Case Explained: Khanis-Orion Morningstar v. James H. Smith, Jr., Doctor, Wellpath; Charlotte Gardner, Regional Ombudsman, Wellpath Defendants – Appellees Aundrea Culclager, Deputy Director of Health and Correctional Programs, Central Office; Brandy Johnson, Medical Grievance Officer, Health and Correctional Programs, Central Office

Court: United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit

Filed: 2026-07-07

The eighth-circuit affirmed the district court’s grant of summary judgment against inmate Khanis-Orion Morningstar in his pro se 42 U.S.C. § 1983 action alleging deliberate indifference to a serious medical need. Applying de novo review, the court held that Morningstar failed to establish an Eighth Amendment violation because unrebutted expert testimony confirmed that the defendants’ treatment of conservative observation was appropriate for his condition, regardless of his disagreement with the medical judgment. The court further ruled that the failure-to-supervise claim against defendant Gardner and the official-capacity claims against Wellpath necessarily failed in the absence of underlying constitutional violations. Consequently, the district court’s adverse judgment stands, and no relief is granted to the appellant.

Do It For The Case Law is a news reporting service. Nothing in this episode constitutes legal advice.