Case Name: Michael FORD, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. Phillip JONES; Robert Ford; Gregory Wingate; William Dugger; Kelvin Scott; James Chapman; Thomas Carroll; Kelli Ward; Susan Schumacher; Melvin Trahan; Michael Geerdes, Defendants-Appellees
Court: United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 2005-10-05
Citations: 149 F. App'x 316
Docket Number: No. 04-41268
Parties: Michael FORD, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. Phillip JONES; Robert Ford; Gregory Wingate; William Dugger; Kelvin Scott; James Chapman; Thomas Carroll; Kelli Ward; Susan Schumacher; Melvin Trahan; Michael Geerdes, Defendants-Appellees.
Judges: Before SMITH, GARZA, and PRADO, Circuit Judges.
Reporter: West's Federal Appendix
Volume: 149
Pages: 316–318

Head Matter:
Michael FORD, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. Phillip JONES; Robert Ford; Gregory Wingate; William Dugger; Kelvin Scott; James Chapman; Thomas Carroll; Kelli Ward; Susan Schumacher; Melvin Trahan; Michael Geerdes, Defendants-Appellees.
No. 04-41268.
Summary Calendar.
United States Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit.
Decided Oct. 5, 2005.
Michael Ford, Rosharon, TX, pro se.
Before SMITH, GARZA, and PRADO, Circuit Judges.

Opinion:
PER CURIAM:
Michael Ford, Texas prisoner # 557415, proceeding pro se and in forma pauperis (IFP), appeals the district court's dismissal of his civil rights complaint filed pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983 as frivolous. Ford alleged in his complaint that his constitutional rights were violated when, in response to his threat to file a grievance, various Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) officials retaliated by forcing him to remain in outdoor recreation for three hours without a jacket on February 1, 2002. He also alleged that his constitutional rights were violated when TDCJ officials failed to properly investigate the loss of his radio while it was under TDCJ control.
Ford first argues that the district court abused its discretion in determining that he did not state a cognizable retaliation claim. As Ford correctly contends, his allegation that officials refused to provide him with a jacket or allow him to return to his cell as a result of his threat to file a grievance was sufficient to allege a violation of a constitutional right. See Woods v. Smith, 60 F.3d 1161, 1166 (5th Cir.1995); Jackson v. Cain, 864 F.2d 1235, 1248 (5th Cir.1989). In addition, Ford's contention that he was left outside in below-45-degree weather without a jacket, whereas other inmates were left outside for only an hour without jackets, was sufficient to set forth a retaliatory adverse act. See Hart v. Hairston, 343 F.3d 762, 764 (5th Cir.2003). Furthermore, Ford's allegation that an official responded to his threat to file a grievance by telling him that he would be left outside to freeze until he came back to get him and Ford's allegation that he then was left outside for two hours longer than other inmates stated a "chronology of events" sufficient to viably allege retaliatory motive and causation. See id.; Woods, 60 F.3d at 1166. Ford has alleged facts sufficient to support a retaliation claim, and, thus, the district court abused its discretion in dismissing the claim. Accordingly, we VACATE the district court's dismissal of this claim as frivolous and REMAND this case to the district court for further proceedings in accordance with this opinion.
Ford also argues that the district court erred in determining that prison officials did not violate the Eighth Amendment's prohibition against cruel and unusual punishment when they intentionally left him outside in the cold weather throughout the winter of 2001 and 2002 without a jacket. However, because Ford has not shown that the deprivation resulted in "the denial of the minimal civilized measures of life's necessities," the district court did not abuse its discretion in dismissing the claim as frivolous. See Palmer v. Johnson, 193 F.3d 346, 352 (5th Cir. 1999). Accordingly, the district court's dismissal of this claim as frivolous is AFFIRMED.
Ford contends that the district court erred in dismissing his claim that prison officials lost his radio while it was in their custody. Because Texas has adequate postdeprivation remedies for the confiscation of property, such as a tort action for conversion, Ford may not bring a federal claim for deprivation of property through the "random and unauthorized" acts of government officers. Sheppard v. La. Bd. of Parole, 873 F.2d 761, 763 (5th Cir.1989); Thompson v. Steele, 709 F.2d 381, 383 (5th Cir.1983). Ford conclusorily asserts that a prisoner cannot bring a claim in justice court or small claims court because those courts do not have the authority to issue a bench warrant that the state prison system is obligated to follow. However, he does not indicate that he has attempted to file such an action, much less that the court's inability to issue a bench warrant actually prevented him from pursuing it. Accordingly, the district court did not abuse its discretion in dismissing this claim as frivolous, and the district court's dismissal of this claim is AFFIRMED.
Ford's motion for appointment of counsel on appeal is DENIED. See Ulmer v. Chancellor, 691 F.2d 209, 212 (5th Cir. 1982).
AFFIRMED IN PART, VACATED AND REMANDED IN PART; MOTION 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.