Court Opinion

ID: 659683
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2012-04-16 07:04:32+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:36:15.380630
License: Public Domain

12 F.3d 1106
NOTICE: Ninth Circuit Rule 36-3 provides that dispositions other than opinions or orders designated for publication are not precedential and should not be cited except when relevant under the doctrines of law of the case, res judicata, or collateral estoppel.Herman J. JAINDL, Plaintiff-Appellant,v.William R. MORAN, et al., Defendants-Appellants.
No. 92-55020.
United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit.
Submitted June 9, 1993.*Decided Sept. 16, 1993.

Before:  KOZINSKI, SILER** and KLEINFELD, Circuit Judges.

1
MEMORANDUM***

2
Herman J. Jaindl appeals pro se the district court's denial of leave to file a 42 U.S.C. Sec. 1983 action in forma pauperis.  We review for abuse of discretion,  see Denton v. Hernandez, 112 S. Ct. 1728, 1734 (1992), and AFFIRM.

3
28 U.S.C. Sec. 1915(d) allows district courts to dismiss frivolous in forma pauperis actions sua sponte.  An action is frivolous "where it lacks an arguable basis either in law or in fact."   Neitzke v. Williams, 490 U.S. 319, 325 (1989).  Here, Jaindl's proposed Sec. 1983 action seeks damages for loss of property.  California jail personnel apparently either misplaced or destroyed personal property and legal documents seized from Jaindl at the time of his arrest.  Jaindl specifies no constitutional violation supporting a Sec. 1983 award.

4
The district court found no arguable legal basis to support Jaindl's action and dismissed it as frivolous.  If the action is construed as one based on denial of property without due process, the adequate post-deprivation proceedings provided by California forestall liability.   See Parratt v. Taylor, 451 U.S. 527, 543-44 (1981),  overruled on other grounds, Daniels v. Williams, 474 U.S. 327, 330-33 (1986).  If the action is construed as one based on denial of access to the courts, Jaindl's failure to allege any specific instance of access denial precludes relief in this context.   See Sands v. Lewis, 886 F.2d 1166, 1171 (9th Cir.1989).  The complaint suggests no other constitutional theories for evaluation.

5
AFFIRMED.

*
 The panel unanimously finds this case suitable for decision without oral argument.  Fed.R.App.P. 34(a);  9th Cir.R. 34-4

**
 The Honorable Eugene E. Siler, Jr., Circuit Judge, United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, sitting by designation

***
 This disposition is not appropriate for publication and may not be cited to or by the courts of this circuit except as provided by 9th Cir.R. 36-3