Court Opinion

ID: 7984
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2010-04-25 05:33:14+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:48:59.658531
License: Public Domain

IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
                       FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT

                        __________________

                            No. 95-30555
                        Conference Calendar
                         __________________

DARRION HARRIS,

                                     Plaintiff-Appellant,

versus

CHARLES C. FOTI, JR. Sheriff,
GARY BORDELON, Warden,

                                     Defendants-Appellees.

                         - - - - - - - - - -
           Appeal from the United States District Court
               for the Eastern District of Louisiana
                        USDC No. CA-95-935-T
                         - - - - - - - - - -
                          (October 18, 1995)
Before POLITZ, Chief Judge, and REAVLEY and SMITH, Circuit Judges.

PER CURIAM:*

     Darrion Harris filed this pro se, in forma pauperis (IFP),

42 U.S.C. § 1983 suit against Orleans Parish Criminal Sheriff

Charles Foti and Warden Gary Bordelon, alleging that prison

officials did not return his radio, tapes, batteries, pencils,

and $ 25.63 in his prison account when he was transferred from

Orleans Parish Prison to another jail.

     *
          Local Rule 47.5 provides: "The publication of opinions
that have no precedential value and merely decide particular
cases on the basis of well-settled principles of law imposes
needless expense on the public and burdens on the legal
profession." Pursuant to that Rule, the court has determined
that this opinion should not be published.
                            No. 95-30555
                                 -2-

     Harris also appears to be arguing for the first time on

appeal the deprivation of other property, including a pair of

eyeglasses, towels, clothing, a photo book, legal pads, and legal

work, that he says was not returned to him when he was

transferred out of Orleans Parish Prison.    "Issues raised for the

first time on appeal are not reviewable by this court unless they

involve purely legal questions and failure to consider them would

result in manifest injustice."    Varnado v. Lynaugh, 920 F.2d 320,

321 (5th Cir. 1991).    Harris' issue would necessarily involve

fact questions.   Therefore, this court will not consider it.

     The district court dismissed a portion of Harris' complaint

because Harris had previously alleged the deprivation of his

tapes and pencils in prior suits.    Harris does not challenge this

contention on appeal.    Therefore, he has abandoned this issue by

failing to brief it on appeal. See Brinkmann v. Abner, 813 F.2d
744, 748 (5th Cir. 1987).

     The district court also dismissed the rest of Harris'

complaint regarding the taking of Harris' radio, batteries, and

money, stating Harris had alleged only a claim of deprivation of

property, which was, at most, an intentional, random act.    Harris

does not claim that prison officials took Harris' property as

part of an established procedure.    Therefore, the district court

did not abuse its discretion in dismissing Harris' action.      See

Hudson v. Palmer, 468 U.S. 517, 532-534 (1984); Marshall v.

Norwood, 741 F.2d 761, 763-64 (5th Cir. 1984).

     AFFIRMED.