Mere negligence, neglect, or medical malpractice regarding unsuccessful medical treatment does not constitute a constitutional violation under section 1983.
A prisoner filed a § 1983 action alleging that prison officials caused him physical pain and required additional surgery by revoking a meal privilege card that had previously accommodated his hip disability. The prisoner claimed this revocation constituted inadequate medical treatment. To state a claim for relief regarding the denial of medical treatment, a prisoner must allege deliberate indifference to serious medical needs. Because the prisoner's allegations merely reflected a disagreement with medical decisions and the use of dining hall ramps, the court held that the claims amounted to nothing more than mere negligence, neglect, or medical malpractice, which does not constitute a constitutional violation.
At page 321 Allegations of inadequate medical treatment under section 1983581 citing casesVarnado’s contentions amount to a disagreement with his medical treatment; he only argues that the use of the ramps did not meet his needs and exacerbated his hip problem, contentions that fall short of a constitutional or federal claim.
- Parker v. Gore, No. 2:23-cv-06838 (E.D. La. May 14, 2024).(Varnado’s contentions amount to a disagreement with his medical treatment; he only argues that the use of the ramps did not meet his needs and exacerbated his hip problem, contentions that fall short of a constitutiona…)
- Paul W. Douglass v. United Servs. Auto. Ass'n, 79 F.3d 1415 (5th Cir. 1996).published(Issues raised for the first time on appeal are not reviewable by this court unless they involve purely legal questions and failure to consider them would result in manifest injustice.)
- Tatum, No. 5:25-cv-00160 (N.D. Tex. Aug. 11, 2026).Lynaugh, 920 F.2d 320, 321 (Sth Cir. 1991) (per curiam) (explaining that a deliberate indifference claim under the Eighth Amendment cannot be based on mere negligence); Sheppard v. Roberts, 240 F. App’x 638, 638 (Sth Cir. 2007) (per curiam…
- Jenny Smith, also known as Jerry Wayne Smith v. Fed. Bureau of Prisons, et al., No. 3:24-cv-00113 (N.D. Tex. June 29, 2026).See Hall v. Thomas, 190 F.3d 693, 697-98 (5th Cir. 1999); Stewart v. Murphy, 174 F.3d 530, 537 (5th Cir. 1999); Banuelos v. McFarland, 41 F.3d 232, 235 (5th Cir. 1995); Varnado v. Lynaugh, 920 F.2d 320, 321 (5th Cir. 1991).
- Stevenson, No. 3:22-cv-00472 (M.D. La. Jan. 8, 2026).Estate of Joseph v. Bartlett, 981 F.3d 319 , 329-30 (5th Cir. 2020) (quoting Orr v. Copeland, 844 F.3d 484, 490 (5th Cir. 2016) (good-faith assertion of qualified immunity “alters the usual summary-judgment burden of proof, shifting it to…
- Alexander v. Taft, No. 24-10663 (5th Cir. Dec. 23, 2025).publishedVarnado v. Lynaugh, 920 F.2d 320, 321 (5th Cir. 1991) (alteration in original) (quoting Fielder v. Bosshard, 590 F.2d 105, 107 (5th Cir. 1979)).
- Carr v. Wilkerson, No. 2:24-cv-11508 (E.D. Mich. Aug. 29, 2025).(disagreement with medical treatment is insufficient to state a constitutional or federal claim)
- Radford v. Dayton, No. 3:23-cv-02144 (N.D. Tex. Aug. 22, 2025).Hall v. Thomas, 190 F.3d 693 (5th Cir. 1999); Stewart v. Murphy, 174 F.3d 530, 537 (5th Cir. 1999); Banuelos v. McFarland, 41 F.3d 232, 235 (5th Cir. 1995); Varnado v. Lynaugh, 920 F.2d 320, 321 (5th Cir. 1991).
- Alexander v. Taft, 143 F.4th 569 (5th Cir. 2025).publishedVarnado v. Lynaugh, 920 F.2d 320, 321 (5th Cir. 1991) (alteration in original) (quoting Fielder v. Bosshard, 590 F.2d 105, 107 (5th Cir. 1979)).
- Guerra v. Harris Health, No. 4:24-cv-02352 (S.D. Tex. June 20, 2025).See Estelle v. Gamble, 429 U.S. □ 97, 105 (1976); Varnado v. Lynaugh, 920 F.2d 320, 321 (Sth Cir. 1991) (per curiam).
Show 190 more citing cases
- Guerra v. Harris Health, No. 4:24-cv-02352 (S.D. Tex. June 17, 2025).See Estelle v. Gamble, 429 U.S. 97, 105 (1976); Varnado v. Lynaugh, 920 F.2d 320, 321 (Sth Cir. 1991) (per curiam).
- Krikie v. State of Texas, No. 3:24-cv-00484 (N.D. Tex. May 7, 2025).Hall v. Thomas, 190 F.3d 693 (5th Cir. 1999); Stewart v. Murphy, 174 F.3d 530, 537 (5th Cir. 1999); Banuelos v. McFarland, 41 F.3d 232, 235 (5th Cir. 1995); Varnado v. Lynaugh, 920 F.2d 320, 321 (5th Cir. 1991).
- Thomas v. Wright, No. 1:23-cv-01614 (W.D. La. Mar. 27, 2025).Facility, 848 F.3d 415, 420 (5th Cir. 2017). 40 Domino v. Texas Dep't of Crim. Justice, 239 F.3d 752, 756 (5th Cir.2001). 41 Id. (internal quotation marks and citation omitted). 42 Varnado v. Lynaugh, 920 F.2d 320, 321 (5th Cir. 1991) 43 H…
- Garrett v. Harris Cnty. Sheriff's Off., No. 4:24-cv-02591 (S.D. Tex. Feb. 11, 2025).Varnado v. Lynaugh, 920 F.2d 320, 321 (5th Cir. 1991).
- Stewart v. Sargent, No. 4:23-cv-01262 (S.D. Tex. Nov. 21, 2024).See Estelle v. Gamble, 429 U.S. 97, 105 (1976); Varnado v. ymeners 920 F.2d 320, 321 (Sth Cir. 1991) (per curiam).
- Brueckel v. Salazar, No. 5:24-cv-01313 (W.D. Tex. Nov. 18, 2024).Varnado v. Lynaugh, 920 F.2d 320, 321 (5th Cir. 1991).
- Trejo v. Biden, No. 5:24-cv-00496 (W.D. Tex. Oct. 8, 2024).Varnado v. Lynaugh, 920 F.2d 320, 321 (5th Cir. 1991).
- Davis v. Lafourche Par. Crim. Complex, No. 2:24-cv-01922 (E.D. La. Sept. 30, 2024).(mere disagreement with medical treatment is insufficient to state a claim of deliberate indifference)
- Daigle v. Gartro, No. 3:23-cv-00353 (M.D. La. Sept. 30, 2024).Having recommended that Daigle’s federal claims be dismissed for failure to state a claim, it is further recommended that the exercise of supplemental jurisdiction over any potential state law claims be declined. 19 Varnado v. Lynaugh, 920…
- Gaines v. LeBlanc, No. 3:23-cv-00229 (M.D. La. Sept. 27, 2024).Doc. 1, p. 6. 19 It appears any potential claim for deliberate indifference to a serious medical need would be directed only at Gauthier. 20 Farmer v. Brennan, 511 U.S. 825 , 839–30 (1994). 21 Id. at 837 . 22 Id. at 834 , quoting Wilson v.…
- Bolden v. F B O P, No. 1:24-cv-00270 (W.D. La. Aug. 13, 2024).His disagreement with the diagnosis and course of treatment is insufficient to state an unconstitutional denial of medical care claim. , 122 F.3d 286, 292 (5th Cir. 1997); , 41 F.3d 232, 235 (5th Cir. 1995); , 920 F.2d 320, 321 (5th Cir. 1…
- Orlando v. John Peter Smith Healthcare, No. 4:23-cv-00876 (N.D. Tex. July 11, 2024).(no deliberate indifference where claim was based on medical personnel’s decision to require plaintiff to stand in line for meals instead of bringing food to him in the infirmary)
- Farmer v. Bailey, No. 2:19-cv-01384 (W.D. La. June 13, 2024).A “mere disagreement with one’s medical treatment is insufficient to show deliberate indifference, as are claims based on unsuccessful medical treatment, negligence, or medical malpractice.” Id. citing Vardnado v. Lynaugh, 920 F.2d 320, 32…
- Smith v. Thibodeaux, No. 3:23-cv-00461 (M.D. La. Mar. 28, 2024).He was “finally allowed to seek medical treatment” “[l]ater after pleading with numerous Pointe Coupee Parish 73 Taylor v. Stevens, 946 F.3d 211, 221 (5th Cir. 2019) (citing Arenas v. Calhoun, 922 F.3d 616, 620 (5th Cir. 2019)). 74 Id. at…
- James v. Smith, No. 2:22-cv-02877 (E.D. La. July 21, 2023).“Mere nVeagrlnigaednoc ev,. nLyengaleucgt,h or medical malpractice” does not constituFteie lddeelrib ve. rBaotes shinadridfference, , 920 F.2d 320, 321 (5th Cir. 1991) (cHiteinrnga ndez v. Tex. Dep't o,f 5P9r0ot F. &.2 dR e1g0. 5S,e 1rv0s7…
- Fester v. Hansen, No. 2:20-cv-00144 (N.D. Tex. July 19, 2023).Hall v. Thomas, 190 F.3d 693, 697-98 (Sth Cir. 1999); Stewart v. Murphy, 174 F.3d 530, 537 (Sth Cir. 1999); Banuelos v. McFarland, 41 F.3d at 235 ; Varnado v. Lynaugh, 920 F.2d 320, 321 (Sth Cir. 1991).
- Furgison v. Vogelgesang, No. 2:20-cv-00119 (N.D. Tex. July 19, 2023).Hall v. Thomas, 190 F.3d 693, 697-98 (Sth Cir. 1999); Stewart v. Murphy, 174 F.3d 530, 537 (Sth Cir. 1999); Banuelos v. McFarland, 41 F.3d at 235 ; Varnado v. Lynaugh, 920 F.2d 320, 321 (Sth Cir. 1991).
- McKnight v. Janssen Biotech, No. 22-30162 (5th Cir. June 12, 2023).unpublishedSee Gobert, 463 F.3d at 346 ; Varnado v. Lynaugh, 920 F.2d 320, 321 (5th Cir. 1991).
- Abshire v. Livingston Par., No. 3:22-cv-00548 (M.D. La. May 22, 2023).“Allegations of unsuccessful medical treatment, negligence, neglect, medical malpractice, or a mistaken judgment do not amount to deliberate indifference to serious medical needs.” Id. (citing Varnado v. Lynaugh, 920 F.2d 320, 321 (5th Cir…
- Hernandez v. UTMB Galveston, No. 22-20323 (5th Cir. May 19, 2023).unpublished See Gobert v. Caldwell, 463 F.3d 339, 346 (5th Cir. 2006); Varnado v. Lynaugh, 920 F.2d 320, 321 (5th Cir. 1991).
- Glowski v. Coleman, M.D., No. 4:18-cv-01094 (S.D. Tex. Mar. 31, 2023).Varnado v. Lynaugh, 920 F.2d 320, 321 (Sth Cir. 1991).
- Jordan v. Gautreaux, No. 3:21-cv-00048 (M.D. La. Mar. 23, 2023).“Allegations of unsuccessful medical treatment, negligence, neglect, medical malpractice, or a mistaken judgment do not amount to deliberate indifference to serious medical needs.” Id. (citing Varnado v. Lynaugh, 920 F.2d 320, 321 (5th Cir…
- Thomas v. Basse, No. 2:19-cv-00212 (N.D. Tex. Mar. 20, 2023).Hall v. Thomas, 190 F.3d 693 (5th Cir. 1999); Stewart v. Murphy, 174 F.3d 530, 537 (Sth Cir.1999); Banuelos v. McFarland, 41 F.3d at 235 ; Varnado v. Lynaugh, 920 F.2d 320, 321 (Sth Cir. 1991).
- Irby v. Hinkle, No. 21-40621, 2023 WL 2524447 (5th Cir. Mar. 15, 2023).unpublished Varnado v. Lynaugh, 920 F.2d 320, 321 (5th Cir. 1991).
- Jarrow v. Nunnery, No. 22-50153 (5th Cir. Oct. 7, 2022).unpublishedSee Gobert v. Caldwell, 463 F.3d 339, 346 (5th Cir. 2006); Varnado v. Lynaugh, 920 F.2d 320, 321 (5th Cir. 1991).
- Cargill v. CMC Pharmacy, No. 4:20-cv-03605 (S.D. Tex. Sept. 21, 2022).Varnado v. Lynaugh, 920 F.2d 320, 321 (Sth Cir. 1991).
- Morris v. Tanner, No. 4:19-cv-02396 (S.D. Tex. Aug. 26, 2022).Tex. Feb. 25, 2010) (“Disagreements between a health care provider and the inmate over a diagnosis and the proper course of treatment are insufficient to support a deliberate indifference claim.”’) (citing Norton v. Dimazana, 122 F.3d 286,…
- Debra Waller as Pers. Rep. of the Est. of Rodney Howard v. Terry Cnty., Texas, No. 5:21-cv-00189 (N.D. Tex. Aug. 11, 2022).“Allegations of unsuccessful medical treatment, negligence, neglect, medical malpractice, or a mistaken judgment do not amount to deliberate indifference.” Id. (citing Varnado v. Lynaugh, 920 F.2d 320, 321 (5th Cir. 1991)).
- Kirby v. David, No. 4:19-cv-04294 (S.D. Tex. Apr. 27, 2022).(holding inmate’s “disagreement with his medical treatment” was insufficient to show a constitutional violation)
- Cano v. Faust, No. 4:19-cv-00317 (S.D. Tex. Mar. 31, 2022).Varnado v. Lynaugh, 920 F.2d 320, 321 (Sth Cir. 1991).
- Wingard v. State of Louisiana, Dep't of Pub. Saf. & Corr., No. 3:21-cv-00122 (M.D. La. Mar. 29, 2022).La. June 11, 2019), citing Estelle, 429 U.S. at 106 and Johnson v. Treen, 759 F.2d 1236, 1237 (5th Cir. 1985). 128 Cormier, 2019 WL 2438784 at *2, citing Domino v. Texas Dep’t of Crim. Justice, 239 F.3d 752, 756 (5th Cir. 2001). 129 Cormie…
- Jordan v. Gautreaux, 593 F. Supp. 3d 330 (M.D. La. 2022).published“Allegations of unsuccessful medical treatment, negligence, neglect, medical malpractice, or a mistaken judgment do not amount to deliberate indifference to serious medical needs.” Id. (citing Varnado v. Lynaugh, 920 F.2d 320, 321 (5th Cir…
- Espinoza v. Porter, No. 2:19-cv-00039 (N.D. Tex. Feb. 28, 2022).Hail v. Thomas, 190 F.3d 693, 697-98 (Sth Cir. 1999); Stewart v. Murphy, 174 F.3d 530, 537 (Sth Cir. 1999); Banuelos v. McFarland, 41 F.3d 232, 235 (Sth Cir. 1995); Varnado v. Lynaugh, 920 F.2d 320, 321 (Sth Cir. 1991).
- Zambrano v. Davis, No. 2:18-cv-00245 (N.D. Tex. Feb. 18, 2022).Hall v. Thomas, 190 F.3d 693 (Sth Cir. 1999); Stewart v. Murphy, 174 F.3d 530, 537 (Sth Cir.1999); Banuelos v. McFarland, 41 F.3d 232, 235 (Sth Cir. 1995); Varnado v. Lynaugh, 920 F.2d 320, 321 (Sth Cir, 1991), A showing of deliberate indi…
- Vasquez v. Heffington, No. 2:19-cv-00010 (N.D. Tex. Feb. 18, 2022).Hall v. Thomas, 190 F.3d 693 (Sth Cir. 1999); Stewart v. Murphy, 174 F.3d 530, 537 (Sth Cir.1999); Banuelos v. McFarland, 41 F.3d 232, 235 (Sth Cir. 1995); Varnado v. Lynaugh, 920 F.2d 320, 321 (5th Cir. 1991).
- McCoy v. Vogelgesang, No. 2:19-cv-00024 (N.D. Tex. Feb. 18, 2022).Hall v. Thomas, 190 F.3d 693 (Sth Cir. 1999); Stewart v. Murphy, 174 F.3d 530, 537 (Sth Cir.1999); Banuelos v. McFarland, 41 F.3d 232, 235 (Sth Cir. 1995); Varnado v. Lynaugh, 920 F.2d 320, 321 (5th Cir. 1991).
- Turner v. Dickerson, No. 2:18-cv-00219 (N.D. Tex. Feb. 16, 2022).Hail v. Thomas, 190 F.3d 693 (Sth Cir. 1999); Stewart v. Murphy, 174 F.3d 530, 537 (Sth Cir.1999); Banuelos v. McFarland, 41 F.3d 232, 235 (Sth Cir. 1995); Varnado v. Lynaugh, 920 F.2d 320, 321 (5th Cir. 1991).
- Barnhill v. Lofton, No. 6:20-cv-00016 (W.D. Tex. Feb. 8, 2022).However, unsuccessful medical treatment or disagreement between an inmate and his doctor concerning the manner of treatment does not suffice. , 41 F.3d 232, 235 (5th Cir. 1995); , 920 F.2d 320, 321 (5th Cir. 1991).
- Est. of Hector Salas, Jr. v. Bicette, No. 4:21-cv-00484 (S.D. Tex. Dec. 21, 2021).Varnado v. Lynaugh, 920 F.2d 320, 321 (Sth Cir. 1991); Johnson v. Treen, 759 F.2d 1236, 1238 (Sth Cir. 1985).
- Iruegas v. Poe, 374 F. App'x 513 (5th Cir. 2010).unpublished
- Stroman v. Thaler, 603 F.3d 299 (5th Cir. 2010).published
- Donald Loosier v. Unknown Med. Doctor, 435 F. App'x 302 (5th Cir. 2010).unpublished
- Noel Harris v. R Bigs, 381 F. App'x 363 (5th Cir. 2010).unpublished
- Pryer v. Walker, 385 F. App'x 417 (5th Cir. 2010).unpublished
- Lloyd Richard v. Willy Martin, Jr., 390 F. App'x 323 (5th Cir. 2010).unpublished
- Steve Green v. Ross, 398 F. App'x 2 (5th Cir. 2010).unpublished
- Kamal Patel v. United States, 398 F. App'x 22 (5th Cir. 2010).unpublished
- Frank Smith, Jr. v. R. Harris, 401 F. App'x 952 (5th Cir. 2010).unpublished
- Joseph Falcetta, Jr. v. United States, 403 F. App'x 882 (5th Cir. 2010).unpublished
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- Barry Kirven v. Rick Thaler, 428 F. App'x 342 (5th Cir. 2011).unpublished
- Bobby Zidell v. United States, 428 F. App'x 426 (5th Cir. 2011).unpublished
- William Oliver v. Kanan, 428 F. App'x 481 (5th Cir. 2011).unpublished
- Johnny Gregory v. C. McKennon, 430 F. App'x 306 (5th Cir. 2011).unpublished
- Allen Lewis v. Alan Evans, 440 F. App'x 263 (5th Cir. 2011).unpublished
- Antoine Shockley v. John Fox, 444 F. App'x 36 (5th Cir. 2011).unpublished
- Andrew Gonzales v. Wanda Isbell, 456 F. App'x 466 (5th Cir. 2012).unpublished
- Everildo Garcia v. Fed. Bureau of Prisons, Et A, 459 F. App'x 458 (5th Cir. 2012).unpublished
- Patrick Smith v. Betty Williams, 464 F. App'x 417 (5th Cir. 2012).unpublished
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- Jane Doe v. Covington Cnty. Sch Dist, et a, No. 09-60406 (5th Cir. Apr. 13, 2012).published
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- Mark Grant v. David Fortner, 487 F. App'x 169 (5th Cir. 2012).unpublished
- Martin Broussard v. Ashley Nelson, 503 F. App'x 259 (5th Cir. 2012).unpublished
- Everett Crawford v. T. Sharpin, 505 F. App'x 309 (5th Cir. 2013).unpublished
- William Mercer v. USA, 508 F. App'x 324 (5th Cir. 2013).unpublished
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- Dennis Lee v. James Holman, 530 F. App'x 315 (5th Cir. 2013).unpublished
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- Bobby Burke v. Christopher Epps, 531 F. App'x 449 (5th Cir. 2013).unpublished
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- Kathleen Betts v. Wendell Hall, 679 F. App'x 810 (11th Cir. 2017).unpublished
- Christopher Ingram v. Carolyn Mooney, 680 F. App'x 341 (5th Cir. 2017).unpublished
- Bell v. Louisiana Dep't of Pub. Saf. & Corr., 685 F. App'x 327 (5th Cir. 2017).unpublished
- James Wetherbe v. Texas Tech Univ. Sys., et, No. 16-10458 (5th Cir. June 1, 2017).unpublished
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- Donald Smith v. Ronald Woodall, 690 F. App'x 291 (5th Cir. 2017).unpublished
- James Wetherbe v. Texas Tech Univ. Sys., et, 699 F. App'x 297 (5th Cir. 2017).unpublished
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- Donald Smith v. Ronald Woodall, No. 16-60080 (5th Cir. Aug. 22, 2017).unpublished
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- Yolanda Saldivar v. Lorie Davis, Dir., 698 F. App'x 198 (5th Cir. 2017).unpublished
- James Leonard v. Gideon Daniel, 699 F. App'x 415 (5th Cir. 2017).unpublished
- Kevin Muth v. Pam Hearn, 699 F. App'x 438 (5th Cir. 2017).unpublished
- Justin Marino v. C. Maiorana, 707 F. App'x 812 (5th Cir. 2018).unpublished
- Vaughn Monroe v. John Doe, 712 F. App'x 451 (5th Cir. 2018).unpublished
- Bob Ahmadi v. Chris Pool, No. 17-20445 (5th Cir. June 4, 2018).unpublished
- Steven Walcott, Jr. v. Terrebonne Prsh Jail Med De, No. 17-30614 (5th Cir. June 21, 2018).unpublished
- Ricky Fowler v. Sheronda Guyton, No. 17-20676 (5th Cir. July 6, 2018).unpublished
- Nathan Jenkins v. USA, No. 17-60224 (5th Cir. Aug. 1, 2018).unpublished
- Roy Woodson v. Stuart Jenkins, No. 17-50731 (5th Cir. Sept. 13, 2018).unpublished
- Thomas Campbell v. Angela Brown, No. 17-60248 (5th Cir. Dec. 4, 2018).unpublished
- Michael Young v. Sandy McCain, Warden, No. 17-30521 (5th Cir. Jan. 14, 2019).unpublished
- Jeffrey Quintana v. Unknown Agents, No. 17-10053 (5th Cir. Feb. 18, 2019).unpublished
- Steven Baughman v. Adrian Garcia, No. 17-20435 (5th Cir. Feb. 25, 2019).unpublished
- George Tustin, Jr. v. Brad Livingston, No. 16-41724 (5th Cir. Apr. 5, 2019).unpublished
- Leroy Lodge v. Libby Tigner, No. 18-30821 (5th Cir. June 7, 2019).unpublished
- Robert Thompson v. T Crnkovich, No. 18-11438 (5th Cir. Oct. 9, 2019).unpublished
- Christopher Simmons v. Bryan Collier, No. 18-50855 (5th Cir. Oct. 31, 2019).unpublished
- Joshua Parrish v. Lorie Davis, Dir., No. 18-20704 (5th Cir. Jan. 9, 2020).unpublished
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- Ingram v. Alvarado, No. 19-40135 (5th Cir. Mar. 16, 2021).unpublished
- Spikes v. McVea, 8 F.4th 428 (5th Cir. 2021).published
- Baughman v. Garcia, 254 F. Supp. 3d 848 (S.D. Tex. 2017).published
- Gonzalez v. Maneevese, 574 F. App'x 347 (5th Cir. 2014).unpublished
- Eason v. Frye, 972 F. Supp. 2d 935 (S.D. Miss. 2013).published
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- Allen v. Centurion of Mississippi, LLC, No. 1:18-cv-00345 (S.D. Miss. Mar. 4, 2020).
- Campbell v. Smith, No. 3:17-cv-00185 (S.D. Miss. Mar. 4, 2020).
- Toomer v. Harold Coulter, No. 1:18-cv-00312, 2020 WL 1286215 (S.D. Miss. Mar. 18, 2020).
- Jones v. Rainey, No. 3:18-cv-00794 (S.D. Miss. Oct. 9, 2020).
- Samuel v. Mercado, No. 4:18-cv-00644 (N.D. Tex. Nov. 7, 2019).
- Cothron v. Thomas, No. 2:16-cv-00236 (N.D. Tex. Jan. 16, 2020).
- Buchanan v. LaRue, No. 2:17-cv-00247 (N.D. Tex. Feb. 6, 2020).
- Perryman v. Wilson, No. 4:19-cv-00199 (N.D. Tex. Mar. 10, 2020).
- Hollins v. Miller, No. 2:17-cv-00153 (N.D. Tex. June 3, 2020).
- Doss v. Wise, No. 2:17-cv-00105 (N.D. Tex. June 4, 2020).
- Neal v. Vogelgesang, No. 2:18-cv-00026 (N.D. Tex. Nov. 10, 2020).
- Johnson v. Davis, No. 2:18-cv-00007 (N.D. Tex. Feb. 2, 2021).
- Coomer v. Massey, No. 2:18-cv-00165 (N.D. Tex. June 14, 2021).
- Stone v. Wilson, No. 4:20-cv-00406 (N.D. Tex. July 13, 2021).
- Weeks v. Collier, No. 2:18-cv-00125 (N.D. Tex. July 27, 2021).
- Anderson v. United States, No. 4:18-cv-00871 (N.D. Tex. Oct. 26, 2021).
- Rodriguez v. S. Health Partners Inc, No. 3:20-cv-00045 (N.D. Tex. Aug. 16, 2023).
- Hampton v. Brindley, No. 3:17-cv-00299 (S.D. Tex. Nov. 6, 2019).
- Jones v. Dickerson, No. 4:19-cv-03876, 2020 WL 6504456 (S.D. Tex. Nov. 5, 2020).
- Estrada v. Nehls, 524 F. Supp. 3d 578 (S.D. Tex. 2021).published
- Luna v. Veronica LNU, No. 6:21-cv-00017 (S.D. Tex. Sept. 15, 2021).
- Tamez v. Torok, No. 2:21-cv-00220 (S.D. Tex. Oct. 12, 2021).
- Reed v. Ogunlade, No. 2:21-cv-00129 (S.D. Tex. Sept. 22, 2021).
- Burchfield v. Sergeant Briggs, No. 4:22-cv-01009 (S.D. Tex. Apr. 19, 2023).
- Perkins v. Townsend, No. 4:21-cv-03962 (S.D. Tex. Aug. 28, 2023).
- Rogers v. Hierholzer, No. 5:16-cv-01171 (W.D. Tex. Aug. 8, 2019).
- Jimenez v. Travis Cnty. Sheriff's Dep't, No. 1:18-cv-00678 (W.D. Tex. Dec. 2, 2019).
- Hurdsman v. Commander Pokluda, No. 1:17-cv-00290 (W.D. Tex. Jan. 13, 2020).
- Gillespie v. Williams, No. 6:19-cv-00301 (W.D. Tex. Feb. 14, 2020).
- Thunderhorse v. Tilley, No. 6:19-cv-00246 (W.D. Tex. Mar. 5, 2020).
- Barnhill v. Lofton, No. 6:20-cv-00016 (W.D. Tex. Dec. 4, 2020).
- Lumsden v. Davis, No. 6:20-cv-00113 (W.D. Tex. Feb. 12, 2021).
- Roman v. Navarrete, No. 3:21-cv-00091 (W.D. Tex. May 20, 2021).
- Roman v. Navarrete, No. 3:21-cv-00091 (W.D. Tex. July 14, 2021).
- Williams v. Burleson Cnty., Texas, No. 1:22-cv-00750 (W.D. Tex. July 27, 2023).
- Feist v. United States of Am. by & through Orthopedic, Ft. Hood Hosp., No. 5:23-cv-01017 (W.D. Tex. Dec. 8, 2023).
- Valdez v. San Antonio Police Dep't, No. 5:23-cv-00921 (W.D. Tex. Aug. 13, 2024).
- Martin v. Bill Clements Unit Officers, No. 2:23-cv-00064 (N.D. Tex. Nov. 12, 2024).
- Roberts v. Day, No. 2:25-cv-00360 (E.D. La. June 5, 2025).
- Mohinga, No. 1:25-cv-00527 (W.D. Tex. Nov. 17, 2025).
- Newman, No. 2:25-cv-02478 (E.D. La. Feb. 9, 2026).
- Sencial, No. 2:23-cv-03351 (E.D. La. Apr. 14, 2026).
Other citing cases
- Sawyer v. Charles, No. 2:21-cv-00482 (E.D. La. Mar. 29, 2022).
v.
James A. LYNAUGH, Director, Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Institutional Division, Et Al., Defendants-Appellees
Edward Charles Varnado has had hip problems since 1967, well before his incarceration in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Institutional Division. He has had several operations. A prosthetic device was implanted in his hip at John Sealy Hospital in Galveston in 1985 during his incarceration. He was discharged from John Sealy and returned to his unit two months after the surgery. For 16 months after his return to the unit, Varnado was served his meals in the unit infirmary so that he would not have to stand in line and carry his own tray in the general population dining hall. Such a privilege is known as having a “diet card.”
In June 1987, 18 months after surgery, unit medical personnel determined that the construction of new ramps in the general population dining hall obviated Varnado’s need for a diet card. For most of three[*321] months — June, July, and August 1987— Varnado took his meals with the general population. He alleges that he stood in the serving line 45 to 60 minutes for each meal. In August 1987, he was transferred to a unit for handicapped prisoners.
He claimed that during the period in which he ate with the general population, he experienced pain in his hip. Physicians at John Sealy determined that wires in the prosthesis had broken and that Varnado would need another operation. Varnado attributed the pain and the breaking of the wires to his standing in line for prolonged periods waiting to be served food.
Pro se and in forma pauperis, he has sued prison officials pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983, claiming that the revocation of the diet card resulted in the breaking of the wires, which resulted in pain and the necessity for another operation. He claims inadequate medical treatment. The district court held a hearing in conformity with Spears v. McCotter, 766 F.2d 179 (5th Cir.1985). Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a), the district court dismissed the action as frivolous. Varnado has timely filed notice of appeal.
“To state a claim for relief under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 for denial of medical treatment, a prisoner must allege deliberate indifference to his serious medical needs.” Woodall v. Foti, 648 F.2d 268, 272 (5th Cir. Unit A June 1981) (citing Estelle v. Gamble, 429 U.S. 97, 106, 97 S.Ct. 285, 50 L.Ed.2d 251 (1976)). A dismissal is proper if “the claim’s realistic chance of ultimate success is slight [or] the claim has no arguable basis in law and fact.” Pugh v. Parish of St. Tammany, 875 F.2d 436, 438 (5th Cir.1989).
Varnado contends that the revocation of his diet card was, or resulted in, cruel and unusual punishment. Varnado’s prison medical records show, however, that he was seen by medical personnel on his unit and at John Sealy numerous times for problems relating to his hip. Varnado’s prison medical record deals almost exclusively with his hip problem. Such records also show that medical personnel determined that the opening of ramps in the dining hall made the diet card unnecessary. Varnado’s contentions amount to a disagreement with his medical treatment; he only argues that the use of the ramps did not meet his needs and exacerbated his hip problem, contentions that fall short of a constitutional or federal claim.
Unsuccessful medical treatment does not give rise to a § 1983 cause of action. Johnson v. Treen, 759 F.2d 1236, 1238 (5th Cir.1985). Nor does “[m]ere negligence, neglect or medical malpractice.” Fielder v. Bosshard, 590 F.2d 105, 107 (5th Cir.1979). Even if Varnado’s allegations are true and correct, then, at worst, the judgment about the ramps was only mistaken; such allegations do not amount to deliberate indifference to his serious medical needs. The district court properly dismissed the action.
Varnado also raises in this Court additional incidents regarding his medical treatment that occurred after his Spears hearing that were not presented to the district court. “[Ijssues raised for the first time on appeal ‘are not reviewable by this court unless they involve purely legal questions and failure to consider them would result in manifest injustice.’ ” U.S. v. Garcia-Pillado, 898 F.2d 36, 39 (5th Cir.1990) (quoting Self v. Blackburn, 751 F.2d 789, 793 (5th Cir.1985)). Varnado’s additional allegations are factual issues that may not be raised for the first time on appeal.
Varnado also questions the authenticity of his medical records. A district court may not use prison records to counter a plaintiff’s Spears testimony. Williams v. Luna, 909 F.2d 121, 124 (5th Cir.1990). Varnado’s allegations, however, address the nature of his treatment and not the lack thereof. He does not question that the diet card was revoked because of the new ramps. The district court did not improperly use the medical records.
Finally, Varnado has filed in this Court motions for appointment of counsel, to supplement the record, and for production of documents. The appeal has no merit, and the requested medical records could not[*322] alter that fact. The motions are denied, and the judgment of the district court is
AFFIRMED.