Lou Tyler v. Ocwen Loan Servicing, L.L.C.

Case: 16-11291 Document: 00514216646 Page: 1 Date Filed: 10/30/2017 IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT United States Court of Appeals Fifth Circuit No. 16-11291 FILED October 30, 2017 Lyle W. Cayce Clerk LOU TYLER, Plaintiff−Appellant, versus OCWEN LOAN SERVICING, L.L.C.; DEUTSCHE BANK, Defendants−Appellees. Appeal from the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas No. 3:16-CV-1698 Before SMITH, WIENER, and HAYNES, Circuit Judges. PER CURIAM: * Lou Tyler moves for leave to proceed in forma pauperis (“IFP”) in her appeal of the dismissal of her civil action against Ocwen Loan Servicing, * 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 R. 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not be published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5TH CIR.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: 16-11291 Document: 00514216646 Page: 2 Date Filed: 10/30/2017 No. 16-11291 L.L.C., and Deutsche Bank. Tyler’s motion is a challenge to the district court’s determination that her appeal is not taken in good faith. See Baugh v. Taylor, 117 F.3d 197, 202 (5th Cir. 1997). Before this court, Tyler reasserts her claims that foreclosure on her prop- erty would be improper because the defendants are barred from enforcing their interest by the statute of limitations and that they have engaged in a variety of wrongdoings, including harassment, unfair and misleading representations, deceptive practices, illegal attempts to foreclose, non-validation of debt, delib- erate mishandling of her mortgage and financial documents, and breach of contract. By merely reasserting her claims, Tyler fails to address the district court’s certification that her appeal was not taken in good faith and the district court’s reasons for its certification decision. See Baugh, 117 F.3d at 202. In particular, she does not factually or legally challenge the district court’s deter- mination that Tyler’s civil action is barred by res judicata. Pro se briefs are afforded liberal construction. See Yohey v. Collins, 985 F.2d 222, 225 (5th Cir. 1993). Nevertheless, when an appellant fails to identify any error by the district court, it is the same as though the appellant had not appealed that issue. See Brinkmann v. Dallas Cty. Deputy Sheriff Abner, 813 F.2d 744, 748 (5th Cir. 1987). Because Tyler has failed to challenge the certification that her appeal is not taken in good faith and the reasons for such a certification, she has abandoned the issues in the appeal. Id. The appeal lacks arguable merit and is frivolous. See Howard v. King, 707 F.2d 215, 220 (5th Cir. 1983). Accordingly, Tyler’s motions to proceed IFP and a temporary restraining order are DENIED, and the appeal is DISMISSED as frivolous. See Baugh, 117 F.3d at 202 & n.24; 5TH CIR. R. 42.2. 2