Court Opinion

ID: 621243
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2012-01-20 18:38:40+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:50:55.834427
License: Public Domain

Case: 11-50473     Document: 00511731525         Page: 1     Date Filed: 01/20/2012

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

                                                                            FILED
                                                                         January 20, 2012
                                     No. 11-50473
                                   Summary Calendar                        Lyle W. Cayce
                                                                                Clerk

EDWARD DESHAN SMITH,

                                                  Plaintiff-Appellant

v.

LEE COUNTY DISTRICT CLERK’S OFFICE; LISA TEINERT, Lee County
District Clerk; DIME BOX POST OFFICE, INCORPORATED; DIME BOX POST
MASTER; JAMES R. COLLINGS; GIDDINGS POST OFFICE,
INCORPORATED; GIDDINGS POST MASTER; RALPH ZOCH; CALDWELL
POST OFFICE, INCORPORATED; CALDWELL POST MASTER; STEVE
CUMMINGS; BRYAN POST OFFICE, INCORPORATED; BRYAN POST
MASTER; DANIEL L. STANAWAY; AUSTIN POST OFFICE,
INCORPORATED; AUSTIN POST MASTER; DALPHINE MARALES,

                                                  Defendants-Appellees

                   Appeal from the United States District Court
                        for the Western District of Texas
                             USDC No. 1:11-CV-140

Before HIGGINBOTHAM, DAVIS, and ELROD, Circuit Judges.
PER CURIAM:*
        Edward Deshan Smith (Smith), proceeding pro se and in forma pauperis
(IFP), appeals the district court’s dismissal pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e) of his

       *
         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 R. 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not
be published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5TH CIR.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.
   Case: 11-50473    Document: 00511731525      Page: 2   Date Filed: 01/20/2012

                                  No. 11-50473

complaint alleging violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), 42
U.S.C. § 12101, and deprivation of civil rights, in violation of 42 U.S.C. § 1983.
He has also filed a motion for the appointment of counsel.
      Smith’s conclusional assertions and barely comprehensible contentions fail
to identify error in the district court’s determination that his allegations in the
instant proceeding amounted to a complaint regarding lost or damaged mail,
which was insufficient to state a cause of action under § 1983 or the ADA. By
failing to provide a coherent argument that addresses the district court’s
analysis, Smith has failed to adequately preserve any issue for appeal. See FED.
R. APP. P. 28(a); Grant v. Cuellar, 59 F.3d 523, 524 (5th Cir. 1995). Additionally,
Smith’s arguments fail to demonstrate that the district court abused its
discretion by dismissing his complaint as frivolous. See Black v. Warren, 134
F.3d 732, 733-34 (5th Cir. 1998). In fact, his contention that a parcel of damaged
mail indicates that there is a conspiracy among the defendants to violate his
constitutional rights or discriminate on the basis of a disability is fanciful and
delusional and, as such, indicates that the district court correctly dismissed the
complaint as frivolous. See Denton v. Hernandez, 504 U.S. 25, 32-33 (1992).
      Smith’s appeal is devoid of legal points that are arguable on their merits,
Howard v. King, 707 F.2d 215, 220 (5th Cir. 1983), and therefore it is
DISMISSED as frivolous. See 5th Cir. R. 42.2;. Moreover, Smith has not shown
the exceptional circumstances necessary to justify the appointment of counsel.
See Cooper v. Sheriff, Lubbock County, Tex., 929 F.2d 1078, 1084 (5th Cir. 1991).
His motion for the appointment of counsel is DENIED. Smith is WARNED that
any future frivolous pleadings filed by him in this court or in any court subject
to the jurisdiction of this court will subject him to sanctions. Smith should
review any pending matters to ensure that they are not frivolous.
      APPEAL        DISMISSED     AS    FRIVOLOUS;        MOTION      FOR    THE
APPOINTMENT OF COUNSEL DENIED; SANCTION WARNING ISSUED.

                                        2