Case Name: Michael HAENDEL, Plaintiff-Appellant v. M. DIGIANTONIO; Thomas Eaton, Defendants-Appellees
Court: United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 2014-08-05
Citations: 577 F. App'x 259
Docket Number: No. 13-50862
Parties: Michael HAENDEL, Plaintiff-Appellant v. M. DIGIANTONIO; Thomas Eaton, Defendants-Appellees.
Judges: Before PRADO, OWEN, and GRAVES, Circuit Judges.
Reporter: West's Federal Appendix
Volume: 577
Pages: 259–260

Head Matter:
Michael HAENDEL, Plaintiff-Appellant v. M. DIGIANTONIO; Thomas Eaton, Defendants-Appellees.
No. 13-50862
Summary Calendar.
United States Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit.
Aug. 5, 2014.
Michael Haendel, Austin, TX, pro se.
Elaine Agnes Casas, Assistant County Attorney, County Attorney’s Office for The County of Travis, Austin, TX, for Defendants-Appellees.
Before PRADO, OWEN, and GRAVES, Circuit Judges.

Opinion:
PER CURIAM:
Michael Haendel filed the instant 42 U.S.C. § 1983 suit to seek redress for actions connected to his January 2011 arrest. The district court granted the defendants' Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(c) motion, dismissed the suit, and denied Haendel authorization to proceed in forma pauperis (IFP) on appeal. Now, Haendel moves this court for IFP status, thereby challenging the district court's certification that his appeal was not taken in good faith. See Baugh v. Taylor, 117 F.3d 197, 202 (5th Cir.1997). Our inquiry into Haendel's good faith "is limited to whether 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).
Haendel has not met this standard. There is little in his opening and reply briefs that relates to the district court's judgment dismissing his suit. The majority of the briefs consists of recitations of various facts and law that do not relate to the district court's judgment. Those few bits of the briefs that do mention various aspects of the district court's judgment, such as Haendel's assertion that qualified immunity is not absolute immunity, do not suffice to show a nonfrivolous appellate claim.
This appeal lacks arguable merit and is thus frivolous. See Howard, 707 F.2d at 220. Consequently, Haendel's IFP motion is DENIED, and the appeal is DISMISSED. See Baugh, 117 F.3d at 202; 5th CiR. R. 42.2.
Pursuant to 5th Cir. R. 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not be published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5th Cir. R. 47.5.4.