Olive v. Gonzalez
Olive v. Gonzalez
Opinion
IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT
No. 99-41319 Conference Calendar
GERALD WAYNE OLIVE,
Plaintiff-Appellant,
versus
SIGIFREDO GONZALEZ, JR.; NORMA VILLARREAL RAMIREZ, Judge,
Defendants-Appellees.
-------------------- Appeal from the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas USDC No. L-96-CV-3 -------------------- December 11, 2001 Before HIGGINBOTHAM, BARKSDALE, and STEWART, Circuit Judges.
PER CURIAM:*
Gerald Wayne Olive challenges the dismissal following the
grant of a “directed verdict” at jury trial of his inadequate-
medical treatment claim in this
42 U.S.C. § 1983case. See Fed.
R. Civ. P. 50(a). He makes no argument regarding the prior
dismissal of his double-jeopardy and mail-interference claims,
and those claims are therefore waived. See Yohey v. Collins,
985 F.2d 222, 224-25(5th Cir. 1983).
The appellant has the burden of including in the record on
appeal transcripts of all proceedings relevant to the issues on
* 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 R. 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not be published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5TH CIR.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. No. 99-41319 -2-
appeal. See Fed. R. App. P. 10(b); Reddin v. Robinson Prop.
Group Ltd. P’ship,
239 F.3d 756, 759 & n.4 (5th Cir. 2001). This
court will not consider an issue about which the record on appeal
is insufficient. Powell v. Estelle,
959 F.2d 22, 26(5th Cir.
1992); Richardson v. Henry,
902 F.2d 414, 416(5th Cir. 1990).
Olive has not presented the trial transcript in support of his
challenge to the dismissal of his inadequate-medical-treatment
claim. By not providing the court the necessary record, Olive
has failed to present an issue reviewable by this court.
Olive’s argument that the district court erred in denying
his discovery requests, depriving him of a fair trial, is
frivolous. There is no indication in the record that discovery
was sought and denied, nor is there any indication that a motion
to compel discovery was denied.
Olive additionally contends that the trial court erred in
denying him appointed counsel at trial. This claim is facially
frivolous because Olive was in fact appointed counsel but
requested that counsel be dismissed. To the extent that Olive
again asks this court to appoint him appellate counsel, the
motion is DENIED for the reasons previously stated. See Olive v.
Gonzalez, No. 99-41319 (5th Cir. Jan 2, 2001). To the extent
that Olive complains that appointed counsel performed deficiently
prior to his dismissal, the claim is not cognizable. A civil
litigant generally has no constitutional or statutory right to
counsel. See Ulmer v. Chancellor,
691 F.2d 209, 212-13(5th Cir.
1982). Because Olive had no constitutional or statutory right to
counsel in this civil rights case, he cannot complain about No. 99-41319 -3-
counsel’s allegedly deficient performance in this proceeding.
See Sanchez v. United States Postal Servs.,
785 F.2d 1236, 1237(5th Cir. 1986).
The instant appeal is wholly without arguable merit and is
DISMISSED as frivolous. See Howard v. King,
707 F.2d 215, 219-20(5th Cir. 1983); 5th Cir. R. 42.2.
In his appellate brief, Gonzalez requests that he be awarded
costs and damages, pursuant to Fed. R. App. P. 38, for having to
defend against a frivolous appeal. The request is DENIED for the
reason that it has not been made in a separately filed motion as
is required by Rule 38.
APPEAL DISMISSED; MOTIONS DENIED.
Reference
- Status
- Unpublished