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Howard Lynn Moreland v. Lynn Evans, Jailer, Otero County Jail, Acting in His Individual Capacity Norman Mick, Administrator, Otero County Jail, Acting in His Individual Capacity Arthur Grammont, Jailer, Acting in His Individual Capacity
Citations: 97 F.3d 1465; 1996 WL 547344Docket: 94-2248
Court: Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit; September 26, 1996; Federal Appellate Court
Howard Lynn Moreland filed a lawsuit under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 against Lynn Evans, Norman Mick, and Arthur Grammont, alleging violations of his constitutional rights while detained at Otero County Jail, New Mexico. Moreland claimed that the conditions of confinement and denial of medical care infringed upon his due process rights, that mistreatment violated his equal protection rights, and that interference with his mail to government agencies breached his freedom of expression. The district court granted summary judgment in favor of the defendants, concluding that Moreland failed to present any material factual disputes and that defendants were entitled to judgment as a matter of law. Moreland appealed this decision, and the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals reviewed the case without oral argument, affirming the district court's judgment for substantially the same reasons outlined in the lower court's order dated August 15, 1994. The appellate court emphasized that Moreland's claims regarding the involuntariness of his guilty plea could not be pursued in a § 1983 action unless his conviction was overturned. The court noted that the judgment is not binding precedent but may be cited under certain conditions as outlined in 10th Cir. R. 36.3. Additionally, the court acknowledged that the district court had denied Moreland's requests for amended relief and leave to amend his complaint, but he did not contest these denials on appeal. The mandate was issued immediately following the ruling.