Brown v. Central New Mexico

F I L E D
United States Court of Appeals
Tenth Circuit
JUL 29 1998
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
TENTH CIRCUIT PATRICK FISHER
Clerk
MARVIN BROWN,
Plaintiff - Appellant, No. 97-2294
v. (D. New Mexico)
CENTRAL NEW MEXICO (D.C. No. CIV-97-825-BB)
CORRECTIONAL FACILITY; JOE
WILLIAMS, Warden, Central New
Mexico Correctional Facility; KEVIN
R. WIGGINS, Captain; JOSE
ROMERO, Captain; EDWARD
CHAVEZ,
Defendants - Appellees.
MARVIN BROWN,
Plaintiff - Appellant, No. 98-2051
v. (D. New Mexico)
DAN RAMIREZ; JOYCE (D.C. No. CIV-98-40-BB/JHG)
TERRASAS; PROBATION AND
PAROLE DEPARTMENT,
Defendants - Appellees.
MARVIN BROWN,
Plaintiff - Appellant, No. 98-2052
v. (D. New Mexico)
CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE; ROSS C. (D.C. No. CIV-98-41-BB/LCS)
SANCHEZ, Judge; BRUCE
MCALLISTER, A.P.D. Officer;
VERNON WILSON; DAN RAMIREZ;
JOYCE TERRASAS, Probation and
Parole Department; RUDY
SANCHEZ; ALBUQUERQUE
POLICE DEPARTMENT,
Defendants - Appellees.
MARVIN BROWN,
Plaintiff - Appellant, No. 98-2063
v. (D. New Mexico)
CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE; (D.C. No. CIV-98-42-MV/RJS)
ALBUQUERQUE POLICE
DEPARTMENT; BRUCE
MCALLISTER,
Defendants - Appellees.
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ORDER AND JUDGMENT *
Before ANDERSON, MCKAY, and LUCERO, Circuit Judges.
After examining the briefs and appellate record, this panel has determined
unanimously that oral argument would not materially assist the determination of
this appeal. See Fed. R. App. P. 34 (a); 10th Cir. R. 34.1.9. This cause is
therefore ordered submitted without oral argument.
Marvin Brown, a state prisoner proceeding pro se, appeals the dismissal of
four actions he brought pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. The district court denied
Mr. Brown leave to proceed in forma pauperis and dismissed each of his civil
rights complaints because it found that Mr. Brown had, on at least three prior
occasions, filed a civil action that was dismissed as frivolous or malicious or for
failure to state a claim. 1 See 28 U.S.C. § 1915(g). In support of this finding, the
*
This order and judgment is not binding precedent, except under the
doctrines of law of the case, res judicata, and collateral estoppel. The court
generally disfavors the citation of orders and judgments; nevertheless, an order
and judgment may be cited under the terms and conditions of 10th Cir. R. 36.3.
1
Under § 1915(g), a prisoner may not bring a civil action or appeal a
judgment in a civil action or proceeding in forma pauperis if the prisoner has, “on
three or more prior occasions, while incarcerated or detained in any facility,
brought an action or appeal in a court of the United States that was dismissed on
(continued...)
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district court cited the following three previous civil actions filed by Mr. Brown:
Brown v. New Mexico District Court Clerks, No. CIV-96-0968 (D.N.M. Jan. 22,
1997); Brown v. McAllister, No. CIV-94-1462 (D.N.M. June 7, 1996); Brown v.
Brennan, No. CIV-94-1010 (D.N.M. Sept. 30, 1994).
The threshold problem in each of these appeals, however, is that Mr. Brown
does not have the requisite three “prior occasions.” Although case number
96-0968 was dismissed by the district court for failure to state a claim, that
dismissal was vacated by this court on appeal and thus cannot count as a “prior
occasion.” See Brown v. New Mexico District Court Clerks, No. 97-2044 (10th
Cir. Mar. 19, 1998). Case number 94-1462, which was ultimately dismissed by
this court as frivolous, see Brown v. McAllister, No. 97-2035 (10th Cir. Mar. 19,
1998), was only dismissed by the district court pursuant to a stipulated motion to
dismiss the complaint. It therefore, can account for only one “prior occasion.”
Finally, while case number 94-1010 was dismissed by the district court as
frivolous, there is no indication in the record that Mr. Brown appealed this
dismissal. Thus, this case can also account for only one “prior occasion.”
1
(...continued)
the grounds that it is frivolous, malicious, or fails to state a claim upon which
relief may be granted.” This “three strikes” provision does not apply, however,
where the prisoner is under imminent danger of serious physical injury, see 28
U.S.C. § 1915(g). The district court specifically found that none of Mr. Brown’s
civil rights complaints contained such an allegation.
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Based on our calculations, therefore, Mr. Brown has only two “prior
occasions,” and the district court erred in dismissing his claim under § 1915(g).
Accordingly, the judgment of the district court in each of these cases is
VACATED, and they are REMANDED to the district court for further
proceedings.
ENTERED FOR THE COURT
Stephen H. Anderson
Circuit Judge
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