IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT
No. 99-11230
Conference Calendar
KENNETH ALAN CROSS,
Plaintiff-Appellant,
versus
TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE,
INSTITUTIONAL DIVISION; CONNIE L. CHRANE;
FNNK WIDENER, Officer,
Defendants-Appellees.
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Appeal from the United States District Court
for the Northern District of Texas
USDC No. 1:99-CV-28-C
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August 28, 2000
Before KING, Chief Judge, and POLITZ and WIENER, Circuit Judges.
PER CURIAM:*
Kenneth Alan Cross, Texas prisoner # 843086, appeals the
dismissal as frivolous of his civil rights action under 42 U.S.C.
§ 1983. Cross asserts that he was denied access to the courts by
the destruction of a small portion of his trial transcript. We
review the dismissal of a prisoner complaint as frivolous for
abuse of discretion. Talib v. Gilley, 138 F.3d 211, 213 (5th
Cir. 1998).
Cross’s claim fails to rise to the level of a constitutional
*
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that this opinion should not be published and is not precedent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. 99-11230
-2-
violation of his right of access to the courts because he failed
to specifically allege that his position as a litigant was
prejudiced. See Walker v. Navarro County Jail, 4 F.3d 410, 413
(5th Cir. 1993). Cross’s claim of rudeness also fails to state a
constitutional violation. See Bender v. Brumley, 1 F.3d 271, 274
n.4 (5th Cir. 1993).
Cross'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 the original complaint as frivolous and the
dismissal of this appeal as frivolous count as two strikes for
purposes of 28 U.S.C. § 1915(g). See Adepegba v. Hammons, 103
F.3d 383, 387-88 (5th Cir. 1996). We caution Cross that once he
accumulates three strikes, he may not proceed in forma pauperis
(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).
All outstanding motions denied as moot. APPEAL DISMISSED.