United States Court of Appeals
Fifth Circuit
F I L E D
IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS July 2, 2004
FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT
Charles R. Fulbruge III
Clerk
No. 04-10032
Summary Calendar
LEVI JONES,
Plaintiff-Appellant,
versus
MATTHEW H. ERWIN, Correctional Officer 4; TONY L. ESTEP,
Correctional Officer 4; VERONICA RIVAS, Correctional Officer 3;
JAMES H. WHEELER, Correctional Officer 3; JOE E. HEREDIA, JR.,
Correctional Officer 5; OSCAR R. DAVIS, Correctional Officer 3,
Defendants-Appellees.
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Appeal from the United States District Court
for the Northern District of Texas
USDC No. 2:03-CV-221
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Before JONES, EMILIO M. GARZA, and CLEMENT, Circuit Judges.
PER CURIAM:*
Levi Jones, Texas prisoner # 835295, appeals the
28 U.S.C. §§ 1915A and 1915(e)(2)(b) dismissal for failure to state
a claim of his 42 U.S.C. § 1983 civil rights complaint against
various prison officials, asserting that they subjected him to
excessive force and failed to intervene in the assault, in
violation of his Eighth Amendment rights. The district court’s
dismissal is reviewed de novo. Harris v. Hegmann, 198 F.3d 153,
*
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this opinion should not be published and is not precedent except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. 04-10032
-2-
156 (5th Cir. 1999); Ruiz v. United States, 160 F.3d 273, 275
(5th Cir. 1998).
Jones argues that he should have been allowed to proceed
on his excessive-force claim, contending that because the
guards used force to punish him, his injuries give rise to a
constitutional violation even though they were not otherwise
significant. Although the facts of the instant case have not been
fully developed, on the face of his complaint Jones alleges no more
than bruising requiring no medical treatment as a result of the
application of the force. Because he has alleged no morethan de
minimis injury, his claim fails. See Siglar v. Hightower, 112 F.3d
191, 193 (5th Cir. 1997).
The district court’s judgment is AFFIRMED. The district
court’s dismissal of his complaint counts as a “strike” for
purposes of 28 U.S.C. § 1915(g). See Adepegba v. Hammons, 103 F.3d
383, 388 (5th Cir. 1996). Consequently, Jones is CAUTIONED that,
if he accumulates three strikes, he may not proceed in forma
pauperis in any civil action or appeal 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; THREE-STRIKES WARNING ISSUED.