Court Opinion

ID: 58829
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2010-04-26 03:03:46+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:19:46.857430
License: Public Domain

IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
                   FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT United States Court of Appeals
                                                  Fifth Circuit

                                                                   FILED
                                                                February 20, 2008
                                 No. 07-30448
                              Conference Calendar             Charles R. Fulbruge III
                                                                      Clerk

RANDY LEE BATISTE

                                            Plaintiff-Appellant

v.

CALDWELL CORRECTIONAL CENTER; LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF
CORRECTIONS; CHRIS FREDRICKS; BOBBY KELLY; BOBBY MERCER;
WENDELL DAVIS

                                            Defendants-Appellees

                 Appeal from the United States District Court
                    for the Western District of Louisiana
                           USDC No. 3:07-CV-258

Before KING, WIENER, and ELROD, Circuit Judges.
PER CURIAM:*
      Randy Lee Batiste, Louisiana prisoner # 124950, has filed a motion for
leave to proceed in forma pauperis (IFP) on appeal. The district court dismissed
Batiste’s 42 U.S.C. § 1983 complaint as frivolous and for failing to state a claim
upon which relief may be granted pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B)(i) and
(ii). The district court denied Batiste’s motion for leave to proceed IFP on appeal

      *
      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should not be published and is not precedent except under the limited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. 07-30448

and certified that the appeal was not taken in good faith. By moving for leave
to proceed IFP on appeal, Batiste is challenging the district court’s certification.
See Baugh v. Taylor, 117 F.3d 197, 202 (5th Cir. 1997). Batiste also moves for
appointment of counsel on appeal.
      Batiste’s IFP motion addresses only his indigence. He does not brief any
argument regarding the dismissal of his § 1983 complaint as barred by the
Parratt/Hudson doctrine.1 Failure to identify any error in the district court’s
analysis is the same as if the appellant had not appealed the judgment.
Brinkmann v. Dallas County Deputy Sheriff Abner, 813 F.2d 744, 748 (5th Cir.
1987). Although pro se briefs are liberally construed, even pro se litigants must
brief arguments in order to preserve them. Yohey v. Collins, 985 F.2d 222, 225
(5th Cir. 1993).
      Batiste has not shown that the district court’s certification that an appeal
would not be taken in good faith was incorrect. The instant appeal is without
arguable merit and is thus frivolous. Accordingly, Batiste’s requests for IFP
status and appointment of counsel are denied, and his appeal is dismissed. See
Howard v. King, 707 F.2d 215, 219-20 (5th Cir. 1983); 5TH CIR. R. 42.2. Batiste
is cautioned that the dismissal of his § 1983 suit by the district court pursuant
to § 1915(e)(2)(B) and our dismissal of this appeal as frivolous both count as
strikes under § 1915(g). See Adepegba v. Hammons, 103 F.3d 383, 385-87 (5th
Cir. 1996). Batiste is also cautioned that if he accumulates three strikes under
§ 1915(g), he may not 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 § 1915(g).
      MOTIONS DENIED; APPEAL DISMISSED; SANCTION WARNING
ISSUED.

      1
        Parratt v. Taylor, 451 U.S. 527, 542-44 (1981); Hudson v. Palmer, 468
U.S. 517, 530-33 (1984).

                                          2