ALLEN v. Madison County Sheriff's Office/Jail, Defendant. (2018)

Bradford D Vol Allen appeals the district court's orders denying his motions to appoint counsel and for default judgment, granting Defendants’ motions for summary judgment, and dismissing Allen's 42 U.S.C. § 1983 (2012) complaint without prejudice for failure to exhaust administrative remedies. First, we discern no error in the district court's decision to hold an evidentiary hearing—and reach credibility determinations based on the evidence presented at that hearing—for the limited purpose of determining whether Allen exhausted his administrative remedies. See Messa v. Goord, 652 F.3d 305, 308 (2d Cir. 2011) (approving use of evidentiary hearing to determine whether plaintiff exhausted administrative remedies; collecting cases).

Relatedly, we conclude that the district court's credibility determinations were sound and that, in light of the credible testimony demonstrating the availability of administrative remedies, Allen's claim to the contrary lacks merit.^* See Teleguz v. Zook, 806 F.3d 803, 811 (4th Cir. 2015) (“Credibility determinations are deserving of the highest degree of appellate deference” because “the court below, and not the reviewing court, weighs ․ credibility, and we generally do not review credibility determinations.” (internal quotation marks omitted) ). Moreover, the record shows that the district court did acknowledge and consider the statements made in Allen's verified complaint.

We further conclude that the district court did not abuse its discretion in denying Allen's motions for default judgment and to appoint counsel. Finally, in the absence of any evidence of bias, the district judge did not abuse his discretion in failing to recuse himself from the matter. See Kolon Indus. Inc. v. E.I. DuPont de Nemours & Co., 748 F.3d 160, 167 (4th Cir. 2014) (stating standard of review). Accordingly, we deny Allen's motion to appoint counsel, deny as moot his motion that transcripts of the hearing be forwarded to this court, because the record contains the transcripts, and affirm the district court's judgment. We dispense with oral argument because the facts and legal contentions are adequately presented in the materials before this court and argument would not aid the decisional process.

AFFIRMED

FOOTNOTES

FOOTNOTE.   Moreover, Allen has waived any claim that Defendants waived their exhaustion defense by raising it for the first time on appeal in his reply brief. See A Helping Hand, LLC v. Balt. Cty., MD, 515 F.3d 356, 369 (4th Cir. 2008).

PER CURIAM:

Affirmed by unpublished per curiam opinion. Unpublished opinions are not binding precedent in this circuit.