Court Opinion

ID: 4117279
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2017-01-20 01:00:53.504174+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:34:48.756865
License: Public Domain

Case: 15-41670      Document: 00513841366         Page: 1    Date Filed: 01/19/2017

           IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
                    FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT
                                                                           United States Court of Appeals
                                                                                    Fifth Circuit
                                    No. 15-41670                                  FILED
                                  Summary Calendar                         January 19, 2017
                                                                             Lyle W. Cayce
                                                                                  Clerk
PETRIE ROBINSON,

                                                 Plaintiff-Appellant

v.

RICKY ALLEN, Captain; TARA E. CONKLIN, Counsel Substitute,

                                                 Defendants-Appellees

                   Appeal from the United States District Court
                        for the Eastern District of Texas
                             USDC No. 6:15-CV-663

Before DAVIS, SOUTHWICK, and HIGGINSON, Circuit Judges.
PER CURIAM: *
       Petrie Robinson, Texas prisoner # 1635660, appeals the district court’s
dismissal of his 42 U.S.C. § 1983 complaint pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil
Procedure 12(b)(6), based on his failure to state a claim upon which relief could
be granted. Although the district court dismissed any claims Robinson raised
against the defendants in their official capacities for lack of subject matter

       * 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 R. 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not
be published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5TH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.
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                                  No. 15-41670

jurisdiction under Rule 12(b)(1), Robinson has not challenged the ruling on this
ground.
      Because Robinson’s assertions in the district court indicated that he had
“alleged his best case,” the district court did not err in dismissing the complaint
without providing him with a second opportunity to amend his complaint.
Bazrowx v. Scott, 136 F.3d 1053, 1054 (5th Cir. 1998). Robinson’s personal
belief that the defendants conspired to retaliate against him is insufficient to
establish retaliation. See Woods v. Smith, 60 F.3d 1161, 1166 (5th Cir. 1995).
Although Robinson asserts for the first time on appeal that the conditions of
his punitive confinement following his disciplinary conviction rose to the level
of cruel and unusual punishment, he did not raise such arguments in the
district court, and he may not present a new theory for relief for the first time
on appeal. See Leverette v. Louisville Ladder Co., 183 F.3d 339, 342 (5th Cir.
1999).    To the extent that Robinson is attempting to raise a due process
challenge to the second disciplinary proceeding, he may not do so until his
disciplinary conviction has been overturned. See Edwards v. Balisok, 520 U.S.
641, 646–48 (1997).     Moreover, Robinson was not entitled to due process
protections because his punishment of a reduction in custody status and 90
days in a new cell did not give rise to a protected liberty interest. See Sandin
v. Conner, 515 U.S. 472, 484 (1995); Meachum v. Fano, 427 U.S. 215, 225
(1976).    Robinson’s allegation that the defendants violated prison policy
through their actions does not in itself establish a due process violation. See
Jackson v. Cain, 864 F.2d 1235, 1251–52 (5th Cir. 1989).
      Contrary to Robinson’s allegations, the dismissal of his complaint for
failure to state a claim under Rule 12(b)(6) constitutes a judgment on the
merits. See Federated Dep’t Stores, Inc. v. Moitie, 452 U.S. 394, 399 n.3 (1981).
Therefore, the district court did not err in dismissing his Section 1983

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                                 No. 15-41670

complaint with prejudice. See Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 663, 678 (2009).
Consequently, the judgment of the district court is AFFIRMED.
      The dismissal of Robinson’s suit in the district court counts as a strike
for purposes of 28 U.S.C. § 1915(g). See Adepegba v. Hammons, 103 F.3d 383,
387 (5th Cir. 1996). Robinson is WARNED that, once he accumulates three
strikes, he may not proceed in forma pauperis 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).

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