Patrick Williams, Plaintiff--appellant, v. Sharon Levansailor, Defendant--appellee, 153 F.3d 730 (10th Cir. 1998)

ORDER AND JUDGMENT^* 

LUCERO

Patrick Williams, an inmate at the Salt Lake County Metro Jail, filed a lawsuit against Sharon Levansailor, a medical technician employed by the Metro Jail, pursuant to 42 U.S.C. §§ 1983, 1985. Williams alleges that defendant violated his rights under the Fourteenth Amendment by telling a racist joke in front of him and other inmates. The district court granted summary judgment in favor of defendant, adopting the findings of the Magistrate's Report and Recommendation. We affirm.

Plaintiff, claims the defendant, while distributing medication at the Metro Jail, called some white inmates to the bars of the cell and asked if they wanted to hear a good joke. When Williams asked what was happening, defendant allegedly responded that she was telling a joke about "you guys" and laughed. According to plaintiff, defendant then proceeded to tell a racially derogatory joke that offended and embarrassed Williams.

This conduct, if true, is deplorable and unprofessional. It does not, however, constitute a violation of plaintiff's Fourteenth Amendment rights. See Collins v. Cundy, 603 F.2d 825, 827 (10th Cir. 1979) (verbal abuse alone is not actionable under § 1983); see also Oltarzewski v. Ruggiero, 830 F.2d 136, 139 (9th Cir. 1987) (same) (quoting Collins, 603 F.2d at 827); Patton v. Przybylski, 822 F.2d 697, 700 (7th Cir. 1987) (use of derogatory racial epithets does not violate Fourteenth Amendment); Black Spotted Horse v. Else, 767 F.2d 516, 517 (8th Cir. 1985) (use of racial slurs only violates Fourteenth Amendment if coupled with physical force or other egregious conduct); cf. Ivey v. Wilson, 832 F.2d 950, 955 (6th Cir. 1987) (verbal abuse does not violate Eighth Amendment).

Plaintiff also asserts a claim alleging disparate treatment and failure to train. These issues were not raised before the district court and he may not raise them for the first time on appeal. See Lyons v. Jefferson Bank & Trust, 994 F.2d 716, 722 (10th Cir. 1993).

AFFIRMED.

The mandate shall issue forthwith.