IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT
No. 02-20273
Conference Calendar
ANZETTA SMITH,
Plaintiff-Appellant,
versus
MIKE SCHWARTZ; JAMES SEEMAN; WILLIAM HATTEN,
Defendants-Appellees.
--------------------
Appeal from the United States District Court
for the Southern District of Texas
USDC No. H-00-CV-4323
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October 29, 2002
Before DeMOSS, BENAVIDES, and STEWART, Circuit Judges.
PER CURIAM:*
Anzetta Smith, Texas prisoner No. 529054, seeks leave to
proceed in forma pauperis (“IFP”) on appeal. The district court
denied Smith’s FED. R. CIV. P. 60(b) motion for relief from the
dismissal of his 42 U.S.C. § 1983 complaint as frivolous. The
court denied Smith’s motion to appeal IFP and certified that the
appeal was not taken in good faith. By moving for IFP, Smith is
challenging the district court’s certification. See Baugh v.
Taylor, 117 F.3d 197, 202 (5th Cir. 1997).
*
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that this opinion should not be published and is not precedent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. 02-20273
-2-
In his Rule 60(b) motion, Smith sought to reopen the
judgment in order to amend the complaint to sue new defendants
based on an entirely new theory of recovery. Smith has failed to
show that the district court abused its discretion by denying the
motion to amend. Seven Elves, Inc. v. Eskenazi, 635 F.2d 396,
402 (5th Cir. 1981). The instant appeal is without arguable
merit and is thus frivolous. Accordingly, it is DISMISSED.
Howard v. King, 707 F.2d 215, 219-220 (5th Cir. 1983); 5TH CIR. R.
42.2.
The district court’s dismissal of the complaint as frivolous
and this court’s dismissal of the appeal count as two “strikes”
for purposes of 28 U.S.C. § 1915(g). See Adepegba v. Hammons,
103 F.3d 383, 385-87 (5th Cir. 1996). Smith is CAUTIONED that if
he accumulates one more “strike” under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(g), he
will not be able to 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. See 28
U.S.C. § 1915(g).
APPEAL DISMISSED; IFP MOTION DENIED; THREE-STRIKES WARNING
ISSUED.