Clegg v. Grounds
Opinion
George Stephen Clegg, Texas prisoner # 681197, sued prison officials under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 asserting that a policy prohibiting inmates from using the restroom during two-hour library sessions effectively prevents him from conducting legal research in violation of his right of access to the courts. He asserted that he has a medical condition that causes him to urinate frequently. The district court dismissed the suit as frivolous and for failure to state a claim because Clegg failed to assert an actual injury as a litigant that resulted from the policy. The court denied Clegg’s motion for leave to proceed in forma pauperis (IFP) on appeal, certifying that the appeal was not taken in good faith. Clegg seeks this court’s leave to proceed IFP.
Although Clegg asserts generally that his attempts to obtain post-conviction relief and an out-of-time appeal were adversely affected by the prison policy, he fails to assert any facts that demonstrate how he was injured as a litigant. Accordingly, he fails to show that he will raise a nonfrivolous issue on appeal. See Lewis v. Casey, 518 U.S. 343, 351, 116 S.Ct. 2174, 135 L.Ed.2d 606 (1996). The motion is *501 denied and the appeal is dismissed as frivolous. See Baugh v. Taylor, 117 F.3d 197, 202 & n. 24 (5th Cir. 1997); 5th Cir. R. 42.2.
The district court’s dismissal of Clegg’s complaint and our dismissal of his appeal count as two strikes for purposes of 28 U.S.C. § 1915(g). See Adepegba v. Hammons, 103 F.3d 383, 387 (5th Cir. 1996). Clegg is cautioned that once he accumulates three strikes, he may not 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).
APPEAL DISMISSED; IFP MOTION DENIED; SANCTION WARNING ISSUED.
Pursuant to 5th Cm. R. 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not be published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5th Cm. R. 47.5.4.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- George Stephen CLEGG, Plaintiff-Appellant v. Dawn GROUNDS; Kenneth Dean; FNU Fullman, Defendants-Appellees
- Status
- Unpublished