Court Opinion

ID: 28583
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2010-04-25 09:25:18+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:55:19.034744
License: Public Domain

IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
                       FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT

                              No. 01-41293
                          Conference Calendar

ANTHONY K. CHAPMAN,

                                           Plaintiff-Appellant,

versus

S. CLETHA; T. PRASIFKA, Warden; W. HODGE; T. SIMPSON;
OWENS; HANEY, Ms.; CLARK, Ms.,

                                           Defendants-Appellees.

                      --------------------
          Appeal from the United States District Court
               for the Southern District of Texas
                       USDC No. C-01-CV-43
                      --------------------
                         August 20, 2002

Before HIGGINBOTHAM, DAVIS, and PARKER, Circuit Judges.

PER CURIAM:*

     Anthony K. Chapman, Texas prisoner # 643058, appeals the

dismissal of his 42 U.S.C. § 1983 complaint as frivolous and for

failure to state a claim.    He argues that the district court

erred in dismissing his claim that he was the subject of false

disciplinary charges, which he complains resulted in a change of

his line class status, thus affecting the rate at which he can

earn good-time credits.

     *
        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that this opinion should not be published and is not precedent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. 01-41293
                                  -2-

     A dismissal for failure to state a claim pursuant to 28

U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B)(ii) is reviewed under the same de novo

standard of review applicable to dismissals made pursuant to FED.

R. CIV. P. 12(b)(6).    Harris v. Hegmann, 198 F.3d 153, 156 (5th

Cir. 1999).    Chapman does not argue that he lost previously

earned good-time credits as a result of the disciplinary

proceedings.    He complains about only his change in line class

and good-time earning status.    A prisoner, however, does not have

a constitutionally cognizable claim to the “right” to a

particular time-earning status, which right the Texas legislature

has specifically denied creating.    Malchi v. Thaler, 211 F.3d

953, 959 (5th Cir. 2000).    Chapman therefore cannot obtain 42

U.S.C. § 1983 relief.    See San Jacinto Sav. & Loan v. Kacal, 928

F.2d 697, 700 (5th Cir. 1991) (to bring a procedural due process

claim under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, a plaintiff must first identify a

protected liberty interest).

     To the extent that Chapman’s brief can be construed to raise

the issue whether his time served has been correctly computed,

that issue is not cognizable in a 42 U.S.C. § 1983 action because

it challenges the duration of his confinement, and it should

therefore be raised in a petition for habeas corpus.     See Malchi,

211 F.3d at 958 (a federal habeas action is the vehicle available

to challenge the fact or duration of confinement).

     Chapman’s appeal is without arguable merit and is dismissed

as frivolous.    See 5TH CIR. R. 42.2; Howard v. King, 707 F.2d 215,
                           No. 01-41293
                                -3-

219-20 (5th Cir. 1983).   The district court’s dismissal of

Chapman’s complaint for failure to state a claim and the

dismissal of this appeal as frivolous count as two “strikes” for

the purposes of 28 U.S.C. § 1915(g).    See Adepegba v. Hammons,

103 F.3d 383, 385-87 (5th Cir. 1996).     Chapman has also had a

second civil rights suit dismissed as frivolous.     See Chapman v.

Daucer, No. 96-CV-594 (E.D. Tex. Nov. 22, 1996).     Chapman has

thus accumulated three “strikes” under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(g).     He

is BARRED from bringing any civil action or appeal in forma

pauperis while he is incarcerated or detained in any facility

unless he shows that he is under imminent danger of serious

physical injury.

     APPEAL DISMISSED; 28 U.S.C. § 1915(g) BAR IMPOSED.