Court Opinion

ID: 205678
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2011-03-01 00:14:13+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:27:48.971675
License: Public Domain

Case: 10-10613 Document: 00511396011 Page: 1 Date Filed: 02/28/2011

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

                                                 FILED
                                                                          February 28, 2011
                                     No. 10-10613
                                   Summary Calendar                         Lyle W. Cayce
                                                                                 Clerk

BRIAN E. JOHNSON,

                                                   Plaintiff-Appellant

v.

E. JACKSON, Officer, Dickens County Correctional Facility; UNKOWN
SERGEANT, Dickens County Correctional Facility; UNKNOWN WARDEN,
Dickens County Correctional Facility; UNKNOWN DIRECTOR, Community
Education Centers; DAVID A. BYRNES, Sheriff, Kaufman County Sheriff’s
Department; KAUFMAN COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT; MILTON
WRIGHT, Sheriff, Fort Bend County Sherrif’s Department; FORT BEND
COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT,

                                                   Defendants-Appellees

                    Appeal from the United States District Court
                         for the Northern District of Texas
                              USDC No. 3:09-CV-2045

Before JOLLY, GARZA, and STEWART, Circuit Judges.
PER CURIAM:*
       Brian E. Johnson, Texas prisoner # 1545307, has filed a motion to proceed
in forma pauperis (IFP) on appeal following dismissal of his 42 U.S.C. § 1983
complaint, in which he alleged that he received inadequate medical care for

       *
         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 R. 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not
be published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5TH CIR .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: 10-10613 Document: 00511396011 Page: 2 Date Filed: 02/28/2011

                                   No. 10-10613

injuries sustained in a motor vehicle accident that occurred when he was
transported from one detention facility to another. The district court dismissed
the complaint pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B)(ii) after determining that
Johnson’s allegations failed to state a claim upon which relief could be granted.
      Johnson’s motion for leave to proceed IFP is a challenge to the district
court’s certification that his appeal is not taken in good faith. See Baugh v.
Taylor, 117 F.3d 197, 202 (5th Cir. 1997). This court’s inquiry into whether the
appeal is taken in good faith “is limited to whether the appeal involves legal
points arguable on their merits (and therefore not frivolous).” Howard v. King,
707 F.2d 215, 220 (5th Cir. 1983) (internal quotation marks and citation
omitted).   Because the district court dismissed the complaint pursuant to
§ 1915(e)(2)(B)(ii) for failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted,
this court employs the de novo standard of review. See Bradley v. Puckett, 157
F.3d 1022, 1025 (5th Cir. 1998).
      Johnson fails to provide argument that addresses the district court’s
rationale for dismissing his complaint and for determining that his appeal was
not in good faith. See F ED . R. A PP. P. 28(a)(9). Although this court liberally
construes the briefs of pro se appellants, arguments must be briefed to be
preserved. Yohey v. Collins, 985 F.2d 222, 224-25 (5th Cir. 1993). By failing to
adequately brief a challenge to the district court’s determinations, Johnson has
failed to demonstrate that his appeal is in good faith. See Brinkmann v. Dallas
County Deputy Sheriff Abner, 813 F.2d 744, 748 (5th Cir. 1987).
      Johnson’s appeal is without arguable merit and therefore is frivolous. See
Howard, 707 F.2d at 219-20. Because the appeal is frivolous, it is dismissed.
See 5 TH C IR. R. 42.2. Johnson is cautioned that the dismissal of this appeal as
frivolous counts as a strike under § 1915(g), as does the district court’s dismissal
for failure to state a claim. See § 1915(g); Adepegba v. Hammons, 103 F.3d 383,
387-88 (5th Cir. 1996). Johnson therefore has two strikes under § 1915(g) and
he is cautioned that if he accumulates three strikes under § 1915(g), he will not

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    Case: 10-10613 Document: 00511396011 Page: 3 Date Filed: 02/28/2011

                                   No. 10-10613

be able to 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).
      IFP DENIED; APPEAL DISMISSED; SANCTION WARNING ISSUED.

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