Court Opinion

ID: 26295
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2010-04-25 08:50:47+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:32:05.576659
License: Public Domain

IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
                       FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT

                           No. 01-30932
                        Conference Calendar

REGINALD THOMAS,

                                          Plaintiff-Appellant,

versus

KENNETH JOHNSON; C.M. LENSING;
RICHARD L. STALDER,

                                          Defendants-Appellees.

                       --------------------
           Appeal from the United States District Court
               for the Middle District of Louisiana
                       USDC No. 01-CV-227-D
                       --------------------
                         December 11, 2001
Before HIGGINBOTHAM, BARKSDALE, and STEWART, Circuit Judges.

PER CURIAM:*

     Reginald Thomas, Louisiana inmate # 169499, appeals the

dismissal of his 42 U.S.C. § 1983 suit.   Thomas alleged that

sanctions imposed following a disciplinary hearing were unlawful

and that the Secretary of the Louisiana Department of Public

Safety and Corrections improperly declined to consider his

appeal.   The district court dismissed the complaint as frivolous

and for failure to state a claim.

     Thomas’ brief contains no record citations and no citations

to legal authorities.   Thomas has attempted to incorporate by

     *
        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that this opinion should not be published and is not precedent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.
                            No. 01-30932
                                 -2-

reference certain district court pleadings.    The incorporation by

reference of district court pleadings is not permitted.      See

Yohey v. Collins, 985 F.2d 222, 225 (5th Cir. 1993).    Although

this court liberally construes the briefs of pro se litigants,

pro se parties must still brief the issues and comply with the

standards of Rule 28 of the Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure.

See Grant v. Cuellar, 59 F.3d 523, 524 (5th Cir. 1995).      The

Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure require the parties to

provide references to the page number of the record to support

statements of fact.    See Fed. R. App. P. 28(a)(7) and (9)(A);

5th Cir. R. 28.2.3.    Rule 28(a)(9)(A) also requires the argument

to contain citations to the authorities relied on.    Additionally,

Thomas’ brief fails to identify any error in the district court's

legal analysis that his allegations, accepted as true, do not

state a claim.   Thomas has not adequately briefed any argument

relating to the district court's reasons for dismissal.      Failure

by the appellant to identify any error in the district court's

analysis or its application to the facts of his case is the same

as if the appellant had not appealed that judgment.    See

Brinkmann v. Dallas County Deputy Sheriff Abner, 813 F.2d 744,

748 (5th Cir. 1987).

     Thomas’ appeal is inadequately briefed, and we thus DISMISS

the appeal as frivolous.   5th Cir. R. 42.2.   The dismissal of the

instant appeal as frivolous and the district court's dismissal of

his civil rights complaint as frivolous each count as a "strike"

under the three-strikes provision of 28 U.S.C. § 1915(g).      See

Adepegba v. Hammons, 103 F.3d 383, 385-87 (5th Cir. 1996).
                          No. 01-30932
                               -3-

Thomas is cautioned 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; SANCTION WARNING ISSUED.