Court Opinion

ID: 9911914
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-12-21 01:02:05.068988+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:50:16.136167
License: Public Domain

Case: 23-50492        Document: 00517009727             Page: 1      Date Filed: 12/20/2023

             United States Court of Appeals
                  for the Fifth Circuit
                                     ____________
                                                                               United States Court of Appeals
                                                                                        Fifth Circuit
                                      No. 23-50492
                                    Summary Calendar                                  FILED
                                    ____________                              December 20, 2023
                                                                                 Lyle W. Cayce
   Lonnie Kade Welsh,                                                                 Clerk

                                                                    Plaintiff—Appellant,

                                            versus

   Greg Abbott, Governor of the State of Texas-In his official capacity;
   Marsha McLane, Texas Civil Commitment Office Director-In her official
   capacity; Judge Pat MaGuire, 198th District Court of Texas-In his
   official capacity; Judge Patty Maginnis, 435th District Court of Texas;
   Judge Stephanie Boyd, 187th District Court of Texas; Judge
   Albert Pattillo, 216th District Court of Texas,

                                              Defendants—Appellees.
                     ______________________________

                     Appeal from the United States District Court
                          for the Western District of Texas
                               USDC No. 5:23-CV-469
                     ______________________________

   Before Jolly, Engelhardt, and Douglas, Circuit Judges.
   Per Curiam: *

         _____________________
         *
             This opinion is not designated for publication. See 5th Cir. R. 47.5.
Case: 23-50492       Document: 00517009727          Page: 2    Date Filed: 12/20/2023

                                     No. 23-50492

            Lonnie Kade Welsh, former Texas prisoner # 2201624 and civilly
   committed sexually violent predator, as defined by Texas Health & Safety
   Code § 841.003, filed a complaint seeking declaratory and injunctive relief
   under 42 U.S.C. § 1983. In his complaint, Welsh alleged that he did not
   possess the requisite mens rea at the time of his prior sexual convictions and
   that his civil commitment was an act of fraud. He requested the district court
   overturn his prior criminal convictions underlying his civil commitment and
   the order of civil commitment, or for an acquittal rendered by the Governor
   of Texas.
            The district court dismissed Welsh’s § 1983 claims for failure to state
   a claim in which any relief could be provided pursuant to 28 U.S.C.
   § 1915(e)(2)(B). On appeal, Welsh contends that, because he no longer has
   a habeas remedy available to him, he should not be precluded from bringing
   a § 1983 action. Our review is de novo. See Geiger v. Jowers, 404 F.3d 371,
   373 (5th Cir. 2005).
            Welsh has not shown that the district court erred in dismissing his
   § 1983 claims for failure to state a claim under which relief can be granted. If
   the district court were to award the relief Welsh seeks, its actions would
   implicitly call into question the validity of his prior convictions. See Heck v.
   Humphrey, 512 U.S. 477, 486-87 (1994). Because there is no evidence
   showing that Welsh’s prior convictions have been reversed or otherwise
   called into question, this claim is barred under Heck’s universal favorable-
   termination rule. See id.; Randell v. Johnson, 227 F.3d 300, 301 (5th Cir.
   2000); Collins v. Dallas Leadership Foundation, 77 F.4th 327, 330 (5th Cir.
   2023).
            Finally, insofar as Welsh also sought to overturn or invalidate the
   order of civil commitment in his § 1983 complaint, Welsh did not assert, let
   alone brief on appeal, whether Heck applies to this claim. Although we apply

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Case: 23-50492      Document: 00517009727          Page: 3    Date Filed: 12/20/2023

                                    No. 23-50492

   less stringent standards to parties proceeding pro se than to parties
   represented by counsel and liberally construe briefs of pro se litigants, pro se
   parties must still brief the issues and reasonably comply with the
   requirements of Federal Rule of Appellate Procedure 28. See Grant v.
   Cuellar, 59 F.3d 523, 524 (5th Cir. 1995); see also Mapes v. Bishop, 541 F.3d
   582, 584 (5th Cir. 2008); Fed. R. App. P. 28. Thus, even construing his
   pro se brief liberally, Welsh did not preserve this specific argument for
   appeal.
          Welsh again is WARNED that future frivolous filings will invite the
   imposition of sanctions, which may include monetary sanctions or limits on
   his ability to file pleadings in this court or any court subject to this court’s
   jurisdiction.
          The judgment of the district court is AFFIRMED.

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