Paul King, Plaintiff-appellant, v. E.c. Thompson, John Doe, Employee, Mecklenburg Correctionalcenter, John Doe, Ii, Employee, Mecklenburgcorrectional Center, Defendants-appellees, 924 F.2d 1052 (4th Cir. 1991)

Paul King appeals from the district court's order directing a verdict in his 42 U.S.C. § 1983 action. King claimed that he was injured because correctional officers delayed in quelling a fight that broke out among seven inmates on a recreation yard at the Mecklenburg Correctional Center. King listed as defendants E.C. Thompson, the warden of Mecklenburg, and two unidentified John Doe defendants.

King first claimed that he should not have been grouped with inmates whose health status was better than his own because he would not be able to defend himself from attack. We affirm the dismissal of this claim on the reasoning of the district court. King v. Thompson, CA-89-270-A (E.D. Va. Sept. 5, 1990). King's second claim was that he was injured as a result of an intentional delay by guards in breaking up the fight. It is clear from the record that the alleged delay cannot be attributed to the warden under a respondeat superior theory. See Monell v. Department of Social Servs., 436 U.S. 658, 694 (1978); Vinnedge v. Gibbs, 550 F.2d 926 (4th Cir. 1977). The alleged delay cannot be attributed to a failure to train or a general policy fostering delay in responding to emergency situations. See City of Canton v. Harris, 489 U.S. 378 (1989); Fisher v. Washington Metro. Area Transit Auth., 690 F.2d 1133, 1142-43 (4th Cir. 1982). Thus, because King cannot prevail against his named defendant, we affirm the district court's dismissal. We dispense with oral argument because the facts and legal contentions are adequately presented in the materials before the Court and argument would not aid the decisional process.

AFFIRMED.