Kelly v. Johnson

IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT No. 02-40061 Conference Calendar PAUL DOUGLAS KELLY, Plaintiff-Appellant, versus BRUCE MILTON MILLER, Doctor; ET AL., Defendants, BRUCE MILTON MILLER, Doctor; PEARL RUBEN, R.N.; GARY L. JOHNSON, DIRECTOR, TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE, INSTITUTIONAL DIVISION; H. ALVIAR, Doctor, South Regional Medical Facility Administrator; TERRENCE J. MCCARTHY, Doctor, John Sealy Hospital Galveston, TX; STANLEY D. ALLEN, Doctor, John Sealy Hospital Galveston, TX, Defendants-Appellees. -------------------- Appeal from the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas USDC No. G-00-CV-609 -------------------- June 18, 2002 Before HIGGINBOTHAM, DAVIS, and EMILIO M. GARZA, Circuit Judges. PER CURIAM:* Paul Douglas Kelly (“Kelly”), Texas state prisoner # 711287, appeals the district court’s dismissal of his 42 U.S.C. § 1983 * 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 R. 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not be published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5TH CIR.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. 02-40061 -2- civil rights complaint as frivolous. Kelly alleged that the defendants failed to provide adequate medical treatment. On appeal, Kelly does not contest the district court’s determination that he failed to state a cognizable 42 U.S.C. § 1983 action because he alleged that his complaints were pursuant to state tort law. This failure is tantamount to failing to appeal the judgment. See Brinkmann v. Dallas County Deputy Sheriff Abner, 813 F.2d 744, 748 (5th Cir. 1987). Furthermore, Kelly has abandoned his substantive claim that the defendants provided inadequate medical treatment. See Yohey v. Collins, 985 F.2d 222, 224-25 (5th Cir. 1993). To the extent that Kelly raises new arguments, he has failed to demonstrate plain error in the district court’s findings. See United States v. Olano, 507 U.S. 725, 731-37 (1993), see also United States v. Calverley, 37 F.3d 160, 162-64 (5th Cir. 1994)(en banc). Kelly’s appeal is without arguable merit and is dismissed as frivolous. See 5TH CIR. R. 42.2; Howard v. King, 707 F.2d 215, 219-20 (5th Cir. 1983). The dismissal of the appeal as frivolous and the district court’s dismissal of Kelly’s 42 U.S.C. § 1983 complaint as frivolous each count as a “strike” under the three-strikes provision of 28 U.S.C. § 1915(g). See Adepegba v. Hammons, 103 F.3d 383, 387-88 (5th Cir. 1996); 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B)(i). Kelly is CAUTIONED that if he accumulates three “strikes” under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(g), he will not be able to proceed in forma pauperis in any civil action or appeal filed No. 02-40061 -3- 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). APPEAL DISMISSED; THREE-STRIKES WARNING ISSUED.