Lee v. Price

IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT No. 98-40617 Conference Calendar JAMES E. LEE ET AL., Plaintiffs, JAMES E. LEE, Plaintiff-Appellant, versus KEITH PRICE, Head Warden; KENNETH WILLIAMS, Ad/Seg Captain; THE DARRINGTON UNIT OF TEXAS; TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE, DAVID HATT, Captain, Defendants-Appellees. - - - - - - - - - - Appeal from the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas USDC No. G-92-CV-275 c/w USDC No. G-92-CV-291 - - - - - - - - - - April 19, 1999 Before JONES, SMITH, and DUHÉ, Circuit Judges. PER CURIAM:* James E. Lee, Texas inmate # 355539, proceeding pro se and in forma pauperis appeals the summary-judgment dismissal of his civil rights lawsuit. Lee contends that the district court abused its discretion by consolidating his complaint with the civil rights complaint filed by another inmate. Lee contends * 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 R. 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not be published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5TH CIR.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. 98-40617 -2- that the district court erred by dismissing his complaint without conducting a hearing pursuant to Spears v. McCotter, 766 F.2d 179 (5th Cir. 1985). Lee has failed to preserve any issues for appeal related to the claims that he raised in the district court by failing to challenge the district court’s reasons for dismissing his complaint. See Brinkmann v. Dallas County Deputy Sheriff Abner, 813 F.2d 744, 748 (5th Cir. 1987)(when appellant fails to identify any error in the district court's analysis, it is the same as if the appellant had not appealed that judgment). The district court did not abuse its discretion by consolidating Lee’s complaint with another civil rights complaint because the actions involved “common question[s] of law or fact.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 42(a); Bottazzi v. Petroleum Helicopters, Inc., 664 F.2d 49, 50 (5th Cir. 1981). The district court did not err in dismissing Lee’s complaint following summary judgment without conducting a Spears hearing. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 56. Lee’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 one “strike” for purposes of 28 U.S.C. § 1915(g). We caution Lee that once he accumulates three strikes, he may not 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. No. 98-40617 -3- DISMISSED AS FRIVOLOUS; WARNING ISSUED.