Court Opinion

ID: 46451
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2010-04-25 22:58:44+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:17:39.416072
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                 October 18, 2006

                                                         Charles R. Fulbruge III
                                                                 Clerk
                            No. 05-50659
                          Summary Calendar

BOBBY GENE ANNIS; GREGORIO CASTANEDA; MICHAEL BRIGGS; G. H.
LINCECUM,

                                     Plaintiffs-Appellants,

versus

HARLEY G. LAPPIN, Director, Federal Bureau of Prisons; JAMES B.
FOX, Warden, Bastrop Federal Correctional Institution;
DEBORA WARREN, in her individual capacity and as an employee
of the Bastrop Federal Correctional Institution,

                                     Defendants-Appellees.

                       --------------------
          Appeal from the United States District Court
                for the Western District of Texas
                       USDC No. 1:04-CV-539
                       --------------------

Before SMITH, WIENER, and OWEN, Circuit Judges.

PER CURIAM:*

     The plaintiffs appeal from the district court’s dismissal of

their lawsuit alleging that the defendants violated the plaintiffs’

Eighth Amendment rights while the plaintiffs were incarcerated at

the Bastrop Federal Correctional Institution.    This court reviews

a dismissal under Rule 12(b)(6) of the Federal Rules of Civil

Procedure de novo.   Edwards v. Johnson, 209 F.3d 772, 776 (5th Cir.

2000).

     *
       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this opinion should not be published and is not precedent except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. 05-50659
                                        -2-

     In their first issue, the plaintiffs challenge the district

court’s dismissal based upon the general Rule 12(b)(6) standard but

fail to adequately brief their argument.             Accordingly, that issue

is waived.        See Yohey v. Collins, 985 F.2d 222, 224-25 (5th Cir.

1993); FED. R. APP. P. 28(a)(9).

     The    plaintiffs     also     contend   that    the   district    court’s

dismissal    for    failure   to    exhaust   administrative    remedies   was

erroneous because there was no evidence in the record that any

administrative remedies existed, other than the remedies that the

plaintiffs pursued.        As noted in district court, the Bureau of

Prisons     has     established     an   administrative     remedy     program.

28 C.F.R. §§ 542.13-542.15; see also Lundy v. Osborn, 555 F.2d 534,

534-35 (5th Cir. 1977).       For the purpose of meeting the exhaustion

requirement set forth at 42 U.S.C. § 1997e(a), it is the plaintiffs

who must allege exhaustion with sufficient specificity.                    See

Underwood v. Wilson, 151 F.3d 292, 294, 296 (5th Cir. 1998); see

also Days v. Johnson, 322 F.3d 863, 866 (5th Cir. 2003) (“Since the

amendment of § 1997e, this Court has taken a strict approach to the

exhaustion requirement.”).          Accordingly, the plaintiffs’ argument

lacks merit.

     As the plaintiffs have failed to challenge the district

court’s dismissal on any other basis, the district court’s judgment

is AFFIRMED.