Case ID: f-appx_160/html/0254-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "PER CURIAM", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Michael Paul McDANIEL, Appellant v. STATE OF NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS; Frank Pedalino; Lt. Graham; Lydell B. Sherrer.
    No. 05-3052.
    United States Court of Appeals, Third Circuit.
    Submitted for Possible Dismissal Under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B) Dec. 1, 2005.
    Decided Dec. 28, 2005.
    
      Michael P. McDaniel, Trenton, NJ, pro se.
    Before RENDELL, AMBRO and BECKER, Circuit Judges.
   OPINION OF THE COURT

PER CURIAM

Michael Paul McDaniel appeals from the order of the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey dismissing his civil rights action filed pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. McDaniel, a former inmate at Northern State Prison at Newark, New Jersey, alleged that he was confined in the “STGMU,” to which he refers alternatively as the “gang unit.” McDaniel stated that the defendants classified him as a gang member and housed him in the gang unit, thereby placing him in harm’s way, and that he was not given an opportunity to employ counsel or to show that he is not a gang member. He asserted that the defendants’ conduct violated his constitutional rights to due process. McDaniel sought injunctive relief in the form of a hearing at which he would be allowed to show that he is not a gang member. In addition, he sought transfer out of the gang unit and into general population, or transfer to another prison. The District Court granted McDaniel’s application to proceed in forma pauperis under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a) and dismissed the complaint under section 1915(e)(2). The District Court later issued a supplemental order assessing the amount of the filing fee to be deducted from McDaniel’s prison account in installments pursuant to section 1915(b)(2). McDaniel appeals and has been granted leave to proceed in forma pauperis on appeal. We have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291.

Upon careful review of the record, we discern no error in the dismissal of McDaniel’s complaint and in assessing the filing fee. First, the District Court concluded that the complaint was moot regarding McDaniel’s request to be transferred to another prison, because McDaniel had been transferred to the New Jersey State Prison in Trenton, New Jersey. It appears from the record that McDaniel was transferred after filing the complaint and currently remains incarcerated at the Trenton facility. We agree that this request for relief is moot. Second, the District Court determined that McDaniel’s confinement in the STGMU did not deprive him of a protected liberty interest arising under the due process clause or under a state-created liberty interest. We agree. See Fraise v. Terhune, 283 F.3d 506, 522-23 (3d Cir.2002). Finally, we agree with the District Court that assessment of the fee to be paid in installments is appropriate under the provisions of 28 U.S.C. § 1915(b). We note that McDaniel’s in forma pauperis application contains a signed authorization form in contemplation of the fee being collected pursuant to the statute.

We will dismiss this appeal under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B).