AI Generated Opinion Summaries

This summary was computer-generated without any editorial revision. It is not official, has not been checked for accuracy, and is NOT citable.

Facts

• The Plaintiff filed a complaint for negligence against Core Civic, Inc., stemming from an incident that occurred on October 22, 2018. The district court dismissed the complaint, concluding it lacked jurisdiction because the Plaintiff had not exhausted administrative remedies through the prison's grievance procedure before initiating litigation (para 4).

Procedural History

• [Not applicable or not found]

Parties' Submissions

• Plaintiff: Argued that an incident report completed by prison officials should substitute for the grievance procedure's required complaint. Contended that the dismissal should have been without prejudice, suggesting that a plaintiff no longer incarcerated may not be bound by the grievance process (para 4-5).
• Defendant (Core Civic, Inc.): [Not applicable or not found]

Legal Issues

• Whether the district court correctly concluded it lacked jurisdiction over the Plaintiff's negligence claim against Core Civic, Inc. due to the Plaintiff's failure to exhaust administrative remedies as required by law (para 4).
• Whether the dismissal of the Plaintiff's complaint should have been without prejudice based on the assertion that a plaintiff who is no longer incarcerated may not be bound by the grievance process (para 5).

Disposition

• The Court of Appeals affirmed the district court's order granting summary judgment and dismissing the Plaintiff's complaint against Core Civic, Inc. (para 6).

Reasons

• J. Miles Hanisee, Chief Judge, with Jennifer L. Attrep, Judge, and Jane B. Yohalem, Judge, concurring, found that the Plaintiff did not exhaust administrative remedies as required by NMSA 1978, Section 33-2-11(B) (1990), before filing the lawsuit. The Plaintiff failed to file an administrative complaint and did not follow the administrative appeal process. The court also rejected the Plaintiff's argument that the dismissal should have been without prejudice, noting that the Plaintiff was incarcerated at all relevant times and thus bound by the grievance process. The court emphasized the importance of the ripeness requirement in conserving judicial resources for real and present or imminent problems (paras 4-6).