Harper v. Atlas
Harper v. Atlas
Opinion
Darrell J. Harper moves to proceed in forma pauperis (IFP) to appeal the denial of IFP in the district court. A movant for leave to proceed IFP on appeal must show that he is a pauper and that the appeal is taken in good faith, i.e., the appeal presents nonfrivolous issues. Carson v. Polley, 689 F.2d 562, 586 (5th Cir. 1982); 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a)(3).
Harper has been permanently enjoined from filing suit in the Southern District of Texas without first obtaining the written permission of Judge Lynn Hughes and paying the filing fees for all of his earlier cases. Harper v. City View, No. 4:02-CV-04126 (S.D.Tex. Dec. 23, 2002) (unpublished). The injunction was motivated by Harper’s history of filing frivolous lawsuits. See Harper v. Hughes, No. 4:02-CV-03152 (S.D.Tex. July 22, 2002) (unpublished). Such sanctions are authorized by the federal rules. See Fed.R.Civ.P. 11(c)(2). Harper’s insistence on filing lawsuits in the Southern District of Texas in flagrant disregard of the terms of the in *306 junction supports a determination that the sanction was commensurate with the objected-to conduct. Harper therefore has failed to show that he will raise any non-frivolous issues for appeal. His IFP motion is therefore denied, and his appeal is dismissed as frivolous. See 5th Cir. R. 42.2; Baugh v. Taylor, 117 F.3d 197, 202 (5th Cir. 1997).
We have twice warned Harper that the filing or prosecution of frivolous appeals would result in the imposition of sanctions. Harper v. Beck, 144 Fed.Appx. 427 (5th Cir. 2005) (unpublished); Harper v. City of Houston, 134 Fed.Appx. 736 (5th Cir. 2005) (unpublished). In light of yet another frivolous filing on his part, Harper is ordered to pay sanctions in the amount of $100, payable to the clerk of this court. The clerk of this court and the clerks of all federal district courts within this circuit are directed to refuse to file any civil complaint or appeal by Harper unless Harper submits proof of satisfaction of this sanction. If Harper attempts to file any further notices of appeal or original proceedings in this court without such proof the clerk will docket them for administrative purposes only. Any other submissions which do not show proof that the sanction has been paid will be neither addressed nor acknowledged. This sanction is imposed in addition to all other sanctions currently in force against Harper.
IFP DENIED; APPEAL DISMISSED; SANCTION IMPOSED.
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.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.