Gregory Allen Chavers, Plaintiff-appellant, v. R. Hernandez; R.r. Rath; T. Van Dyke; K. Hair, Officer;r.w. Crum; Gray; Does 1-13, Inclusive,defendants-appellees, 94 F.3d 650 (9th Cir. 1996)

MEMORANDUM^** 

Gregory Allen Chavers, a California state prisoner, appeals pro se the district court's summary judgment for defendant prison officials in his 42 U.S.C. § 1983 action. Chavers contends that the defendants: (1) violated Chavers' constitutional rights by using excessive and unjustified force, (2) violated 42 U.S.C. §§ 1985, 1986 by conspiring against Chavers and failing to prevent a conspiracy, (3) violated California regulations by pointing a gun at Chavers and by wrongfully issuing a "serious rule violation." We review de novo the district court's grant of summary judgment, McGuckin v. Smith, 974 F.2d 1050, 1059 (9th Cir. 1992) and affirm.

Chavers' first and second contentions fail for the reasons stated in the district court's order, which fully and fairly addressed these claims. In addition, summary judgment was appropriate on Chavers' conspiracy claim because Chavers failed to meet the heightened pleading standard under Branch v. Tunnell, 937 F.2d 1382, 1386-88 (9th Cir. 1991). As to Chavers' third and fourth contentions, summary judgment was appropriate inasmuch as Chavers failed to demonstrate a violation of a constitutionally, protected liberty interest. See Sandin v. Conner, 115 S. Ct. 2293, 2300 (1995) (constitutionally protected liberty interest limited to freedom from restraint which imposes atypical and significant hardships).

Because of our disposition of this appeal, we do not consider the applicability, if any, of the Prison Litigation Reform Act, Pub. L. No. 104-134, 110 Stat. 1321 (1996), to this appeal.

AFFIRMED.