Skip to main content

LOPEZ v. BROWN (2021)

Reset A A Font size: Print

United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit.

Adam Ray LOPEZ, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. BROWN, Doctor; et al., Defendants-Appellees.

No. 20-15262

Decided: February 23, 2021

Before: FERNANDEZ, BYBEE, and BADE, Circuit Judges. Adam Ray Lopez, Pro Se

MEMORANDUM **

California state prisoner Adam Ray Lopez appeals pro se from the district court's judgment dismissing his 42 U.S.C. § 1983 action alleging deliberate indifference and due process claims. We have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291. We review de novo. Watison v. Carter, 668 F.3d 1108, 1112 (9th Cir. 2012) (dismissal under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B)(ii)); Resnick v. Hayes, 213 F.3d 443, 447 (9th Cir. 2000) (dismissal under 28 U.S.C. § 1915A). We affirm.

The district court properly dismissed Lopez's deliberate indifference claim because Lopez failed to allege facts sufficient to show that defendants were deliberately indifferent to his ankle pain. See Hebbe v. Pliler, 627 F.3d 338, 341-42 (9th Cir. 2010) (although pro se pleadings are liberally construed, a plaintiff must allege facts sufficient to state a plausible claim); Toguchi v. Chung, 391 F.3d 1051, 1057-60 (9th Cir. 2004) (a prison official is deliberately indifferent only if he or she knows of and disregards an excessive risk to the prisoner's health; medical malpractice, negligence, or a difference of opinion concerning the course of treatment does not amount to deliberate indifference); see also Starr v. Baca, 652 F.3d 1202, 1207-08 (9th Cir. 2011) (requirements for establishing supervisory liability).

The district court properly dismissed Lopez's due process claim alleging deficiencies in the grievance process because “inmates lack a separate constitutional entitlement to a specific prison grievance procedure.” Ramirez v. Galaza, 334 F.3d 850, 860 (9th Cir. 2003).

We do not consider arguments and allegations raised for the first time on appeal. See Padgett v. Wright, 587 F.3d 983, 985 n.2 (9th Cir. 2009).

AFFIRMED.

Copied to clipboard