Switzer v. Burkes

United States Court of Appeals Fifth Circuit F I L E D IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT December 17, 2004 Charles R. Fulbruge III Clerk No. 04-60319 Conference Calendar RICHARD MERLE SWITZER, Plaintiff-Appellant, versus FELICIA DUNN BURKES, Defendant-Appellee. -------------------- Appeal from the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi USDC No. 1:02-CV-209-GURO -------------------- Before KING, Chief Judge, and DeMOSS and CLEMENT, Circuit Judges. PER CURIAM:* Richard Merle Switzer, Mississippi prisoner # 47818, appeals the dismissal of his civil rights complaint for failure to state a claim pursuant to FED. R. CIV. P. 12(b)(6) and, alternatively, on the defendant’s motion for summary judgment. He argues that his criminal defense attorney conspired with the trial judge to deprive him of his right to appeal his escape conviction. Switzer’s appeal from the denial of his 28 U.S.C. § 2254 petition is currently pending before this court. He was granted * 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 R. 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not be published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5TH CIR.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. 04-60319 -2- a certificate of appealability on the issue whether counsel rendered ineffective assistance for failing to file a direct appeal. See Switzer v. Mississippi, No. 04-60104 (5th Cir. July 1, 2004) (unpublished). Given that Switzer’s civil claims imply the invalidity of his escape conviction and, further, that he has not shown his conviction to have been reversed or otherwise declared invalid, we affirm the district court’s dismissal on the alternative basis that Switzer’s claims are barred by Heck v. Humphrey, 512 U.S. 477, 486-87 (1994). See Boyd v. Biggers, 31 F.3d 279, 283 (5th Cir. 1994); Bickford v. Int’l Speedway Corp., 654 F.2d 1028, 1031 (5th Cir. 1981). The district court’s dismissal 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). We caution Switzer that once he accumulates three strikes, he may not 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 or serious physical injury. See 28 U.S.C. § 1915(g). AFFIRMED.