ROBINSON v. LEBLANC (2021)

Daniel Lee Robinson, Louisiana prisoner # 127348, moves for leave to proceed in forma pauperis (IFP) on appeal from the dismissal of his 42 U.S.C. § 1983 suit. The district court denied him leave to proceed IFP on appeal, certifying that this appeal was not taken in good faith.

By moving to proceed IFP here, Robinson is challenging the district court's certification decision. See Baugh v. Taylor, 117 F.3d 197, 202 (5th Cir. 1997). Our inquiry into an appellant's good faith “is limited to whether the appeal involves legal points arguable on their merits (and therefore not frivolous).” Howard v. King, 707 F.2d 215, 220 (5th Cir. 1983) (internal quotation marks and citation omitted).

Robinson first challenges the district court's dismissal of some of his claims without prejudice for failure to exhaust administrative remedies. He argues that he was not required to make state-level filings before pursing those claims under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1997e(a), Robinson was required to exhaust his administrative remedies for those claims, even if they were ADA claims, since they involved matters of prison life. See Porter v. Nussle, 534 U.S. 516, 524, 532, 122 S.Ct. 983, 152 L.Ed.2d 12 (2002). Additionally, Robinson's contention that his verbal and written requests for accommodation were adequate to exhaust his administrative remedies does not present a nonfrivolous issue for appeal, as those requests did not satisfy the rules of Louisiana's Administrative Remedy Procedure. See Bargher v. White, 928 F.3d 439, 446-47 (5th Cir. 2019).

With respect to his claims of lost property, Robinson has failed to adequately brief an argument challenging the district court's determination that Louisiana law provided him with adequate remedies to seek recovery of his property or reimbursement for its loss. See Yohey v. Collins, 985 F.2d 222, 225 (5th Cir. 1993) (recognizing that even pro se litigants must brief arguments in order to maintain them). Accordingly, he has not demonstrated a nonfrivolous issue for appeal regarding the district court's dismissal of his property claims with prejudice for failure to state a claim upon which relief may be granted.

The instant appeal is without arguable merit and is DISMISSED as frivolous. See Baugh, 117 F.3d at 202 n.24; Howard, 707 F.2d at 220; 5th Cir. R. 42.2. Robinson's motion for leave to proceed IFP is DENIED. Our dismissal of this appeal as frivolous 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), abrogated in part on other grounds by Coleman v. Tollefson, 575 U.S. 532, 135 S. Ct. 1759, 1762-63, 191 L.Ed.2d 803 (2015). Robinson is WARNED that if he accumulates three strikes, he will not be able to proceed 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).

FOOTNOTES

FOOTNOTE.  

Per Curiam:* FN* Pursuant to 5th Circuit Rule 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 Circuit Rule 47.5.4.