Spearman v. Collins

IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT __________________ No. 95-21068 Summary Calendar __________________ JOSÉ LORENZO SPEARMAN, a/k/a Pablo Carlos Ramirez Camara, Plaintiff-Appellant, versus JAMES A. COLLINS, Director, Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Institutional Division; CAPT. BRYANT; STATE CLASSIFICATION COMMITTEE; BOB OWENS, Defendants-Appellees. - - - - - - - - - - Appeal from the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas USDC No. CA-H-93-3448 - - - - - - - - - - April 8, 1996 Before SMITH, BENAVIDES, and DENNIS, Circuit Judges. PER CURIAM:* Jose Lorenzo Spearman appeals the district court's dismissal as frivolous of his civil rights complaint under 42 U.S.C. § 1983. A dismissal under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(d) is reviewed for abuse of discretion. Eason v. Thaler, 14 F.3d 8, 9 (5th Cir. 1994). We determine that the district court did not abuse its discretion. Spearman was not denied due process with respect to the disciplinary charges against him. See Sandin v. Conner, 115 S. * 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 R. 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not be published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5TH CIR.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. Ct. 2293, 2295 (1995). Prison officials were not deliberately indifferent to his serious medical needs by not providing him with or allowing him to buy skin lotion for his dry skin condition during the fifteen days he was in solitary confinement. See Varnado v. Lynaugh, 920 F.2d 320, 321 (5th Cir. 1991). Spearman's arguments related to good-time credit constitute a challenge to the length of his confinement; the appropriate federal remedy is a writ of habeas corpus. Preiser v. Rodriguez, 411 U.S. 475, 490-93 (1973). His civil rights complaint based on these assertions is not cognizable. Heck v. Humphrey, 114 S. Ct. 2364, 2372 (1994). Spearman's request that the court decide whether his claims of innocence of the criminal charges should be brought pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983 or again as a habeas petition, his assertion that the district court erred in denying a motion for consolidation, and his request that counsel be appointed to represent him after the appeal is decided have not been adequately briefed, so we not address them. Brinkmann v. Dallas County Deputy Sheriff Abner, 813 F.2d 744, 748 (5th Cir. 1987). This appeal is frivolous. See Howard v. King, 707 F.2d 215, 220 (5th Cir. 1983). Because the appeal is frivolous, it is DISMISSED. See 5TH CIR. R. 42.2. Spearman is cautioned that any additional frivolous appeals filed by him will invite the imposition of sanctions. To avoid sanctions, Spearman is further cautioned to review any pending appeals to ensure that they do not raise arguments that are frivolous. APPEAL DISMISSED; SANCTIONS WARNING. 2