Hawthorne v. Holiday

IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT No. 00-30408 Summary Calendar JAMES HAWTHORNE, Plaintiff-Appellant, versus LEROY HOLIDAY, Defendant-Appellee. Appeal from the United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana (98-CV-1595) November 3, 2000 Before HIGGINBOTHAM, WIENER, and BARKSDALE, Circuit Judges. PER CURIAM:* James Hawthorne, Louisiana prisoner #83561, appeals the 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e) dismissal, as frivolous, of his 42 U.S.C. § 1983 complaint. Hawthorne’s claim for compensation for the loss of his personal property when he was transferred from one correctional facility to another does not state a claim for the violation of a constitutional right. See Marsh v. Jones, 53 F.3d 707, 712 (5th Cir. 1995). “Section 1983 imposes liability for violations of rights protected by the Constitution, not for violations of duties * 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 R. 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not be published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5TH CIR.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. of care arising out of tort law. Remedy for the latter type of injury must be sought in state court under traditional tort-law principles.” Baker v. McCollan, 443 U.S. 137, 146 (1979) (emphasis added); see also Daniels v. Williams, 474 U.S. 327, 332-33 (1986). Hawthorne’s claim for damages resulting from mental or emotional injury is precluded by 42 U.S.C. § 1997e(e) (“No Federal civil action may be brought by a prisoner confined in a jail, prison, or other correctional facility, for mental or emotional injury suffered while in custody without a prior showing of physical injury.”). And, because Hawthorne has not briefed his alleged entitlement to injunctive relief, he has abandoned that issue on appeal. See Yohey v. Collins, 985 F.2d 222, 224-25 (5th Cir. 1993). In sum, Hawthorne’s complaint was properly dismissed as frivolous. See 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e). Therefore, this appeal is without arguable merit and also frivolous. See Howard v. King, 707 F.2d 215, 219-20 (5th Cir. 1983) (defining frivolous appeal as one without arguable merit). The appeal being frivolous, it is hereby DISMISSED. 5TH CIR. R. 42.2. 28 U.S.C. § 1915 governs proceedings in forma pauperis, such as the action at hand. Hawthorne is cautioned that the dismissal of this appeal as frivolous counts as a “strike” under § 1915(g), as does the district court’s dismissal of his complaint as frivolous. See Adepegba v. Hammons, 103 F.3d 383, 388 (5th Cir. 1996) (“[B]oth the frivolous appeal and a lower court's dismissal as frivolous count.”). Therefore, Hawthorne has two “strikes” 2 under § 1915(g). Hawthorne is further cautioned that if he accumulates three such “strikes”, he will not be able to proceed in forma pauperis 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 28 U.S.C. § 1915(g). AFFIRMED 3