UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
Filed 11/4/96
TENTH CIRCUIT
_________________________________
DAVID WORKMAN,
Plaintiff-Appellant,
v. No. 96-1060
(D.C. No. 95-D-916)
COLORADO DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS; (D. Colo.)
UNKNOWN EMPLOYEES OF STATE OF COLO-
RADO DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS; ROY
ROMER, Governor, in his individual capacity; COLO-
RADO STATE PAROLE BOARD; DONICE NEAL, in
her official and individual capacity; OFFICER
SLYCKER, in his official and individual capacity,
Defendants-Appellees.
DAVID WORKMAN,
Plaintiff-Appellant,
v. No. 96-1146
(D.C. No. 95-S-2984)
ROY ROMER; ARISTEDES ZAVARAS; and UN- (D. Colo.)
KNOWN EMPLOYEES OF THE STATE OF COLO-
RADO DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS, individu-
ally and officially, jointly and severally,
Defendants-Appellees.
DAVID WORKMAN, In Propia Personam,
Plaintiff-Appellant,
v. No. 96-1145
(D.C. No. 95-D-305)
UNKNOWN SECURITY POLICE AT UNIVERSITY (D. Colo.)
OF COLORADO MEDICAL CENTER; UNKNOWN
POLICE OFFICERS AT DENVER CITY POLICE DE-
PARTMENT; UNKNOWN SHERIFFS AT DENVER
COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT; UNKNOWN
OFFICERS AT DENVER RECEPTION AND DIAG-
NOSTIC CENTER, individually, and in their official
capacities,
Defendants-Appellees.
DAVID WORKMAN, In Propia Personam,
Plaintiff-Appellant,
v. No. 96-1007
(D.C. No. 95-S-1288)
ROY ROMER, Executive Director DOC, Governor; (D. Colo.)
ARISTEDES ZAVARAS; WARDEN MILLER;
DONICE NEAL; IRVING JACQUEZ, Major; MAJOR
HADLEY; WARDEN HESSE; DENNIS PEARSON,
CCF Programs Supervisor; JOHN CARROLL, CCF Lt.;
TOM MIESEL, Lt.; RICHARD MESSER; WILLIAM
COYLE, CCF Librarian; CAPTAIN GREGG;
CAPTAIN WILLIAMS; LT. BRADFORD; SUSAN
JONES, CCF Hearing Officer; GALE A. NORTON,
Colorado Attorney General; STEPHEN K.
ERKENBACK, Chief Deputy Attorney General;
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JOSEPH HAUGHAIN, Grievance Officer; NOLAN
RENFROW, CSP Assistant Warden; GARY
WATKINS, Security Warden CSP; SHEILAH
RAWLINS; CSP CHAPLAIN RAWLINS, and any and
all others to be included and/or excluded as applicable
upon Discovery; individually and in their official
capacities,
Defendants-Appellees.
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ORDER AND JUDGMENT *
_________________________________
Before BRORBY, EBEL and HENRY, Circuit Judges.
_________________________________
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.
Mr. Workman, who describes himself as a Reverend, is an inmate and a pro
se litigant. He has filed four separate appeals from three separate civil suits
*
This order and judgment is not binding precedent except under the
doctrines of law of the case, res judicata and collateral estoppel. The court
generally disfavors the citation of orders and judgments; nevertheless, an order
and judgment may be cited under the terms and conditions of 10th Cir. R. 36.3.
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which we combine for administrative convenience. We grant Mr. Workman's
motions to proceed in forma pauperis.
No. 96-1060
Mr. Workman sued under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 alleging the violation of
various federal rights. Mr. Workman filed this action on February 8, 1995. In his
complaint, he alleged that in August and September of 1992, while in custody, he
was denied his religious freedom insofar as he was ordered to cut his hair,
deprived of his religious jewelry, wrongfully disciplined, denied legal access, and
harassed.
The trial court applied Colorado's two-year statute of limitations and
dismissed the suit.
In his appeal to this court, Mr. Workman displays his unhappiness with
prison life by making numerous conclusory complaints, none of which are
applicable to the case at issue. Mr. Workman fails to say anything concerning the
actions of the trial court except "[h]is rights were violated herein, constituting
non-frivolousness at instant." Mr. Workman cites no authority to us showing the
law applied by the trial court was erroneous. Since Mr. Workman has failed to
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establish the trial court erred in dismissing his claims, we affirm the judgment of
the trial court. 1
No. 96-1146
This case is another civil rights suit filed by Mr. Workman alleging
defendants have violated a number of his rights under the United States
Constitution.
Mr. Workman asserted thirteen claims, including "discrimination,
retaliation, violation of his due process, equal protection, cruel & unusual
punishment, violation of privacy, malicious prosecution, conspiracy, freedom of
speech & expression & religion, colusion [sic], deprivation of property, and
censorship."
The trial court ordered Mr. Workman to file a more definite statement
stating simply and concisely the specific claims for relief, against whom those
claims are asserted, the facts forming the basis of the allegations, and the relief
Further, as the trial court found, Mr. Workman failed to comply with
1
Colorado's two-year statute of limitation. Colo. Rev. Stat. § 13-80-102. Mr.
Workman complained of conduct occurring in August and September 1992, but
his complaint was not filed until February 8, 1995.
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sought. The trial court subsequently entered a second order for a more definite
statement, and Mr. Workman indicated he was unable to respond because he did
not have access to his legal materials. Thereafter, the trial court warned Mr.
Workman his complaint would be dismissed without further notice if he failed to
comply with the court orders. Mr. Workman responded by asking the court to
disqualify itself and alleged, "some unascertainable prejudice, bias, and/or
personal interest, against him."
In its Order of Dismissal, the trial court properly analyzed the motion to
recuse and concluded Mr. Workman's affidavit was legally insufficient. The trial
court concluded Mr. Workman failed to link the defendants' actions to the
asserted claims. The trial court also found the claims that were linked to specific
defendants (Colorado Governor Roy Romer and Department of Corrections
Executive Director Aristedes Zavaras) were vague and conclusory and not
sufficient to state even "an arguable claim of a constitutional violation."
Mr. Workman appeals this order, not by showing how the trial court's order
was erroneous, but rather by setting forth conclusory grievances against unnamed
prison authorities. The following quotes from Mr. Workman's brief to this court
are illustrative:
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I was also punished, via incident report, for a Code of Penal
Discipline Violation which did not exist, and another one that the
facts of which did not support the conviction of, by biased
correctional officers, acting maliciously, so as to make me meet the
criteria that would allow them to transfer me to a higher security
facility.
....
I may not have the skills of an attorney ... but I have read
thousands of case law and I do know when my Rights Under
Constitution and Federal Law have been violated.
Mr. Workman fails to persuade this Court of any error by the trial court. The
judgment of the district court is AFFIRMED for substantially the same reasons
set forth by the district court.
No. 96-1145
Mr. Workman filed this civil rights action claiming various unknown
officials violated a number of his Constitutional and statutory rights in arresting
him and confiscating his property. Mr. Workman claimed this wrongful arrest
occurred on January 6, 1992, and again on August 12, 1992. Mr. Workman
signed and dated his complaint December 29, 1994 and filed it February 7, 1995.
The district court applied Colorado's two-year statute of limitations for
claims brought under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 and dismissed the action. Mr. Workman
appeals the district court's dismissal, arguing the two-year statute "should be
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tolled because of its being inadequate."
We find Mr. Workman's argument on appeal lacks merit. The judgment of
the district court is AFFIRMED for substantially the same reasons set forth by
the district court.
No. 96-1007
In this case, Mr. Workman is apparently filing an appeal of the two orders
requiring a more definite statement as described in case No. 96-1146 above.
Mr. Workman filed an appeal that borders upon being incomprehensible.
He alleges, in part:
There really were no proceedings in the instant action ... and
my action, which is definitely colorable, was dismissed as if Judge
Sparr believed I would take no further action upon it and simply drop
it all, if he refused to act properly upon it. He did so ... hoping I
would give up, if he made it difficult enough for me....
... This action was stopped, most likely due to the influence of
the defendants herein, before it ever even began....
....
The Dist. Ct. failed to apply any fair law at all....
Mr. Workman then filed a five-page affidavit with this court informing the
judges he will make them liable if they fail to remedy the situation. Mr.
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Workman also set forth a litany of complaints against prison officials.
Assuming we have jurisdiction of this appeal, Mr. Workman has failed to
persuade this court of any error by the trial court in issuing the described orders.
The judgment of the trial court is in all respects AFFIRMED.
Entered for the Court
WADE BRORBY
United States Circuit Judge
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