FILED
NOT FOR PUBLICATION JAN 02 2013
MOLLY C. DWYER, CLERK
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS U .S. C O U R T OF APPE ALS
FOR THE NINTH CIRCUIT
ESTER BURNETT, No. 11-55637
Plaintiff - Appellant, D.C. No. 2:08-cv-02745-PSG-
MLG
v.
BRUCE FAECHER, Doctor; et al., MEMORANDUM *
Defendants - Appellees,
Appeal from the United States District Court
for the Central District of California
Philip S. Gutierrez, District Judge, Presiding
Submitted December 19, 2012 **
Before: GOODWIN, WALLACE, and FISHER, Circuit Judges.
Ester Burnett, a California state prisoner, appeals pro se from the district
court’s summary judgment in his 42 U.S.C. § 1983 action alleging deliberate
indifference to his back pain and related medical needs. We have jurisdiction
*
This disposition is not appropriate for publication and is not precedent
except as provided by 9th Cir. R. 36-3.
**
The panel unanimously concludes this case is suitable for decision
without oral argument. See Fed. R. App. P. 34(a)(2).
under 28 U.S.C. § 1291. We review de novo. Toguchi v. Chung, 391 F.3d 1051,
1056 (9th Cir. 2004). We affirm.
The district court properly granted summary judgment on Burnett’s Eighth
Amendment claims because Burnett did not raise a genuine dispute of material fact
as to whether defendants’ decisions regarding Burnett’s medications were
“medically unacceptable under the circumstances, and [were] chosen in conscious
disregard of an excessive risk to [Burnett’s] health.” Id. at 1058 (citation and
internal quotation marks omitted) (a difference in medical opinion does not rise to
the level of deliberate indifference). Burnett also failed to raise a genuine dispute
of material fact as to whether defendants were deliberately indifferent to his need
for a particular bunk placement and to transfer to a different prison facility, or
whether the requirement that inmates help identify potentially compatible
cellmates violated his Eighth Amendment rights. See id. at 1060 (deliberate
indifference is a high legal standard; mere negligence does not suffice); see also
Taylor v. List, 880 F.2d 1040, 1045 (9th Cir. 1989) (“Liability under section 1983
arises only upon a showing of personal participation by the defendant.”).
Because the district court granted summary judgment independently of the
deemed admissions, we do not consider Burnett’s argument that the district court
abused its discretion in denying his motion to withdraw the admissions.
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The district court did not abuse its discretion in denying Burnett’s motion for
leave to file a fourth amended complaint, after granting Burnett multiple
opportunities to amend and instructing him on the deficiencies in the complaint.
See Chodos v. West Publ’g Co., 292 F.3d 992, 1003 (9th Cir. 2002) (setting forth
standard of review and noting that the district court’s discretion is particularly
broad when it has already granted leave to amend).
The district court did not abuse its discretion in denying Burnett’s motion for
appointment of counsel because Burnett failed to demonstrate exceptional
circumstances. See Palmer v. Valdez, 560 F.3d 965, 970 (9th Cir. 2009) (setting
forth standard of review and “exceptional circumstances” requirement).
Burnett’s contentions regarding the district court’s dismissal of his second
amended complaint are rejected.
We do not consider matters not specifically and distinctly raised and argued
in the opening brief, or arguments and allegations raised for the first time on
appeal. See Padgett v. Wright, 587 F.3d 983, 985 n.2 (9th Cir. 2009) (per curiam).
Burnett’s request for appointment of counsel, set forth in his opening brief,
is denied. Burnett’s “motion to exclude admissions,” filed on February 24, 2012,
is denied.
AFFIRMED.
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