Court Opinion

ID: 25620
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2010-04-25 08:41:11+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:02:52.176224
License: Public Domain

IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS

                             FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT

                                      No. 00-41357
                                      No 00-41443
                                    Summary Calendar

VINCENT EDWARD HOLMES,

                                                                                  Plaintiff-Appellant,

                                            versus

PAUL COGWELL, Etc.; ET AL.,

Defendants,

ROBERT B. TOMES, Bob Tomes Ford,

                                                                                Defendant-Appellee,

VINCENT EDWARD HOLMES,

                                                                                  Plaintiff-Appellant,

                                            versus

PAUL COGWELL, McKinney Police Department;
MARK PEARSON, Texarkana Police Department;
RANDY VANDERTUIN, McKinney Police
Department; ROBERT DEAN, McKinney Police
Department; ROBERT B. TOMES, Bob Tomes
Ford; BRIAN SMITH, Bob Tomes Ford; BENJAMIN
J. WOOD, Bob Tomes Ford; ERIC A. GONZALES;
TOMMY GLENN PADRON; MICHAEL WAYNE
JACKSON; R. M. SPEARS, Investigator; GERRICK
WALKER; LARRY ROBINSON, Chief of Police;
ISSAC TURNER, City Manager,

                                                                               Defendants-Appellees.

                    --------------------------------------------------------
                      Appeal from the United States District Court
                             for the Eastern District of Texas
                                 USDC No. 4:00-CV-149
                    --------------------------------------------------------
                                          October 26, 2001

Before DAVIS, BENAVIDES and STEWART, Circuit Judges:

PER CURIAM:*

       Vincent Edward Holmes appeals the dismissal of his 42 U.S.C. § 1983 lawsuit, asserting

various constitutional violations and state-law claims arising out of his arrest, detention, trial, and

ultimate acquittal on drug charges. Holmes first argues that the district court’s determination that

his claims against Robert B. Tomes were untimely was error because there is no federal statute of

limitations and because any limitations period did not begin to run until he was acquitted. Because

he raises this argument for the first time on appeal, this court will not consider it. See Shanks v.

AlliedSignal, Inc., 169 F.3d 988, 993 n.6 (5th Cir. 1999); Burch v. Coca-Cola, 119 F.3d 305, 319

(5th Cir. 1997). Moreover, even if the court were to consider the argument that dismissal of the

claims as untimely was error, Holmes has not briefed any argument addressing the district court’s

alternative conclusion that Tomes was not a state actor for purposes of

§ 1983, and has therefore waived any challenge to the alternative reasons for the district court’s

dismissal. See Yohey v. Collins, 985 F.2d 222, 224-25 (5th Cir. 1993). Accordingly, the district

court’s Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(6) dismissal of the claims against Tomes is AFFIRMED.

       Holmes also challenges the district court’s dismissal of the remainder of his claims against the

remaining defendants. The district court’s order dismissing the remaining claims under Fed. R. Civ.

P. 41(b) due to Holmes’ failure to prosecute was not an abuse of discretion. See McNeal v. Papasan,

842 F.2d 787, 789 (5th Cir. 1988); see also Salinas v. Sun Oil Co., 819 F.2d 105, 106 (5th Cir.

1987). Accordingly, that order is also AFFIRMED.

       *
          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.
       Holmes’ argument that the district court erred in denying his motion for the appointment of

counsel is without merit. See Ulmer v. Chancellor, 691 F.2d 209, 212 (5th Cir. 1982). His motion

for the appointment of appellate counsel is DENIED.

       AFFIRMED; MOTION DENIED.