Court Opinion

ID: 30333
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2010-04-25 09:53:10+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:49:10.371899
License: Public Domain

IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
                                FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT

                                            No. 02-21092
                                          Summary Calendar

CHRIS GARNER,

                                                                                         Plaintiff-Appellant,

                                                  versus

JANE DOE,

                                                                                        Defendant-
                                                           Appellee.

                        -------------------------------------------------------------
                            Appeal from the United States District Court
                                   for the Southern District of Texas
                                       USDC No. H-02-CV-2968
                       --------------------------------------------------------------
                                            February 17, 2003

Before JONES, STEWART and DENNIS, Circuit Judges.

PER CURIAM:*

       Chris Garner, Texas prisoner # 716389, appeals the district court’s dismissal of his 42 U.S.C.

§ 1983 complaint for failure to state a claim pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B)(ii). Garner

argues that the district court erred in determining that his claim was barred by Heck v. Humphrey,

512 U.S. 477 (1994).

       *
           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 R. 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not be
published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5TH CIR.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.
        We review the district court’s dismissal de novo. Harris v. Hegmann, 198 F.3d 153, 156 (5th

Cir. 1999). The district court’s dismissal may be upheld only if, taking Garner’s allegations as true,

it appears that no relief could be granted based on his alleged facts. Id.

        The district court based its determination that Garner’s claim was Heck-barred on Garner’s

allegation that his plea agreement was breached as a result of the defendant’s conduct. If true, the

breach of a plea agreement would call into question the validity of Garner’s conviction; therefore, the

district court did not err in determining that the claim was Heck-barred based on the allegation made

in Garner’s complaint.

        Garner’s appeal is without arguable merit and is dismissed as frivolous. See 5TH CIR. R. 42.2;

Howard v. King, 707 F.2d 215, 219-20 (5th Cir. 1983). Garner is informed that the dismissal of this

appeal as frivolous counts as a strike for purposes of 28 U.S.C. § 1915(g), in addition to the strike

for the district court’s dismissal. See Adepegba v. Hammons, 103 F.3d 383, 388 (5th Cir. 1996)

(holding dismissals as frivolous in the district courts and the court of appeals count as strikes for 28

U.S.C. § 1915(g) purposes). We caution Garner that once he accumulates three strikes, he may not

bring in forma pauperis a 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). Garner

should review any pending appeals and withdraw any that are frivolous.

        APPEAL DISMISSED; THREE-STRIKES WARNING ISSUED.

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