Gross v. Colorado Department, 10th Cir. (2003)

F I L E D
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS

TENTH CIRCUIT
United States Court of Appeals

Tenth Circuit
AUG 29 2003
PATRICK FISHER
Clerk
DALE WAYNE GROSS,

Plaintiff - Appellant,
v.
COLORADO DEPARTMENT OF
CORRECTIONS; DR. L. DENNIS
KLEINSASSER; MERLE DORMAN;
TERESA KRALL,
No. 03-1122
(D.C. No. 02-M-445)
(D. Colorado)
Defendants - Appellees.
ORDER AND JUDGMENT *
Before KELLY, BRISCOE, and LUCERO, Circuit Judges. **
Plaintiff-Appellant Dale Wayne Gross, a state inmate appearing pro se,
appeals from the district courts dismissal of his civil rights action against the
Colorado Department of Corrections (DOC) and certain of its employees. His
This order and judgment is not binding precedent, except under the
doctrines of law of the case, res judicata, and collateral estoppel. This 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.
*
After examining the briefs and the appellate record, this three-judge
panel has determined unanimously that oral argument would not be of material
assistance in the determination of this appeal. See Fed. R. App. P. 34(a); 10th
Cir. R. 34.1(G). The case is therefore ordered submitted without oral argument.
**
complaint alleged deprivation of various constitutional rights springing from his

internal prison classification as a sex offender even though he was not found
guilty of a sex offense. On cross-motions for summary judgment, the district
court granted summary judgment in favor of the Defendants. Our jurisdiction
arises under 28 U.S.C. 1291 and we affirm.
Mr. Gross is in the custody of the DOC to serve a 12-year term of
imprisonment after being convicted by a jury of first degree trespass, first degree
burglary, retaliation against a victim or witness, second degree assault, third
degree assault, and domestic violence (the convicted offenses). The DOC
reviewed Mr. Grosss file and concluded that although he was not convicted of
sexual assault, he nonetheless satisfied the criteria for an administrative review of
his sex offender classification. Mr. Gross was served with notice of his right to
an administrative review, which he requested. This notice informed Mr. Gross of
the facts in his file supporting a review and explained that he had the right to call
witnesses and to present documentary evidence on his behalf. Mr. Gross received
notice of the hearing date and appeared at the hearing. The hearing panel, in a
written statement, informed Mr. Gross that he would be classified as an S-4 sex
offender for having behaved in a sexually violent and abusive manner based on a
presentence report detailing conduct surrounding the convicted offenses.
Mr. Gross filed a complaint pursuant to 42 U.S.C. 1983 alleging
-2-
deprivation of various rights from the classification. Specifically, he alleged: (1)

that the inadequate administrative procedures resulting in his classification as a
sex offender denied him due process; (2) that requiring him to participate in the
sex offender treatment program (SOTP) to be eligible for additional earned time
credits denied him the equal protection of the law; and (3) that requiring him to
admit that he is a sex offender as a precondition to entry into the SOTP violates
his privilege against self-incrimination.
The district court granted summary judgment for Defendants, concluding
that Mr. Gross failed to show any factual support for his claims and concluding
that: (1) the DOCs administrative procedure complied with the requirements of
Chambers v. Colo. Dept of Corrs., 205 F.3d 1237 (10th Cir. 2000); (2) there is
no equal protection violation by classifying sex offenders differently from other
groups of inmates because there are rational reasons for the classification and
difference in programs; (3) any claim of self incrimination is defeated by the
Supreme Courts decision in McKune v. Lile, 536 U.S. 24 (2002); and (4)
Colorados provision for earned time credits does not create a constitutionally
protected liberty or property interest.
We review the district courts grant of summary judgment de novo,
applying the same legal standard used by the district court. Kendrick v. Penske
Transp. Servs., Inc., 220 F.3d 1220, 1225 (10th Cir. 2000). Summary judgment
-3-
shall be rendered forthwith if the pleadings, depositions, answers to

interrogatories, and admissions on file, together with the affidavits, if any, show
that there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and that the moving party is
entitled to a judgment as a matter of law. Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(c). When
reviewing cross-motions for summary judgment, our review of the record
requires that we construe all inferences in favor of the party against whom the
motion under consideration is made . . . . Pirkheim v. First Unum Life Ins., 229
F.3d 1008, 1010 (10th Cir. 2000) (quoting Andersen v. Chrysler Corp., 99 F.3d
846, 856 (7th Cir. 1996)).
On appeal, Mr. Gross reargues the claims from his complaint and also adds
the claim that the pattern of DOC conduct alleged by his complaint amounts to
infliction of cruel and usual punishment in violation of the Eighth Amendment.
Aplt. Br. at 2, 18. We decline to consider Mr. Grosss added Eighth Amendment
claim because it was raised for the first time on appeal. See McDonald v.
Kinder-Morgan Inc., 287 F.3d 992, 999 (10th Cir. 2002). After conducting the
required de novo review and examining the parties submissions, including Mr.
Grosss brief, the record, and the relevant law, we are convinced that the district
courts disposition was correct. For substantially the reasons relied on by the
district court, we conclude that Defendants were entitled to summary judgment.
Regarding Mr. Grosss due process claim, we held in Chambers that some
-4-
process must be afforded an inmate before he can be classified as a sex offender.

205 F.3d at 1243. Although we did not explicitly discuss how much process was
required, we relied on the Ninth Circuits analysis in Neal v. Shimoda, 131 F.3d
818, 831 (9th Cir. 1997), which itself relied on the standards discussed in Wolff
v. McDonnell, 418 U.S. 539 (1974). See also Superintendent v. Hill, 472 U.S.
445, 454 (1985) (under Wolff standards, the prisoner must receive advance
written notice, an opportunity to call witnesses and present documentary evidence
in his defense, and a written statement by the factfinder of the evidence relied on
and the reasons for the action taken). Here, the DOC provided Mr. Gross process
that satisfies the Wolff standard. R. Doc. 15 Exs. 1-4. Without deciding
precisely what process must be afforded in these circumstances, we agree with the
district court that Mr. Gross received sufficient process.
Regarding Mr. Grosss equal protection argument relating to earned time
credits, we also recognized in Chambers that earned time credits are a matter of
discretion under Colorado law; thus, there is no basis upon which the earned time
credits statute may be interpreted to create an entitlement or liberty interest for
purposes of a due process claim. 205 F.3d at 1239. Because there is no
constitutionally protected right to earned time credits, Mr. Grosss equal
protection claim must fail; absent deprivation of a constitutionally protected right,
he presents no cognizable claim under 1983. See West v. Atkins, 487 U.S. 42,
-5-
48 (1988).
Even were we to reach the merits of the equal protection claim, we agree
with the district court that the DOC classification is not subject to heightened
review and would easily pass muster under rational basis review. See Aplee. Br.
at 13-15. Finally, we also agree with the district court that the Supreme Courts
reasoning in McKune renders Mr. Gross self-incrimination claim meritless.
Accordingly, we AFFIRM the district courts grant of summary judgment to
defendants. We remind Mr. Gross that he is obligated to make partial payments
of the filing fee until the entire fee has been paid.
Entered for the Court
Paul J. Kelly, Jr.
Circuit Judge
-6-

Gross v. Colorado Department, 10th Cir. (2003)

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Gross v. Colorado Department, 10th Cir. (2003)

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Description:

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Gross v. Colorado Department, 10th Cir. (2003)

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

F I L E D

UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS

United States Court of Appeals

DALE WAYNE GROSS,

complaint alleged deprivation of various constitutional rights springing from his

deprivation of various rights from the classification. Specifically, he alleged: (1)

shall be rendered forthwith if the pleadings, depositions, answers to

process must be afforded an inmate before he can be classified as a sex offender.

You might also like