Case ID: f-appx_274/html/0342-02.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "PER CURIAM: \n    ", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Valerie STEELE, Plaintiff-Appellant v. TRAVIS COUNTY JAIL; Robert A. Perkins, also known as Judge Bob Perkins; Officer B.F. Francis; FNU Merka; Joseph Zahn, also known as Don Zahn; Nurse Kim Hutchins; FNU Kelly; Travis County; Texas Department Of Criminal Justice Parole Board; FBI Agents; Dea Agents; Travis County Correctional Complex, Defendants-Appellees.
    No. 06-50965
    Conference Calendar.
    United States Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit.
    April 15, 2008.
    Valerie Steele, pro se.
    
      Before PRADO, OWEN, and SOUTHWICK, Circuit Judges.
   PER CURIAM:

Valerie Steele, formerly Texas prisoner # 1182994, appeals from the dismissal of her 42 U.S.C. § 1988 action with prejudice as frivolous pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e). Steele has filed numerous motions and an appellate brief in which she elaborates on her claims. She has also filed evidence that was not previously filed in the district court. Steele makes no legal argument with respect to the district court’s reasons for dismissing her complaint as frivolous, but she asks us to review the new evidence and to conclude based on it that the district court erred in finding her complaint to be barred by the statute of limitations.

A district court may dismiss an in forma pauperis (IFP) complaint as frivolous under § 1915(e) if it lacks an arguable basis in law or fact. Norton v. Dimazana, 122 F.3d 286, 291 (5th Cir.1997). We review a § 1915 dismissal as frivolous for abuse of discretion. Id.

“An appellate court may not consider new evidence furnished for the first time on appeal and may not consider facts which were not before the district court at the time of the challenged ruling.” Theri-ot v. Parish of Jefferson, 185 F.3d 477, 491 n. 26 (5th Cir.1999). Failure to identify an eiTor in the district court’s analysis is the same as if the appellant had not appealed the judgment. Brinkmann v. Dallas County Deputy Sheriff Abner, 813 F.2d 744, 748 (5th Cir.1987). Although pro se briefs are liberally construed, even pro se litigants must brief arguments in order to preserve them. Yohey v. Collins, 985 F.2d 222, 225 (5th Cir.1993).

As Steele has not shown that the district court’s determination that her complaint was frivolous was an abuse of discretion and has failed to identify any error on the part of the district court, her appeal is dismissed as frivolous. See 5th Cir. R. 42.2. Steele’s motions for an evidentiary hearing, augmentation of record on appeal, oral argument, and appointment of counsel are denied. Any other outstanding motions are also denied.

The district court’s dismissal of Steele’s complaint counts as a strike under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(g). See Adepegba v. Hammons, 103 F.3d 383, 387-88 (5th Cir.1996). The dismissal of the instant appeal does not count as a strike because Steele is no longer in prison. See § 1915(g). Steele is cautioned that if she accumulates three strikes under § 1915(g), she will not be able to proceed IFP in any civil action or appeal filed while she is incarcerated or detained in any facility unless she is under imminent danger of serious physical injury. See § 1915(g).

APPEAL DISMISSED; MOTIONS DENIED; SANCTION WARNING ISSUED. 
      
       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.