Court Opinion

ID: 37839
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2010-04-25 19:59:00+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:15:48.779769
License: Public Domain

United States Court of Appeals
                                                                Fifth Circuit
                                                             F I L E D
               IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
                       FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT                February 23, 2005

                                                         Charles R. Fulbruge III
                                                                 Clerk
                            No. 04-50684
                        Conference Calendar

JOSHUA PRAYLOR,

                                    Plaintiff-Appellant,

versus

RONALD FITZRANDOLPH; WILLIAM PRUDIE, JR;
ADAM DOOLEY; EDWARD SMITH, Assistant
Warden; JESSE SHUCK,

                                    Defendants-Appellees.

                       --------------------
          Appeal from the United States District Court
                for the Western District of Texas
                      USDC No. 6:03-CV-436
                       --------------------

Before BARKSDALE, GARZA, and STEWART, Circuit Judges.

PER CURIAM:*

     Joshua Praylor, Texas prisoner # 1128305, appeals from the

dismissal of his 42 U.S.C. § 1983 civil rights complaint pursuant

to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B).   Praylor argues that prison

officials exercised excessive force, violated his right to equal

protection, and caused him mental anguish as a result of an

altercation during a housing transfer.

     *
       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this opinion should not be published and is not precedent except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. 04-50684
                                 -2-

      Because Praylor’s claims against Smith and Shuck stem

strictly from their supervisory roles and because he has not

shown that they implemented a policy that resulted in a

constitutional violation, Praylor has not raised a cognizable

constitutional claim as to these defendants.     See Thompkins v.

Belt, 828 F.2d 298, 303-04 (5th Cir. 1987).

     Praylor has not stated an Eighth Amendment claim because his

injuries were de minimis and because he has not shown that the

force deployed in light of his resistance to being subdued was

“repugnant to the conscience of mankind.”     See Baldwin v.

Stalder, 137 F.3d 836, 838-39 (5th Cir. 1998).

     Praylor’s claim that the prison fails to follow its policies

regarding life endangerment requests does not amount to a

constitutional violation.   See Edwards v. Johnson, 209 F.3d 772,

779 (5th Cir. 2000).   Praylor’s assertion that “other inmates”

were granted such requests is conclusional and thus does not

state an equal protection violation.    See Koch v. Puckett,

907 F.2d 524, 530 (5th Cir. 1990).

     Likewise, Praylor’s claim for mental anguish fails to state

a cognizable constitutional claim.    Because his injuries were

de minimis, his claim is not actionable under 42 U.S.C. § 1983.

See Siglar v. Hightower, 112 F.3d 191, 193 (5th Cir. 1997).

     Praylor’s appeal is without arguable merit and is thus

frivolous.   See Howard v. King, 707 F.2d 215, 220 (5th Cir.

1983).   As such, it is DISMISSED.   See 5TH CIR. R. 42.2.
                           No. 04-50684
                                -3-

The magistrate judge’s dismissal of Praylor’s claims pursuant to

28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B) and the dismissal of the instant appeal

as frivolous count as two strikes under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(g).

See Adepegba v. Hammons, 103 F.3d 383, 385-87 (5th Cir. 1996).

Praylor is cautioned that once he accumulates three strikes, he

will not be permitted to 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 AS FRIVOLOUS; SANCTION WARNING ISSUED.