JONES v. OCEAN COUNTY DIVISION OF CHILD PROTECTION AND PERMANENCY (2020)

OPINION *

Lashawn Jones appeals from an order denying his motion for a preliminary injunction. We will dismiss this appeal as moot.

Jones is a New Jersey state prisoner. He filed a federal complaint raising claims regarding visitation with his son J.G. After a New Jersey state court issued an order suspending those visits, Jones filed a motion for a preliminary injunction and apparently sought an order directing the visits to resume. The District Court denied that motion, and Jones filed this appeal.

Ordinarily, we would have jurisdiction to review the District Court's denial of Jones's motion for a preliminary injunction under 28 U.S.C. § 1292(a)(1). After Jones filed this appeal, however, the District Court entered an order dismissing his amended complaint. The District Court dismissed most of Jones's claims with prejudice, but it dismissed some of his claims without prejudice and with leave to further amend. Jones did not amend within the time permitted and instead filed a second appeal at C.A. No. 19-2021. That appeal is not presently before us.

By filing that appeal instead of amending within the time permitted, however, Jones rendered the District Court's order of dismissal final by standing on his complaint. See Hoffman v. Nordic Nats., Inc., 837 F.3d 272, 279 & n.49 (3d Cir. 2016). And the District Court's final order of dismissal renders moot this appeal from its order denying Jones's motion for a preliminary injunction. See Doe ex rel. Doe v. Governor of N.J., 783 F.3d 150, 151 n.1 (3d Cir. 2015) (citing Hankins v. Temple Univ. (Health Sciences Ctr.), 829 F.2d 437, 438 n.1 (3d Cir. 1987)).

Thus, we will dismiss this appeal as moot. See id. Jones's motion for appointment of counsel on appeal is denied. To the extent that Jones's filings can be construed to request any other forms of relief, those requests are denied as well.

PER CURIAM