NOT FOR PUBLICATION FILED

UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS APR 20 2022

MOLLY C. DWYER, CLERK

U.S. COURT OF APPEALS

FOR THE NINTH CIRCUIT

STEVEN LEON JOYCE, No. 21-16032

Plaintiff-Appellant, D.C. No. 1:20-cv-01324-DAD-SAB

v.

MEMORANDUM*

STEWART SHERMAN; WINFRED M.

KOKOR; POWELL,

Defendants-Appellees.

Appeal from the United States District Court for the Eastern District of California Dale A. Drozd, District Judge, Presiding

Submitted April 11, 2022**

Before: McKEOWN, CHRISTEN, and BRESS, Circuit Judges.

California state prisoner Steven Leon Joyce appeals pro se from the district

court’s judgment dismissing his 42 U.S.C. § 1983 action alleging deliberate

indifference to his serious medical needs. We have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C.

§ 1291. We review de novo. Wilhelm v. Rotman, 680 F.3d 1113, 1118 (9th Cir.

* This disposition is not appropriate for publication and is not precedent except as provided by Ninth Circuit Rule 36-3. ** The panel unanimously concludes this case is suitable for decision without oral argument. See Fed. R. App. P. 34(a)(2). 2012) (dismissal under 28 U.S.C. § 1915A); Watison v. Carter, 668 F.3d 1108,

1112 (9th Cir. 2012) (dismissal under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B)). We affirm.

The district court properly dismissed Joyce’s action because Joyce failed to

allege facts sufficient to state a plausible claim of deliberate indifference in

diagnosing and treating his Valley Fever. See Hebbe v. Pliler, 627 F.3d 338, 341-

42 (9th Cir. 2010) (although pro se pleadings are construed liberally, a plaintiff

must allege facts sufficient to state a plausible claim); Toguchi v. Chung, 391 F.3d

1051, 1057-60 (9th Cir. 2004) (a prison official is deliberately indifferent only if he

or she knows of and disregards an excessive risk to inmate health; medical

malpractice, negligence, or a difference of opinion concerning the course of

treatment does not amount to deliberate indifference); Hallett v. Morgan, 296 F.3d

732, 745-46 (9th Cir. 2002) (to establish a claim of deliberate indifference arising

from delay in providing care, a plaintiff must show that the delay was harmful).

AFFIRMED.

2 21-16032