Clarence Howard v. J. Nunley

MEMORANDUM

Clarence Eugene Howard, a California state prisoner, appeals pro se from the district court’s summary judgment in his 42 U.S.C. § 1983 action alleging violations of his constitutional rights. We have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291 . We review de novo. Wyatt v. Terhune, 315 F.3d 1108, 1117 (9th Cir.2003) (exhaustion of administrative remedies); Clement v. Gomez, 298 F.3d 898, 901 (9th Cir.2002) (qualified immunity). We affirm.

The district court properly granted summary judgment to defendant Nunley on Howard’s Eighth Amendment claim regarding the use of pepper spray on the basis of qualified immunity, because it is uncontested that Howard disobeyed an order to stop pounding on his cell door after he also received a warning that failure to comply would result in the use of pepper spray. See Pearson v. Callahan, 555 U.S. 223, 232 , 129 S.Ct. 808 , 172 L.Ed.2d 565 (2009) (“Qualified immunity is applicable unless the official’s conduct violated a clearly established constitutional right.”); see also Whitley v. Albers, 475 U.S. 312, 320 , 106 S.Ct. 1078 , 89 L.Ed.2d 251 (1986) (no constitutional violation if force is applied in a “ ‘good faith effort to maintain or…