Court Opinion

ID: 9411974
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-07-28 18:03:58.066861+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:41:25.214202
License: Public Domain

Case: 23-10172         Document: 00516837595             Page: 1      Date Filed: 07/28/2023

              United States Court of Appeals
                   for the Fifth Circuit
                                      ____________
                                                                                United States Court of Appeals
                                                                                         Fifth Circuit
                                       No. 23-10172
                                     Summary Calendar                                   FILED
                                     ____________                                     July 28, 2023
                                                                                  Lyle W. Cayce
   Bueford James Friemel,                                                              Clerk

                                                                     Plaintiff—Appellant,

                                             versus

   Cesar Deleon; Randall County Sheriff; Cornerstone
   Surveyor; Sierra Towing and Crushing; Frederic M.
   Wolfram Firm; Wright Law; Randall County Internal
   Affairs; Randall County Sheriff and Administration;
   Darrell R. Carey, Lawyer,

                                               Defendants—Appellees.
                      ______________________________

                      Appeal from the United States District Court
                          for the Northern District of Texas
                                USDC No. 2:22-CV-174
                      ______________________________

   Before King, Southwick, and Higginson, Circuit Judges.
   Per Curiam: *
          Bueford James Friemel, acting pro se, appeals the district court’s
   dismissal of his suit without prejudice under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure

          _____________________
          *
              This opinion is not designated for publication. See 5th Cir. R. 47.5.
Case: 23-10172       Document: 00516837595         Page: 2   Date Filed: 07/28/2023

                                    No. 23-10172

   4(m) for failing to show good cause as to his failure to timely serve
   defendants. We review the district court’s dismissal under Rule 4(m) for an
   abuse of discretion. Thrasher v. City of Amarillo, 709 F.3d 509, 512 (5th Cir.
   2013).
            On appeal, Friemel concedes that he did not serve defendants in a
   timely manner or show good cause as to this failure but states that he was
   unaware that he had to show good cause because he was denied counsel,
   denied a time extension, and is appearing pro se. However, Friemel does not
   argue that the district court improperly denied him counsel or a time
   extension, and our review of the record indicates that Friemel’s motions
   seeking such treatment were correctly denied. Furthermore, “[a] litigant’s
   pro se status neither excuses his failure to effect service nor excuses him for
   lack of knowledge of the Rules of Civil Procedure.” Id. (footnote omitted).
   Accordingly, we find no error in the district court’s without-prejudice
   dismissal of this suit.
            AFFIRMED.

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