Case ID: f-appx_534/html/0232-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "\n      PER CURIAM: \n    ", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Shirley MUHLIESEN, individually and on behalf of the minor child, Devon Muhliesen, Plaintiff-Appellant v. RECEIVABLE RECOVERY SERVICES, L.L.C., Defendant-Appellee.
    No. 12-30794
    Summary Calendar.
    United States Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit.
    April 3, 2013.
    Shirley Muhliesen, individually and on behalf of the minor child, Devon Muhliesen, Marrero, LA, pro se.
    William V. Westbrook, III, Esq., Page, Mannino, Peresich & McDermott, P.L.L.C., Gulfport, MS, Nathan Lamar Prescott, Biloxi, MS, for Defendant-Appel-lee.
    Before KING, CLEMENT, and HIGGINSON, Circuit Judges.
   PER CURIAM:

Shirley Muhliesen sued Receivable Recovery Services, LLC (RRS) under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), 15 U.S.C. §§ 1692-1692p, in connection with debts that Ochsner Medical Services claimed she owed. The district court ruled that Muhliesen had not asserted a claim for damages and that her claim for injunctive relief had been rendered moot by the defendant’s voluntary actions. The district court therefore dismissed the suit with prejudice and denied Muhliesen leave to proceed in forma pau-peris (IFP) on appeal.

Muhliesen seeks our review of the issues whether the district court abused its discretion by failing to sanction RRS for not disclosing all of its exhibits and witnesses, erred by reconsidering its order that allowed Muhliesen to amend her complaint, improperly denied her claim for damages, erred in determining that Muhliesen’s claim for injunctive relief was moot, and erred in determining that medical bills arising from a federal workers’ compensation claim constitute business debts not covered by the FDCPA. Muhliesen seeks also to proceed IFP on appeal.

To proceed IFP, Muhliesen must show that she is a pauper and that she appeals in good faith, i.e., that the appeal presents nonfrivolous issues. See Fed. R.App. P. 24(a); Carson v. Polley, 689 F.2d 562, 586 (5th Cir.1982). Muhliesen has presented us with an affidavit that establishes that she is unable to pay the costs of appealing without undue hardship or deprivation of life’s necessities. She has failed, however, to show that “the appeal involves legal points arguable on their merits (and therefore not frivolous).” Howard v. King, 707 F.2d 215, 220 (5th Cir.1983) (internal quotation marks and citation omitted). Consequently, we may dismiss the appeal sua sponte. 5th Cir. R. 42.2.

Muhliesen’s IFP motion is DENIED; the appeal is DISMISSED; the motion to supplement the record and motion to seal the record are both DENIED. 
      
       Pursuant to 5th Cir R. 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not be published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5th Cir. R. 47.5.4.