Bennett v. LA Dept Pub Safety

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit

Bennett v. LA Dept Pub Safety

Opinion

IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT

No. 02-30593 Conference Calendar

MARLON DEWAYNE BENNETT,

Plaintiff-Appellant,

versus

LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND CORRECTIONS; C.M. LENSING; THOMAS HOOPER; LEON LANOUX; UNKNOWN STANLEY, Sgt.,

Defendants-Appellees.

-------------------- Appeal from the United States District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana USDC No. 02-CV-369 -------------------- February 19, 2003 Before WIENER, EMILIO M. GARZA, and CLEMENT, Circuit Judges.

PER CURIAM:*

Marlon Dewayne Bennett, Louisiana prisoner # 359848,

appeals from the district court’s dismissal of his

42 U.S.C. § 1983

civil rights complaint as frivolous, for failure to state a

claim, and for seeking monetary relief from an immune defendant.

28 U.S.C. § 1915

(e)(2)(B)(i),(ii),(iii). Bennett also appeals the

district court’s denial of his motion to amend or alter the

* 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 R. 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not be published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5TH CIR.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. 02-30593 -2-

judgment pursuant to FED. R. CIV. P. 59(e); however, he has failed

to brief the issue on appeal. Yohey v. Collins,

985 F.2d 222, 224-25

(5th Cir. 1993). Bennett argues that the prison’s

confiscation of his jars of peanut butter and jelly constitutes

a violation of due process, cruel and unusual punishment, and a

taking of property without just compensation.

Bennett cannot raise a cognizable property deprivation claim

under

42 U.S.C. § 1983

because Louisiana provides an adequate

postdeprivation remedy for property loss claims. See Marshall

v. Norwood,

741 F.2d 761, 763-64

(5th Cir. 1984). Likewise,

Bennett cannot avail himself of the Due Process Clause on his

claim for just compensation as an adequate postdeprivation remedy

exists in state court. See

id. at 764

.

Bennett advances only a conclusional argument with respect

to his Eighth Amendment cruel and unusual punishment claim. See

Brinkmann v. Dallas County Deputy Sherriff Abner,

813 F.2d 744, 748

(5th Cir. 1987). Similarly, Bennett fails to allege specific

facts with respect to individual prison officials to raise a

successful

42 U.S.C. § 1983

cause of action. See Oliver

v. Scott,

276 F.3d 736, 741

(5th Cir. 2002). The district court

properly dismissed Bennett’s claims pursuant to

28 U.S.C. § 1915

(e)(2)(i) and (ii). See Berry v. Brady,

192 F.3d 504, 507

(5th Cir. 1999) (affirming

28 U.S.C. § 1915

(e)(2)(B) dismissal

on any basis supported by the record). No. 02-30593 -3-

Bennett’s appeal is without arguable merit and is frivolous.

See Howard v. King,

707 F.2d 215, 220

(5th Cir. 1983).

Accordingly, his appeal is DISMISSED. 5TH CIR. R. 42.2. The

district court’s dismissal of the present case and our dismissal

of this appeal count as two strikes against Bennett for purposes

of

28 U.S.C. § 1915

(g). See Adepegba v. Hammons,

103 F.3d 383, 388

(5th Cir. 1996). We caution Bennett that once he accumulates

three strikes, he may not proceed in forma pauperis 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

28 U.S.C. § 1915

(g).

DISMISS APPEAL AS FRIVOLOUS; THREE-STRIKES WARNING ISSUED.

Reference

Status
Unpublished