04-3136 -- Bafford v. Simmons -- 12/03/2004

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UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS

TENTH CIRCUIT

JOHNATHAN WILLIAM BAFFORD,

Plaintiff-Appellant,

CHARLES SIMMONS, Secretary of Corrections, in his individual and official capacity; MICHAEL NELSON, Warden, in his individual and official capacity; K. VAIL, SST., El Dorado Correctional Facility,

Defendants-Appellees.

No. 04-3136

(District of Kansas)

(D.C. No. 02-CV-3253-GTV)

ORDER AND JUDGMENT^(*)

Before EBEL, MURPHY, and McCONNELL, Circuit Judges.

After examining the briefs and the appellate record, this court has determined unanimously that oral argument would not materially assist the determination of this appeal. See Fed. R. App. P. 34(a)(2); 10th Cir. R. 34.1(G). Accordingly, appellant's motion requesting oral argument is denied and the case is ordered submitted without oral argument.

Proceeding pro se, Johnathan William Bafford appeals the district court's dismissal of the civil rights complaint he brought pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. Bafford complains that Defendants have violated his Eight Amendment right to be free from cruel and excessive punishment. He alleges that a prison guard assaulted him during an incident in the prison. Bafford sought only monetary damages.

The district court ordered the preparation of a Martinez report and Defendants filed a motion for summary judgment. Martinez v. Aaron, 570 F.2d 317, 319 (10th Cir. 1978). The district court granted the motion, concluding that: (1) the claims asserted against the Defendants in their official capacities were barred by the Eleventh Amendment: (2) the claims asserted against defendants Simmons and Nelson in their individual capacities failed because Bafford had not asserted that either defendant personally participated in the alleged use of force; and (3) defendant Vail was entitled to qualified immunity.

We have reviewed the record, the appellate briefs, and the applicable law and conclude that the district court's resolution of Bafford's claims was proper. The uncontroverted evidence in the record demonstrates that Bafford instigated a disturbance in the prison and that defendant Vail acted in response. Despite Bafford's argument that a factual dispute exists over whether his injuries were caused by defendant Vail or were, instead, self-inflicted, this factual dispute is not material. Even assuming that Bafford's injuries were caused by defendant Vail, Bafford has failed to show that the force used by Vail was applied "maliciously and sadistically" to cause harm rather than "in a good-faith effort to maintain or restore discipline." Hudson v. McMillian 503 U.S. 1, 6 (1992) (quotation omitted).

Bafford's motion requesting permission to file a supplemental brief is granted. The district court's order granting summary judgment to Defendants is affirmed for substantially the reasons stated by the district court. Bafford is reminded that he remains obligated to continue making partial payments until his appellate filing fee is paid in full. See 28 U.S.C. § 1915(b).

ENTERED FOR THE COURT

Michael R. Murphy

Circuit Judge

FOOTNOTES
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^*. This order and judgment is not binding precedent, except under the doctrines of law of the case, res judicata and collateral estoppel. The court generally disfavors the citation of orders and judgments; nevertheless, an order and judgment may be cited under the terms and conditions of 10th Cir. R. 36.3.

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