Court Opinion

ID: 812454
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2012-11-26 18:50:26+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:00:44.902168
License: Public Domain

Case: 12-50213       Document: 00512062192         Page: 1     Date Filed: 11/26/2012

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

                                                                            FILED
                                                                        November 26, 2012
                                    No. 12-50213
                                 USDC No. 6:07-CV-25                       Lyle W. Cayce
                                  Summary Calendar                              Clerk

ELLOYD JOHNSON,

                                                  Plaintiff-Appellant

v.

D. GROUNDS; ASSISTANT WARDEN K. DEAN; E. GARZA; EASTHAM UNIT
- HEALTH SERVICES DIVISION; TWO UNKNOWN SERGEANTS, EASTHAM
UNIT; GUY SMITH; HUGHES UNIT RANK OFFICERS; HUGHES UNIT
NON-RANK OFFICERS,

                                                  Defendants-Appellees

                   Appeal from the United States District Court
                        for the Western District of Texas

Before JOLLY, DAVIS, and PRADO, Circuit Judges.
PER CURIAM:*
       Elloyd Johnson, Texas prisoner # 840854, moves this court for leave to
proceed in forma pauperis (IFP) on appeal from the district court’s denial of a
motion captioned “Leave to Amend Extraordinary Writs Under Prohibition and
Mandamus Alternatively.” Johnson’s motion sought to amend the complaint in
a closed 42 U.S.C. § 1983 proceeding.              By moving to proceed IFP, he is

       *
         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 R. 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not
be published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5TH CIR.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: 12-50213     Document: 00512062192      Page: 2    Date Filed: 11/26/2012

                                  No. 12-50213

challenging 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); FED. R. APP.
P. 24(a)(5).
      The district court held that Johnson had not demonstrated extraordinary
cause or a clear and indisputable right to relief that would allow the court to
authorize him to file either a petition for writ of prohibition or a writ of
mandamus.      Johnson argues that the district court erred in denying him
permission to appeal IFP because he has been allowed to appeal IFP in the past
and his status has not changed.        He does not address the district court’s
certification that his appeal was not taken in good faith, nor does he address any
of the district court’s reasons for its certification decision. See Baugh, 117 F.3d
at 202. Accordingly, his challenge to the district court’s certification decision is
deemed abandoned. See Brinkmann v. Dallas County Deputy Sheriff Abner, 813
F.2d 744, 748 (5th Cir. 1987). Additionally, Johnson has not shown that his
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). Accordingly, Johnson’s motion for leave
to proceed IFP on appeal is denied, and his appeal is dismissed as frivolous. See
Baugh, 117 F.3d at 202 & n.24; 5TH CIR. R. 42.2.
      This dismissal counts as a strike under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(g). See Adepegba
v. Hammons, 103 F.3d 383, 387-88 (5th Cir. 1996). Johnson is cautioned that if
he accumulates three strikes under § 1915(g), he will not 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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