Case Name: Nelson HAWKINS, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. C. KNHER, Licensed Vocational Nurse; William Gonzalez, M.D.; Quality Services/Risk Management Director; Janie Cockrell, Director, Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Institutional Division; Lynn Allen, Grievance Supervisor, Defendants-Appellees
Court: United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 2004-12-17
Citations: 115 F. App'x 707
Docket Number: No. 04-10855
Parties: Nelson HAWKINS, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. C. KNHER, Licensed Vocational Nurse; William Gonzalez, M.D.; Quality Services/Risk Management Director; Janie Cockrell, Director, Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Institutional Division; Lynn Allen, Grievance Supervisor, Defendants-Appellees.
Judges: 
Reporter: West's Federal Appendix
Volume: 115
Pages: 707–708

Head Matter:
Nelson HAWKINS, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. C. KNHER, Licensed Vocational Nurse; William Gonzalez, M.D.; Quality Services/Risk Management Director; Janie Cockrell, Director, Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Institutional Division; Lynn Allen, Grievance Supervisor, Defendants-Appellees.
No. 04-10855.
Conference Calendar.
United States Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit.
Decided Dec. 17, 2004.
Nelson Hawkins, Fort Worth, TX, pro se.
Before KING, Chief Judge, and DeMOSS and CLEMENT, Circuit Judges.

Opinion:
PER CURIAM:
Nelson Hawkins filed this pro se, in forma pauperis complaint pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983, at a time when he was a Texas prisoner (# 514798). Hawkins, who allegedly has since discharged his sentence, now appeals the district court's dismissal of his complaint as frivolous. The district court concluded that Hawkins had failed to exhaust his administrative remedies with respect to the claims contained in his complaint, as required by 42 U.S.C. § 1997e(a).
On appeal, Hawkins reiterates his allegations of deliberate indifference to his serious medical needs. But he does not acknowledge or challenge the basis for the district court's procedural ruling that he had failed to exhaust his administrative remedies. Accordingly, it is as if Hawkins had not appealed the judgment. See Brinkmann v. Dallas County Deputy Sheriff Abner, 813 F.2d 744, 748 (5th Cir.1987). Hawkins's appeal is without arguable merit and is frivolous. See Howard v. King, 707 F.2d 215, 219-20 (5th Cir.1983).
As Hawkins's appeal is frivolous, it is DISMISSED. See 5th Cíe. R. 42.2. Because Hawkins was incarcerated at the time he filed the instant complaint, the district court's dismissal of his complaint as frivolous counts as a strike for purposes of 28 U.S.C. § 1915(g). See Adepegba v. Hammons, 103 F.3d 383, 388 (5th Cir.1996). Should Hawkins be returned to prison and accumulate three strikes, he would not be permitted to proceed IFP in any civil action or appeal filed while incarcerated or detained in any facility unless he were under imminent danger of serious physical injury. See 28 U.S.C. § 1915(g).
APPEAL DISMISSED; 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.