Court Opinion

ID: 23692
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2010-04-25 08:13:20+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:04:11.770973
License: Public Domain

IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
                       FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT

                              No. 00-21098
                          Conference Calendar

PAUL DOUGLAS CELESTINE,

                                           Plaintiff-Appellant,

versus

RICHARD O. ELI II,

                                           Defendant-Appellee.

                        --------------------
           Appeal from the United States District Court
                for the Southern District of Texas
                       USDC No. H-00-CV-2364
                        --------------------
                           April 10, 2001

Before JOLLY, HIGGINBOTHAM, and JONES, Circuit Judges.

PER CURIAM:*

     Paul Douglas Celestine, federal prisoner # 872178, appeals

from the dismissal of his Bivens** action for failure to state a

claim under 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(b)(1) and from the denial of his

“motion for reconsideration,” which we construe as a Fed. R. Civ.

P. 60(b) motion.   Celestine also requests the appointment of

counsel.   This motion is 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that this opinion should not be published and is not precedent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.
     **
        Bivens v. Six Unknown Named Agents of Federal Bureau of
Narcotics, 403 U.S. 388 (1971).
                            No. 00-21098
                                 -2-

     This court must examine the basis of its jurisdiction, on

its own motion, if necessary.    Mosley v. Cozby, 813 F.2d 659, 660

(5th Cir. 1987).    Celestine did not file a timely notice of

appeal from the district court’s July 25, 2000, order of

dismissal.    See Fed. R. App. P. 4(a)(1).    Thus, this court lacks

jurisdiction over the appeal of the dismissal of the complaint.

See Robbins v. Maggio, 750 F.2d 405, 408 (5th Cir. 1985).

However, the notice of appeal was timely as to Celestine’s Fed.

R. Civ. P. 60(b) motion, which we now consider.

     Celestine’s brief, liberally construed, argues that the

district court abused its discretion in denying Fed. R. Civ. P.

60(b) relief from judgment because he should not be required,

under Heck v. Humphrey, 512 U.S. 477 (1994), to demonstrate that

his criminal conviction has been overturned before seeking

damages.   This argument is meritless.     The district court did not

abuse its discretion in denying Celestine’s Fed. R. Civ. P. 60(b)

motion.    See Stephenson v. Reno, 28 F.3d 26, 27-28 (5th Cir.

1994).

     Celestine’s appeal is without arguable merit and is

frivolous.    See Howard v. King, 707 F.2d 215, 219-20 (5th Cir.

1983).    Because the appeal is frivolous, it is DISMISSED.     See

5th Cir. R. 42.2.

     The dismissal of this appeal and the dismissal for failure

to state a claim by the district court each count as a “strike”

for purposes of 28 U.S.C. § 1915(g).       See Adepegba v. Hammons,

103 F.3d 383, 387-88 (5th Cir. 1996).      Celestine, therefore, has

two “strikes” under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(g).      We caution Celestine
                          No. 00-21098
                               -3-

that once he accumulates three strikes, he may not proceed in

forma pauperis in any civil action or appeal filed while he is

incarcerated or detained in any facility unless he is under

imminent danger of serious physical injury.   See 28 U.S.C.

§ 1915(g).

     APPEAL DISMISSED; MOTION DENIED; SANCTIONS WARNING ISSUED.