Taylor v. State of Wyoming
Taylor v. State of Wyoming
Opinion
F I L E D United States Court of Appeals Tenth Circuit UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS MAY 24 2000 TENTH CIRCUIT PATRICK FISHER Clerk
JOHN A. TAYLOR,
Plaintiff - Appellant, v.
STATE OF WYOMING; WYOMING ATTORNEY GENERAL, in his official capacity; WYOMING DEPARTMENT OF FAMILY SERVICES; FREMONT COUNTY; FREMONT COUNTY OFFICE OF FAMILY VIOLENCE; ELIZABETH A. KAIL, in her official capacity as No. 00-8000 Ninth Judicial District Judge, Fremont (D.C. No. 99-CV-85-J) County; NANCY J. GUTHRIE, in her (District of Wyoming) official capacity as Ninth Judicial District Judge, Fremont County; D. TERRY ROGERS, in his official capacity as Ninth Judicial District Judge, Teton County; JEFFREY A. DONNELL, in his official capacity as District Judge for the Second Judicial District Court; FRANK D. PEASLEY; MAUREEN DONOHOUE; JANET ELIZABETH TAYLOR,
Defendants - Appellees.
ORDER AND JUDGMENT *
* The case is unanimously ordered submitted without oral argument pursuant to Fed. R. App. P. 34(a)(2) and 10th Cir. R. 34.1(G). This order and (continued...) Before BALDOCK, HENRY and LUCERO, Circuit Judges.
Appellant John Arthur Taylor, Jr., a prisoner appearing pro se, appeals the
dismissal of his civil rights complaint. We affirm the district court’s dismissal of
his complaint as frivolous.
Taylor filed the instant complaint, ostensibly pursuant to 42 U.S.C. §§ 1983
claims due process and equal protection violations stemming from certain
undisclosed actions taken by defendants with respect to a minor child. The
district court dismissed his complaint for failure to state a claim and as frivolous,
stating that “[h]is incoherent and conclusory claims are frivolous and fail to set
forth a factual basis to establish any constitutional violation.” (R. Doc. 6 at 2.)
On appeal, Taylor asks “[w]hether the Constitutions of the United States of
America, State of Wyoming and Laws have been suspended,” and if they have not
been suspended, whether we are “under MARTIAL LAW.” (Appellant’s Br. at
1.) He then goes on to raise various conclusory challenges to his incarceration, as
* (...continued) judgment is not binding precedent, except under the doctrines of law of the case, res judicata, and collateral estoppel. The court generally disfavors the citation of orders and judgments; nevertheless, an order and judgment may be cited under the terms and conditions of 10th Cir. R. 36.3.
-2- well as attaching letters protesting the alleged seizure of certain law books. We
note that not only does Taylor’s brief fail to address the district court’s
conclusion that his complaint fails to state a claim and is frivolous, it is, in fact,
completely unrelated to the allegations of that complaint. Our independent review
of Taylor’s complaint readily confirms that it fails to state a claim and is patently
frivolous.
“If we dismiss as frivolous the appeal of an action the district court
dismissed under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B), both dismissals count as strikes.”
Jennings v. Natrona County Detention Ctr. Med. Facility, 175 F.3d 775, 780 (10th
Cir. 1999). The district court correctly determined that Taylor’s complaint both
fails to state a claim and is frivolous, and its dismissal therefore falls under 28 U.S.C. § 1915
fails to state a claim for which relief may be granted”). Because this appeal
likewise lacks any arguable basis in law or fact, we deem it to be frivolous under
28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B)(i). Taylor incurs strikes one and two for purposes of
28 U.S.C. § 1915(g). He is advised that if he incurs one more strike by filing
further frivolous suits or appeals, under the Prisoner Litigation Reform Act of
1995 he will no longer be entitled to proceed in forma pauperis in a civil action in
federal court—other than petitions for writ of habeas corpus—not involving
“‘imminent danger of serious physical injury.’” White v. Colorado, 157 F.3d
-3- 1226, 1232 (10th Cir. 1998) (quoting 28 U.S.C. § 1915(g)), cert. denied, 119 S. Ct. 1150
We remind Taylor of his continuing obligation to pay all installments of the
deferred district court and appellate filing fees until they are paid in full. No
exception is made for dismissed appeals. See 28 U.S.C. § 1915(b)(2); Jennings,
175 F.3d at 781.
The judgment of the district court is AFFIRMED. Taylor’s “Petition for
Injunction” and “Motion for Sanctions” are DENIED.
The mandate shall issue forthwith.
ENTERED FOR THE COURT
Carlos F. Lucero Circuit Judge
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Reference
- Status
- Unpublished