Autry v. Woods ( 1996 )

Filed: June 5, 1996
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE FOURTH CIRCUIT
Nos. 96-6112(L)
(CA-94-40-5-CT-F)
Timothy Carness Autry,
Plaintiff - Appellant,
versus
Phyllis B. Woods, et al,
Defendants - Appellees..
O R D E R
The Court amends its opinion filed May 24, 1996, as follows:
On the cover sheet, section 3 -- No. 95-6254 is corrected to
read "No. 96-6254."
For the Court - By Direction
/s/ Bert M. Montague
Clerk
UNPUBLISHED
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE FOURTH CIRCUIT
TIMOTHY CARNESS AUTRY,
Plaintiff-Appellant,
v.
No. 96-6112
PHYLLIS B. WOODS; RICHARD HEATH;
CHARLES G. RAYNOR, SR.,
Defendants-Appellees.
TIMOTHY CARNESS AUTRY,
Plaintiff-Appellant,
v.
No. 96-6254
PHYLLIS B. WOODS; RICHARD HEATH;
CHARLES G. RAYNOR, SR.,
Defendants-Appellees.
TIMOTHY CARNESS AUTRY,
Plaintiff-Appellant,
v.
No. 96-6378
PHYLLIS B. WOODS; RICHARD HEATH;
CHARLES G. RAYNOR, SR.,
Defendants-Appellees.
Appeals from the United States District Court
for the Eastern District of North Carolina, at Raleigh.
James C. Fox, Chief District Judge.
(CA-94-40-5-CT-F)
Submitted: May 16, 1996
Decided: May 24, 1996
Before RUSSELL, LUTTIG, and WILLIAMS, Circuit Judges.
_________________________________________________________________
Affirmed by unpublished per curiam opinion.
_________________________________________________________________
COUNSEL
Timothy Carness Autry, Appellant Pro Se. Jane Ray Garvey, OFFICE
OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF NORTH CAROLINA,
Raleigh, North Carolina, for Appellees.
_________________________________________________________________
Unpublished opinions are not binding precedent in this circuit. See
Local Rule 36(c).
_________________________________________________________________
OPINION
PER CURIAM:
In these consolidated cases Timothy Autry, a North Carolina
inmate, appeals the orders of the district court dismissing his 42
U.S.C. § 1983 (1988) civil complaint, denying his motion to vacate,
assessing attorney fees, and imposing a prefiling injunction in future
cases. Finding no reversible error, we affirm.
Autry is precluded from pursuing his claims in federal court.1
Autry previously litigated these exact same claims against the same
parties in the Superior Court of Greene County, North Carolina.2 The
_________________________________________________________________
1 See Migra v. Warren City Sch. Dist. Bd. of Educ., 465 U.S. 75 (1984).
2 Autry v. Woods, No. 95-M-7 (Super. Ct., Greene County N.C., Sept.
14, 1995).
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state court's dismissal operated as an adjudication on the merits.3
Because it is important to give full faith and credit to state court judg-
ments, Autry is precluded from raising claims in federal court that he
previously raised and had the opportunity to litigate in state court
proceedings.4 Accordingly, we find no error in the district court's dis-
missal of Autry's § 1983 complaint, or its denial of his motion to
vacate.
Regarding the assessment of attorney fees, we find that the district
court acted within its discretion in imposing fees because Autry's
§ 1983 claim was "frivolous, unreasonable, or groundless."5 We rec-
ognize that the assessment of fees against pro se petitioners should be
viewed cautiously due to understandable ignorance of subtle legal
and/or factual issues,6 but we consider Autry's suit to be a product
designed to defame and harass the Defendants. Under these circum-
stances, the assessment of costs was proper.
Likewise, the imposition of a prefiling injunction was proper on the
facts presented. It is clear that federal courts have the power and con-
stitutional obligation to issue such injunctions where vexatious con-
duct hinders the court from fulfilling its constitutional duty.7 Of
course, a court imposing such an injunction must be careful not to
order conditions that effectively deny access to the courts.8 We are
limited to deciding whether the district court abused its discretion,9
_________________________________________________________________
3 N.C. GEN. STAT. § 1A-1, Rule 41(b) (1990); Cline v. Teich, 92 N.C.
App. 257, 264, 374 S.E.2d 462, 466 (1988); Johnson v. Bollinger, 86
N.C. App. 1, 8-9, 356 S.E.2d 378, 383 (1987).
4 See 28 U.S.C. § 1738 (1988); Migra, 465 U.S. at 84.
5 Lotz Realty Co., Inc. v. U.S. Dep't of Hous. and Urban Dev., 717 F.2d
929, 931 (4th Cir. 1983).
6 See Hughes v. Rowe, 449 U.S. 5, 15 (1980) (per curiam).
7 See Procup v. Strickland, 792 F.2d 1069, 1073 (11th Cir. 1986) (in
banc); Graham v. Riddle, 554 F.2d 133 (4th Cir. 1977).
8 Procup, 792 F.2d at 1071; see also In re Green, 669 F.2d 779, 786
(D.C. Cir. 1981) (per curiam).
9 Procup, 792 F.2d at 1074; Wood v. Santa Barbara Chamber of
Commerce, 705 F.2d 1515, 1524 (9th Cir. 1983), cert. denied, 465 U.S.
1081 (1984).
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and we hold that the injunction was proper. It is clear that Autry's
access to the courts is not denied as he can file lawsuits with the leave
of court and an accompanying affidavit. This is a permissible condi-
tion on his right to access.10 Furthermore, several factors suggest that
the injunction was warranted: Autry has a lengthy history of frivolous
lawsuits, often involving the same issues; Autry acted in bad faith by
harassing and abusing the Defendants under the guise of litigation;
and Autry has caused needless expense and burdens on Defendants,
the district court, and this court.11 Therefore, it is clear that the district
court did not abuse its discretion in enjoining Autry.
Accordingly, we affirm the orders of the district court. We dispense
with oral argument because the facts and legal contentions are ade-
quately presented on the record and oral argument would not aid the
decisional process.
AFFIRMED
_________________________________________________________________
10 Procup, 792 F.2d at 1072-73.
11 See Safir v. United States Lines, Inc., 792 F.2d 19, 24 (2d Cir. 1986),
cert. denied, 479 U.S. 1099 (1987).
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