.

Appellant's complaint alleges that appellant has been denied the equal protection of the laws. On this contention the complaint is deficient in that there is absent an allegation that the purpose of the acts complained of was to discriminate between appellant and others. Snowden v. Hughes, 321 U.S. 1, 10, 64 S.Ct. 397, 88 L.Ed. 497 (1943).

Even if we consider that appellant's claim arises under the due process...

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33 cases
  • Clutchette v. Procunier, C-70 2497.
    • United States
    • U.S. District Court — Northern District of California
    • June 21, 1971
    ...Traditionally, this area has been relatively free from court intervention, absent unusual circumstances. See, e. g., Snow v. Gladden, 338 F.2d 999 (9th Cir. 1964). However, it is well settled that "a prisoner of the state does not lose all his civil rights during and because of his incarcer......
  • Navarette v. Enomoto
    • United States
    • United States Courts of Appeals. United States Court of Appeals (9th Circuit)
    • February 9, 1976
    ...Cir. 1967), cert. denied, 387 U.S. 925, 87 S.Ct. 2038, 18 L.Ed.2d 977, 389 U.S. 964, 88 S.Ct. 352, 19 L.Ed.2d 378 (1967); Snow v. Gladden, 338 F.2d 999 (9th Cir. 1964); Weller v. Dickson, 314 F.2d 598 (9th Cir. 1963), cert. denied, 373 U.S. 930, 83 S.Ct. 1551, 10 L.Ed.2d 701 (1963). But see......
  • Falter v. Veterans Admin., Civ. No. 79-2284 (JWB).
    • United States
    • U.S. District Court — District of New Jersey
    • January 31, 1986
    ...not harm the person eating it. Courts have considered claims concerning food in the context of prisoners' rights cases. In Snow v. Gladden, 338 F.2d 999 (9th Cir.1964), the Court affirmed the dismissal of a prisoner's complaint alleging that the prison had not provided him with an "ulcer di......
  • Roberts v. Williams
    • United States
    • United States Courts of Appeals. United States Court of Appeals (5th Circuit)
    • October 12, 1971
    ...U.S. 935, 90 S.Ct. 278, 24 L.Ed.2d 234 (1969); United States ex rel. Lawrence v. Ragen, 323 F.2d 410 (7th Cir., 1963); Snow v. Gladden, 338 F.2d 999 (9th Cir., 1964); and on the other, Holt v. Sarver, 309 F.Supp. 362 (E.D.Ark., 1970), an action for injunction and a declaratory judgment, hol......
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