Court Opinion

ID: 43650
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2010-04-25 21:58:52+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:17:03.811041
License: Public Domain

United States Court of Appeals
                                                                  Fifth Circuit
                                                               F I L E D
                 IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
                         FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT                  June 21, 2006

                                                           Charles R. Fulbruge III
                                                                   Clerk
                              No. 05-10886
                          Conference Calendar

MARC ALLEN MASON,

                                      Plaintiff-Appellant,

versus

JOEL RICHARDSON, Sheriff; BRUCE EVANS, Captain;
DEBBIE UNRUE, Lieutenant,

                                      Defendants-Appellees.

                          --------------------
              Appeal from the United States District Court
                   for the Northern District of Texas
                           USDC No. 2:05-CV-88
                          --------------------

Before STEWART, DENNIS, and OWEN, Circuit Judges.

PER CURIAM:*

     Marc Allen Mason, Randall County Jail prisoner # SO 33348,**

appeals the dismissal as frivolous of his pro se, in forma

pauperis (IFP) 42 U.S.C. § 1983 civil rights complaint.         In his

complaint, he alleged that the appellees failed to make a

complete investigation into his allegations that he was kidnaped

and that a micro-transmitter was implanted in his throat.

     *
       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this opinion should not be published and is not precedent except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.
     **
          Former TDCJ-ID ## 778038 and 1172158.
                            No. 05-10886
                                 -2-

     An IFP complaint may be dismissed as frivolous pursuant to

28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B)(i) if it has no arguable basis in law

or fact.   Siglar v. Hightower, 112 F.3d 191, 193 (5th Cir. 1997).

A dismissal under § 1915(e)(2)(B)(i) is reviewed for abuse of

discretion.   Id.

     Mason did not have a right to have the defendants protect

his life, liberty, and property against invasion by private

actors.    See DeShaney v. Winnebago County Dep’t of Social Servs.,

489 U.S. 189, 195 (1989).    Also, Mason has not shown that the

exceptions to this general rule based on a special relationship

or a state-created danger are applicable to this case.     See

Walton v. Alexander, 44 F.3d 1297, 1299-1304 (5th Cir. 1995)

(en banc); see also Johnson v. Dallas Indep. Sch. Dist., 38 F.3d

198, 200 (5th Cir. 1994).    Finally, Mason has failed to allege a

violation of his equal protection rights because he makes no

argument that he is a member of any protected class.     See

Washington v. Davis, 426 U.S. 229, 247-48 (1976).

     Mason’s appeal is without arguable merit and is frivolous.

See Howard v. King, 707 F.2d 215, 219-20 (5th Cir. 1983).

Because the appeal is frivolous, it is dismissed.    See 5TH CIR. R.

42.2.   The dismissal of this appeal as frivolous counts as a

strike for purposes of 28 U.S.C. § 1915(g), as does the district

court’s dismissal.    See Adepegba v. Hammons, 103 F.3d 383, 387-88

(5th Cir. 1996).    We warn Mason that if he accumulates three

strikes under § 1915(g), he will not be able to proceed IFP in
                           No. 05-10886
                                -3-

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).

     APPEAL DISMISSED; SANCTION WARNING ISSUED.