Court Opinion

ID: 30472
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2010-04-25 09:54:40+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:43:12.714090
License: Public Domain

IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
                       FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT

                            No. 02-50696
                        Conference Calendar

BILLY RAY REED,

                                         Plaintiff-Appellant,

versus

VIRGINIA RIVAS, Nurse; GENARO GONZALES, Nurse,

                                         Defendants-Appellees.

                        --------------------
           Appeal from the United States District Court
                 for the Western District of Texas
                       USDC No. SA-02-CV-404
                        --------------------
                          February 19, 2003
Before WIENER, EMILIO M. GARZA, and CLEMENT, Circuit Judges.

PER CURIAM:*

     Billy Ray Reed, Texas prisoner #931679, seeks leave to

proceed in forma pauperis (“IFP”) on appeal following the

district court’s dismissal of his 42 U.S.C. § 1983 complaint for

failure to state a claim upon which relief could be granted.

By moving for IFP, Reed is challenging the district court’s

certification that he should not be granted IFP status because

his appeal is not taken in good faith.   See Baugh v. Taylor,

117 F.3d 197, 202 (5th Cir. 1997).

     *
        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that this opinion should not be published and is not precedent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.
                             No. 02-50696
                                  -2-

     Reed’s allegations that the defendants failed to follow the

proper procedure in transferring him from a bed to a wheelchair,

which he alleged resulted in his being dropped to the floor,

amount to, at the most, a claim of negligence which is

insufficient to give rise to a 42 U.S.C. § 1983 cause of action.

Estelle v. Gamble, 429 U.S. 97, 106 (1976).

     Reed makes other allegations against the defendants which he

contends show that they acted with deliberate indifference.      Reed

did not make these allegations in the district court, and they

may not be raised on appeal for the first time.       See Leverette v.

Louisville Ladder Co., 183 F.3d 339, 342 (5th Cir. 1999).

     Reed has failed to show that the claims that were dismissed

present nonfrivolous issues for appeal.      Accordingly, the

district court’s order certifying that the appeal is frivolous is

upheld.   Reed’s request for IFP status is DENIED, and his appeal

is DISMISSED as frivolous.    See Baugh, 117 F.3d at 202 & n.24;

5TH CIR. R. 42.2.   The dismissal of this appeal as frivolous

counts as a “strike” for purposes of 28 U.S.C. § 1915(g), as

does the district court’s dismissal.    See Adepegba v. Hammons,

103 F.3d 383, 385-87 (5th Cir. 1996).       Reed is warned that if he

accumulates one more “strike” pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(g),

he may not be able to proceed IFP in any 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).
                         No. 02-50696
                              -3-

    IFP DENIED; APPEAL DISMISSED AS FRIVOLOUS; STRIKE WARNING

ISSUED.