Court Opinion

ID: 20667
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2010-04-25 07:36:29+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:03:41.273716
License: Public Domain

IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
                        FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT

                              No. 99-51097
                          USDC No. W-99-CV-292

STEVEN HARM,

                                               Plaintiff-Appellant,

versus

TERRY R. HASSEL; JIMMY R. LAWSON; RODNEY GEBERT; BENNY BOYKIN;
TRAVIS BLACK; ROBERT LUMMUS; MONTE CULAME; RANDY B. DANIEL;
CLAUDE BILL,

                                               Defendants-Appellees.

                         --------------------
            Appeal from the United States District Court
                  for the Western District of Texas
                         --------------------
                             April 3, 2000

Before JOLLY, JONES, and BENAVIDES, Circuit Judges.

PER CURIAM:*

     Steven Harm, Texas inmate #701786, moves this court for leave

to proceed in forma pauperis (IFP) on appeal.            Harm’s motion for

appointment of counsel is DENIED.

     Harm challenges the district court’s refusal to grant IFP

status on appeal based upon its determination that the appeal was

not taken in good faith.       See Baugh v. Taylor, 117 F.3d 197, 202

(5th Cir. 1997).     Harm contends that the district court abused its

     *
         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opinion should not be published and is not precedent except under the limited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.
                              O R D E R
                            No. 99-51097
                                - 2 -

discretion by dismissing his complaint for failure to pay the

initial partial filing fee.    He contends that the district court

erred by failing to provide reasons for the certification.         He

asserts that the prison authorities should have forwarded the

initial partial filing fee to the district court clerk.

     When the district court certifies that an appeal is not taken

in good faith, it must “set forth in writing the reasons for its

certification.”   Baugh, 117 F.3d at 202.      The district court did

not do so in this case.   Nevertheless, we may address the merits of

the only issue before the court.    See id.

     The district court’s dismissal without prejudice of Harm’s 42

U.S.C. § 1983 complaint for failure to pay the initial partial

filing fee was an abuse of discretion.     See Hatchet v. Nettles, ___

F.3d ___, 2000 WL 45516 at *1-*3 (5th Cir. Feb. 4, 2000).         The

district court did not make a proper inquiry to determine whether

Harm had executed the necessary consent or authorization forms and

whether he had complied with the order to pay the filing fee.     The

district court’s order, assessing the initial partial filing fee,

did not order payment of the initial partial filing fee from Harm’s

prisoner’s trust account when funds were available.

     Accordingly, Harm’s motion for leave to proceed IFP on appeal

is GRANTED, the district court’s judgment dismissing Harm’s § 1983

complaint is VACATED, and the case is REMANDED to the district

court for further proceedings consistent with this court’s opinion

in Hatchet v. Nettles, ___ F.3d ___, 2000 WL 45516 at *1-*3 (5th

Cir. Feb. 4, 2000).
                            O R D E R
                          No. 99-51097
                              - 3 -

     MOTION FOR IFP GRANTED; VACATED AND REMANDED; MOTION FOR

APPOINTMENT OF COUNSEL DENIED.