Junne Koh v. Thomas Kane

Case: 18-10125 Document: 00514779550 Page: 1 Date Filed: 01/02/2019 IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT United States Court of Appeals No. 18-10125 Fifth Circuit FILED January 2, 2019 JUNNE KOH, Lyle W. Cayce Clerk Plaintiff-Appellant v. THOMAS KANE, Director; MS. UNKNOWN GUERRERO, Grievance Investigator, Defendants-Appellees Appeal from the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas USDC No. 5:17-CV-206 Before JONES, ELROD, and ENGELHARDT, Circuit Judges. PER CURIAM: * Junne Koh, federal prisoner # 44827-086, moves this court for leave to proceed in forma pauperis (IFP) in his appeal of the dismissal as frivolous of his action under Bivens v. Six Unknown Named Agents of the Fed. Bureau of Narcotics, 403 U.S. 388 (1971). By moving for IFP status here, Koh is challenging the district court’s certification that his appeal is not taken in good faith. See Baugh v. Taylor, 117 F.3d 197, 202 (5th Cir. 1997); FED. R. APP. P. 24(a). 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. Case: 18-10125 Document: 00514779550 Page: 2 Date Filed: 01/02/2019 No. 18-10125 Koh’s appellate brief does not address the district court’s certification that Koh’s appeal was not taken in good faith or the reasons for the certification decision. See Baugh, 117 F.3d at 202. Accordingly, his challenge to the certification decision is deemed abandoned. See Brinkmann v. Dallas County Deputy Sheriff Abner, 813 F.2d 744, 748 (5th Cir. 1987). Additionally, Koh has not shown that his appeal involves “legal points arguable on their merits (and therefore not frivolous).” Howard v. King, 707 F.2d 215, 220 (5th Cir. 1983). Therefore, Koh’s motion for leave to proceed IFP on appeal is DENIED, and his appeal is DISMISSED as frivolous. See Baugh, 117 F.3d at 202 & n.24; 5TH CIR. R. 42.2. Both the district court’s dismissal of the instant suit as frivolous and this court’s dismissal of this appeal as frivolous each count as a strike pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(g)’s three-strikes provision. See Adepegba v. Hammons, 103 F.3d 383, 385-87 (5th Cir. 1996). Additionally, while the instant appeal was pending, Koh accumulated other § 1915(g) strikes. Koh v. Fox, 5:18-cv- 289 (W.D. Okla. July 31, 2018); Koh v. Kane, 5:17-cv-39 (S.D. Miss. Apr. 23, 2018); Koh v. Faust, 5:17-cv-27, (S.D. Miss. Apr. 9, 2018). Accordingly, Koh is now barred under § 1915(g) from proceeding 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 § 1915(g). Koh is warned that any future frivolous, repetitive, or otherwise abusive filings will invite the imposition of sanctions, which may include dismissal, monetary sanctions, and restrictions on his ability to file pleadings in this court and any court subject to this court’s jurisdiction. He should review any pending appeals and actions and move to dismiss any that are frivolous or repetitive. APPEAL DISMISSED; IFP MOTION DENIED; § 1915(g) BAR IMPOSED; WARNED. 2