Hall v. Audas

IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT No. 99-20008 Conference Calendar VICTOR L. HALL, Plaintiff-Appellant, versus L. AUDAS; D. PRICE; J.F. LUMA; KENT RAMSEY, Defendants-Appellees. - - - - - - - - - - Appeal from the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas USDC No. H-97-CV-1997 - - - - - - - - - - August 25, 1999 Before KING, Chief Judge, and DAVIS and SMITH, Circuit Judges. PER CURIAM:* Victor Lee Hall appeals the district court’s dismissal of his 42 U.S.C. § 1983 civil rights complaint as frivolous and for failure to state a claim pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B). Hall argues that the district court erred in dismissing his retaliation claim and his claim that he was denied due process during a prison disciplinary hearing. Hall argues that he was denied due process in his prison disciplinary hearing because he * 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 R. 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not be published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5TH CIR.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. 99-20008 -2- received an inadequate written statement of guilt from Price. He contends that the statement did not meet the requirements of Wolff v. McDonnell, 418 U.S. 539 (1974). He also contends that the disciplinary charge against him, which resulted in his loss of good-time credits and commissary and cell restrictions, was filed by Officer Audas in retaliation for a grievance he filed against her. Commissary and cell restrictions are penalties which do not implicate due process concerns. See Madison v. Parker, 104 F.3d 765, 768 (5th Cir. 1997). However, the right to good-time credit is protected by the Due Process Clause and may not be arbitrarily abrogated. Wolff v. McDonnell, 418 U.S. at 554-57. Insofar as the procedures used to revoke good-time credits are concerned, “there must be a ‘written statement by the factfinders as to the evidence relied on and reasons’ for the disciplinary action.” Wolff, 418 U.S. at 564, quoting Morrissey v. Brewer, 408 U.S. 471 (1972). The Disciplinary Report and Hearing Record complied with Wolff’s requirement by stating that Officer Audas’ testimony was the basis for the finding of guilt. This argument lacks merit. As for Hall’s retaliation claim, he has failed to show that but for his grievance against Audas, she would not have ordered him to move and she would not have filed a disciplinary report when he refused to do so. See Johnson v. Rodriguez, 110 F.3d 299, 310 (5th Cir.), cert. denied, 118 S.Ct. 559 (1997). Hall has shown nothing more than his “personal belief that he [was] No. 99-20008 -3- the victim of retaliation.” Id. (internal quotation marks and citation omitted). His retaliation claim is without merit. The dismissal of Hall’s complaint as frivolous was not an abuse of discretion. See Siglar v. Hightower, 112 F.3d 191, 193 (5th Cir. 1997). Hall’s appeal is without arguable merit and is frivolous. Accordingly, the appeal is DISMISSED. 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). Because Hall already has two strikes, Hall v. Halbert, No. 96-CV-3726 (S.D. Tex. Aug. 12, 1997), and Hall v. Halbert, No. 97-20749 (5th Cir. June 17, 1998), the dismissal of this appeal, and consequently, the district court’s dismissal of the complaint as frivolous, count as his third and fourth strikes. See § 1915(g); Adepegba v. Hammons, 103 F.3d 383, 388 (5th Cir. 1996). Hall is now BARRED from proceeding in forma pauperis in any civil action or appeal filed while he is in prison unless he is under imminent danger of serious physical injury. See § 1915(g). APPEAL DISMISSED; BAR IMPOSED.