United States Court of Appeals, Tenth Circuit

989 F.
2d 507
NOTICE: Although citation of unpublished opinions remains unfavored,
unpublished opinions may now be cited if the opinion has persuasive value on a
material issue, and a copy is attached to the citing document or, if cited in oral
argument, copies are furnished to the Court and all parties. See General Order of
November 29, 1993, suspending 10th Cir. Rule 36.3 until December 31, 1995, or
further order.
Marcus R. MILLER, Plaintiff-Appellant,

v.
Stanley GLANZ, Sheriff; Bob Bates, Deputy Sheriff; Dan
Cherry, Captain; Lance Ramsey, Deputy Sheriff; Jerry
Bagby, Deputy Sheriff; George Rogers, Deputy Sheriff;
Dewayne Harris, Deputy Sheriff; Don P. Holyfield, Director;
Clent Dedek, Commissioner; John Doe, Investigator; Dr.
Barnes; John Doe, Deputy Sheriff; Jane Doe, Nurse # 1;
Jane Doe, Nurse # 2; Johnny F. Dirck, Director of Council
on Law Enforcement Education & Training, DefendantsAppellees.
No. 92-5108.
United States Court of Appeals, Tenth Circuit.

March 19, 1993.
1
Before ANDERSON and EBEL, Circuit Judges, and BRIMMER, * District

Judge.
2ORDER AND JUDGMENT**

3
BRIMMER, District Judge.
After examining the briefs and appellate record, this panel has determined
unanimously that oral argument would not materially assist the determination
of this appeal. See Fed.R.App.P. 34(a); 10th Cir.R. 34.1.9. The case is therefore
ordered submitted without oral argument.
Plaintiff Marcus R. Miller appeals the district court's order granting summary
judgment to defendants on his 42 U.S.C. 1983 claim of use of excessive force.

On appeal plaintiff argues that the district court erred in granting summary
judgment to defendants on plaintiff's excessive force claim based on collateral
estoppel, and that the court erred in refusing to appoint counsel for plaintiff.
6
Plaintiff filed his civil rights complaint against defendants claiming that while
incarcerated in the Tulsa City-County Jail, he was assaulted and beaten by
Deputy Sheriffs Ramsey, Bates, and Bagby. In an order filed January 29, 1991,
the district court dismissed several of plaintiff's claims as barred by collateral
estoppel and dismissed plaintiff's remaining claims as failing to state a claim.
On appeal, this court reversed the district court's dismissal of plaintiff's
excessive force claim affirmed the court's dismissal of plaintiff's remaining
federal claims, and remanded for further proceedings. See Miller v. Glanz, 948
F.2d 1562, 1572 (10th Cir.1991).
This court directed the district court to consider the collateral estoppel effect of
plaintiff's state criminal conviction on the second of two of plaintiff's
allegations of the use of excessive force. Id. at 1567. On remand the district
court converted defendants' motion to dismiss to a motion for summary
judgment in order to consider materials outside the pleadings. In its order of
May 6, 1992, the district court concluded that plaintiff's excessive force claim
was barred by collateral estoppel and granted the defendants summary
judgment. Plaintiff returns to this court to appeal this decision. We affirm.
As stated, this action arises out of an incident in the Tulsa City-County Jail on
December 13, 1989. Plaintiff was incarcerated in the jail awaiting trial on
charges of possession of a controlled drug and larceny of merchandise from a
retailer. Apparently, plaintiff left the jail law library without permission in
contravention of jail rules. Plaintiff became belligerent when Deputy Ramsey
told him to return to the library. When Deputy Ramsey informed plaintiff that
his law library privileges were revoked for the day and told him to place his
hands behind his back for handcuffing and return to his cell, an altercation took
place which resulted in facial abrasions to Deputy Ramsey.
After the initial scuffle, during which Deputy Ramsey claims that plaintiff
struck him, it appears that Deputy Ramsey got plaintiff into a holding cell and
called for help from other deputies. Deputy Bates and Deputy Bagby answered
the call, and all three officers went into the holding cell to handcuff plaintiff.
The defendants contend that plaintiff was hostile and combative, and therefore
a certain amount of force was necessary in order to subdue him. Deputy Bagby
claims that, during this second altercation, plaintiff struck him, knocking off his
glasses. Plaintiff, on the other hand, asserts that the officers hit, kicked, and
jumped on him, for no reason.

10
Plaintiff was subsequently charged with assault and battery on an officer.

Following a jury trial, plaintiff was found guilty and sentenced to twenty years'
imprisonment. Plaintiff filed this civil rights action charging defendants with
excessive force, deliberate indifference to medical needs, false imprisonment,
malicious prosecution, cruel and unusual punishment, biased investigations,
discriminatory acts to prolong incarceration, negligent failure to train and
certify deputies, and intentional infliction of emotional distress. In this second
appeal, we consider only the district court's grant of summary judgment to
defendants on the excessive force claim as it relates to the deputies actions after
plaintiff was placed in the holding cell.
11
Our review of the district court's grant of summary judgment to defendants

involves the same standard employed by the district court under Rule 56(c) of
the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. Applied Genetics Int'l, Inc. v. First
Affiliated Sec., Inc., 912 F.2d 1238, 1241 (10th Cir.1990). "Summary judgment
is appropriate when there is no genuine dispute over a material fact and the
moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law." Russillo v.
Scarborough, 935 F.2d 1167, 1170 (10th Cir.1991). The question whether
collateral estoppel bars relitigation of an issue in a civil action is reviewed de
novo. Hubbert v. City of Moore, 923 F.2d 769, 772 (10th Cir.1991).
12
The Supreme Court has held that issues decided in state criminal proceedings
are collaterally precluded from relitigation in subsequent 1983 civil suits.
Allen v. McCurry, 449 U.S. 90, 103-04 (1980). The issue must have been
determined in the previous criminal litigation "by a valid final judgment to
which such determination was essential." Sil-Flo, Inc. v. SFHC, Inc., 917 F.2d
1507, 1520 (10th Cir.1990). In determining whether a prior state court
judgment precludes subsequent litigation of an issue, the court must apply state
collateral estoppel rules. Haring v. Prosise, 462 U.S. 306, 314 (1983); Hubbert,
923 F.2d at 772-73.
13
The Oklahoma Supreme Court has held that collateral estoppel applies to all
issues decided in a prior criminal proceeding which are raised in subsequent
civil litigation. Lee v. Knight, 771 P.2d 1003, 1006 (Okla.1989). The
Oklahoma court, looking to the Seventh Circuit for its collateral estoppel
standards, stated:
14
"[T]he
issue sought to be precluded must be the same as that involved in the prior
judicial proceeding; the issue was litigated in the prior action; the issue was in fact
actually determined in the prior proceeding; and the determination of that issue was
necessary to support the judgment in the prior proceeding."

15
Adamson v. Dayton Hudson Corp., 774 P.2d 478, 480 (Okla.Ct.App.1989)

(quoting Guenther v. Holmgreen, 738 F.2d 879, 884 (7th Cir.1984), cert.
denied, 469 U.S. 1212 (1985)).
16
Defendants contend that plaintiff had a full and fair opportunity to litigate the
excessive force question at the time of his criminal trial. See Hubbert, 923 F.2d
at 773. The district court agreed, concluding that the incidents were treated as
one continuous event at the time of plaintiff's criminal trial, and that evidence
was presented to the jury as to both sides' version of the series of events, both in
the hallway, and in the holding cell. Our review of the transcript of plaintiff's
criminal trial supports this conclusion. Evidence and testimony was presented
as to all events from the point that plaintiff left the law library, through his
return to his cell and his follow-up medical care.
17
In assessing a claim of excessive force in an emergency situation threatening

the safety of prison staff or other inmates, the Supreme Court's standard is a
determination of whether the prisoner was subjected to malicious and sadistic
conduct. Whitley v. Albers, 475 U.S. 312, 320-21 (1986). In a nonemergency
situation, the Court has held that an Eighth Amendment "deliberate
indifference" standard should be applied. Wilson v. Seiter, 111 S.Ct. 2321,
2326 (1991). In remanding the issue of excessive force, this court determined
that plaintiff's complaint sufficiently stated a claim for excessive force under
either the Whitley standard or the deliberate indifference standard. On remand,
we directed the district court to determine whether plaintiff continued to pose a
threat to the jail personnel and environment after he was placed in the holding
cell. Miller, 948 F.2d at 1567.
18
Our review of the transcript convinces us that the facts, as presented to the jury
during plaintiff's criminal trial, indicate that the use of reasonable force was
necessary in order to restrain plaintiff and gain his compliance with jail
directives. In determining whether plaintiff's assault on the deputies was in self
defense, the jury had to make a determination regarding whether the deputies'
actions were justified. The incident was presented as one continuous string of
events. Consequently, the district court was correct in determining that plaintiff
received a full and fair opportunity to litigate the excessive force issue at the
time of his criminal trial.
19
Plaintiff's attempt to convince the jury that his actions were in self defense, both
because it was not normal jail policy to handcuff a prisoner behind his back and
because of the actions of the deputies, failed. The jury did not accept plaintiff's
defense, but concluded that plaintiff was the aggressor and that the deputies'
actions were warranted. Plaintiff's excessive force claim, as to the events in the
holding cell, was presented to, and decided by, the jury in reaching its guilty
verdict. Pursuant to Oklahoma's collateral estoppel rules, plaintiff's 1983
excessive force claim is precluded.
20
Plaintiff's state law claims can only survive if his related federal claim is
sufficient to support federal jurisdiction. See Plott v. Griffiths, 938 F.2d 164,
166-67 (10th Cir.1991). Consequently, the district court was correct in
dismissing his state law claims in light of its determination that his federal
claim was estopped. As to plaintiff's assertion that the district court erred in
denying him appointed counsel, we hold that, because plaintiff does not have a
colorable claim, the district court's denial of counsel was within its sound
discretion. See Blankenship v. Meachum, 840 F.2d 741, 743 (10th Cir.1988).
21
The judgment of the United States District Court for the Northern District of
Oklahoma is AFFIRMED.
Honorable Clarence A. Brimmer, District Judge, United States District Court

for the District of Wyoming, sitting by designation
**
This order and judgment has no precedential value and shall not be cited, or
used by any court within the Tenth Circuit, except for purposes of establishing
the doctrines of the law of the case, res judicata, or collateral estoppel. 10th
Cir.R. 36.3

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989 F.

Marcus R. MILLER, Plaintiff-Appellant,

United States Court of Appeals, Tenth Circuit.

Before ANDERSON and EBEL, Circuit Judges, and BRIMMER, * District

2ORDER AND JUDGMENT**

BRIMMER, District Judge.

judgment to defendants on his 42 U.S.C. 1983 claim of use of excessive force.

jumped on him, for no reason.

Plaintiff was subsequently charged with assault and battery on an officer.

Our review of the district court's grant of summary judgment to defendants

necessary to support the judgment in the prior proceeding."

Adamson v. Dayton Hudson Corp., 774 P.2d 478, 480 (Okla.Ct.App.1989)

In assessing a claim of excessive force in an emergency situation threatening

Honorable Clarence A. Brimmer, District Judge, United States District Court

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