Court Opinion

ID: 164662
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2010-08-14 08:30:49+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:17:45.038438
License: Public Domain

F I L E D
                                                                      United States Court of Appeals
                                                                              Tenth Circuit
                      UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
                                                                             MAY 25 2004
                                    TENTH CIRCUIT
                                                                         PATRICK FISHER
                                                                                  Clerk

 CLARENCE HART,

          Plaintiff - Appellant,
 v.
                                                          No. 04-1009
 IRVIN JAUKINS, Warden;
                                                      (D.C. No. 03-Z-2165)
 DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS
                                                            (D. Colo.)
 MEDICAL STAFF; DENVER
 COUNTY JAIL; ROBERT C.
 FLONCE; CHEIF OLIVAS, Sheriff,

          Defendants - Appellees.

                             ORDER AND JUDGMENT *

Before SEYMOUR, LUCERO and O’BRIEN, Circuit Judges.

      Clarence Hart, a Colorado state prisoner proceeding pro se, appeals from

the district court’s dismissal of his civil rights claims for failure to cure certain

deficiencies in his complaint. Hart renews his request to proceed in forma

pauperis on appeal and asks this court to appoint counsel on his behalf.

      *
         The case is unanimously ordered submitted without oral argument
pursuant to Fed. R. App. P. 34(a)(2) and 10th Cir. R. 34.1(G). This order and
judgment is not binding precedent, except under the doctrines of law of the case,
res judicata, and collateral estoppel. The court generally disfavors the citation of
orders and judgments; nevertheless, an order and judgment may be cited under the
terms and conditions of 10th Cir. R. 36.3.
      On October 16, 2003, Hart filed a pro se complaint against the Colorado

Department of Corrections and the Denver County Jail, alleging that prison

officials lost his glass eye, leaving him with a void facial cavity. On October 30,

2003, the magistrate judge determined that Hart’s complaint was deficient in the

following particulars: (a) it did not contain a certified copy of Hart’s inmate trust

fund account statement; (b) it did not bear an original signature; (c) the names in

the caption did not match the names in the text; and (d) Hart failed to submit

sufficient copies of the complaint to serve each Defendant.

      In an effort to meet the trial court’s directive, on November 17, 2003, Hart

filed an amended complaint and a motion for appointment of counsel. According

to the district court, however, he failed “to submit a certified copy of his inmate

trust fund account statement as required pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a)(2).”

Hart v. Jaukins, No. 03-ES-2165 (D. Colo. filed Dec. 15, 2003). The district

court dismissed the complaint and action without prejudice. Hart’s motions to

proceed in forma pauperis and for appointment of counsel were denied as moot.

      On appeal, Hart apparently fails to recognize that the deficiency before the

trial court was his failure to submit a certified trust fund account statement. He

argues to us merely that he submitted a trust fund account statement, apparently

oblivious to the necessity for certification. We are not in a position to waive that

requirement—certification. Having thus failed to satisfy the trial court’s order,

                                        -2-
the appeal before us is premature and fails to state a claim for reversal. See

§ 1915(e)(2)(B)(ii). We dismiss the appeal. On the same basis, we deny the

motion to proceed in forma pauperis.

      Although the procedural posture of this case does not permit us to consider

the merits of Hart’s underlying claims, we nonetheless note that because the

district court dismissed Hart’s original action and motion for in forma pauperis

status without prejudice, Hart may refile his complaint, his motion for in forma

pauperis status, and his motion for appointment of counsel with the district court.

Provided that Hart meets all of the procedural and jurisdictional requirements, the

district court can then allow his claim to proceed.

      We DENY Hart’s request to proceed in forma pauperis, ORDER Hart to

immediately pay any unpaid costs and fees due this court for this appeal, and

DISMISS this appeal. We DENY Hart’s request for appointment of counsel.

                                       ENTERED FOR THE COURT

                                       Carlos F. Lucero
                                       Circuit Judge

                                         -3-