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De Novo Review for § 1915A Dismissals
The court of appeals for the Fifth circuit held that dismissals by district courts under 28 U.S.C. § 1915A should be reviewed de novo on appeal. Section 1915A requires district courts to screen prisoner lawsuits and dismiss those which are frivolous, malicious or which fail to state a claim upon which relief can be granted. Screening is done before the suit is served on the defendants. Section 1915A applies regardless of whether the prisoner plaintiff has paid the filing fee or is proceeding in forma pauperis. The court relied on Bazrowx v. Scott, 136 F.3d 1053, 1054 (5th Cir. 1998)[PLN, Oct. 1998], which requires de novo review of 42 U.S.C. § 1997e(c) dismissals, to reach this conclusion. In doing so, the court agreed with the Sixth and Eighth circuits which have reached a similar conclusion. See: Ruiz v. United States, 160 F.3d 273 (5th Cir. 1998).
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Related legal case
Ruiz v. United States
| Year | 1998 |
|---|---|
| Cite | 160 F.3d 273 (5th Cir. 1998) |
| Level | Court of Appeals |
Ruiz v. United States, 160 F.3d 273 (5th Cir. 11/20/1998)
[1] U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit
[2] No. 97-20950
[4] November 20, 1998
[5] WISTING FIERRO RUIZ, PLAINTIFF-APPELLANT,
v.
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA; MICHAEL N. MILBY; KENNETH M. HOYT, U.S. DISTRICT JUDGE; JANET RENO, U.S. ATTORNEY GENERAL; KATHELEEN HAWKS; WARDEN OF FEDERAL CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTE OAKDALE; JOHN & JANE DOE, 1, 2, 3, DEFENDANTS-APPELLEES.
[6] Before Reynaldo G. Garza, Stewart, and Parker, Circuit Judges.
[7] The opinion of the court was delivered by: Per Curiam
[8] Appeal from the United States District Court For the Southern District of Texas
[9] Wisting Fierro Ruiz, federal prisoner No. 59534-079, appeals the district court's dismissal of his complaint under 28 U.S.C. § 1915A. In his appellate brief, Ruiz challenges the dismissal of his claims based on the prison officials' failure to deliver to him incoming mail notifying him of final judgments dismissing a 28 U.S.C. § 2255 motion and a Fed. R. Civ. P. 41(e) motion for return of property. Primarily due to Ruiz's transfer to another prison facility, he did not receive notice of the dismissals until after the appellate deadlines had passed. Because of this lost opportunity to appeal the dismissal of his underlying claims, Ruiz then made claims in the district court for: (1) damages for the loss of his jewelry under the Federal Tort Claims Act ("the FTCA"), 28 U.S.C. § 2674 and § 1346(a)(2); (2) damages for the failure to receive his mail under the FTCA; (3) injunctive relief for the breach of an implied contract to deliver his mail; and (4) a loss- of-access-to-the courts claim under Bivens v. Six Unknown Named Agents, 403 U.S. 388 (1971), and under 28 U.S.C. § 1346(a)(2).
[10] We are first confronted with the issue of which standard of review to use when reviewing a trial court's dismissal pursuant to § 1915A. As part of the screening process of prisoner complaints under § 1915A, a trial court is directed to "dismiss the complaint, or any portion of the complaint, if the complaint--(1) is frivolous, malicious, or fails to state a claim upon which relief may be granted . . ." We are currently aware of no authority in this Circuit which has previously determined the proper standard to review appeals dismissed pursuant to this section. Unlike § 1915, § 1915A applies regardless of whether the plaintiff has paid a filing fee or is proceeding in forma pauperis ("IFP"), and also does not distinguish between dismissals as frivolous and dismissals for failure to state a claim.
[11] An IFP complaint may be dismissed as frivolous pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B)(i) if it has no arguable basis in law or in fact. A dismissal under § 1915(e)(2)(B)(i) is reviewed for abuse of discretion, see Siglar v. Hightower, 112 F.3d 191, 193 (5th Cir. 1997), while a dismissal under § 1915(e)(2)(B)(ii) for failure to state a claim is reviewed under the same de novo standard as dismissals under Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(6). See Black v. Warren, 134 F.3d 732, 733-34 (5th Cir. 1998). More closely analogous to § 1915A than § 1915(e) is 42 U.S.C. § 1997e(c), which directs the district court to dismiss, on its own motion or the motion of a party, "any action brought with respect to prison conditions under section 1983 . . . or any other Federal law, by a prisoner confined in any jail, prison, or other correctional facility if the court is satisfied that the action is frivolous, malicious, fails to state a claim upon which relief can be granted, or seeks monetary relief from a defendant who is immune from such relief." 42 U.S.C. § 1997e(c)(1). This Court reviews de novo a dismissal under § 1997e(c). See Bazrowx v. Scott, 136 F.3d 1053, 1054 (5th Cir. 1998). Because the language of § 1915A tracks the language of § 1997e(c), we will therefore employ the same de novo standard to review dismissals pursuant to § 1915A. Accord McGore v. Wrigglesworth, 114 F.3d 601, 604 (6th Cir. 1997); Atkinson v. Bohn, 91 F.3d 1127, 1128 (8th Cir. 1996).
[12] Because issues not briefed on appeal are waived, see S.E.C. v. Recile, 10 F.3d 1093, 1096 (5th Cir. 1993)("We liberally construe briefs in determining issues presented for review; however, issues not raised at all are waived."), we AFFIRM the lower court's dismissal of Ruiz's claims for lost jewelry under the Federal Tort Claims Act, 28 U.S.C. § 2674, and 28 U.S.C. § 1346(a)(2).
[13] We also AFFIRM the district court's dismissal of Ruiz's FTCA claim for damages caused by his failure to receive his mail because such actions are statutorily barred. See 28 U.S.C. § 2680(b)("The provisions of this chapter . . . shall not apply to [a]ny claim arising out of the loss, miscarriage, or negligent transmission of letters or postal matters."); see also Sojourner T v. Edwards, 974 F.2d 27, 30 (5th Cir. 1992)(stating that this court may "affirm the district court's judgment on any grounds supported by the record"). The district court properly dismissed Ruiz's claims for injunctive relief against Judge Hoyt and the other defendants because Ruiz failed to "demonstrate either continuing harm or a real and immediate threat of repeated injury in the future." Society of Separationists, Inc. v. Herman, 959 F.2d 1283, 1285 (5th Cir. 1992).
[14] As for Ruiz's claims under either Bivens or 28 U.S.C. § 1346(a)(2) for loss of access to the courts, we also AFFIRM the ruling of the district court. Ruiz did not receive the judgment denying his § 2255 and Rule 41(e) motions in time to file a timely appeal. However, because we agree with the trial court's characterization of Ruiz's underlying claims as frivolous, Ruiz has failed to prove that he suffered an actual injury from his lost appeal. This Court in Jackson v. Procunier, 789 F.2d 307, 312 (5th Cir. 1986), left open the question of whether even an intentional denial of mail "would be a deprivation of a constitutional right if it could be shown that no real prejudice resulted because the appeal was purely frivolous." While we decline to address whether or not the acts of the defendants in this case were intentional, we believe that it can be shown that no real prejudice resulted because Ruiz's appeal was ultimately frivolous. Therefore, we hold that without proving an actual injury, a prisoner cannot prevail on an access-to-the-courts claim. Accord Lewis v. Casey, 116 S. Ct. 2174, 2179-81 (1996).
[15] For the foregoing reasons, we AFFIRM.
[1] U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit
[2] No. 97-20950
[4] November 20, 1998
[5] WISTING FIERRO RUIZ, PLAINTIFF-APPELLANT,
v.
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA; MICHAEL N. MILBY; KENNETH M. HOYT, U.S. DISTRICT JUDGE; JANET RENO, U.S. ATTORNEY GENERAL; KATHELEEN HAWKS; WARDEN OF FEDERAL CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTE OAKDALE; JOHN & JANE DOE, 1, 2, 3, DEFENDANTS-APPELLEES.
[6] Before Reynaldo G. Garza, Stewart, and Parker, Circuit Judges.
[7] The opinion of the court was delivered by: Per Curiam
[8] Appeal from the United States District Court For the Southern District of Texas
[9] Wisting Fierro Ruiz, federal prisoner No. 59534-079, appeals the district court's dismissal of his complaint under 28 U.S.C. § 1915A. In his appellate brief, Ruiz challenges the dismissal of his claims based on the prison officials' failure to deliver to him incoming mail notifying him of final judgments dismissing a 28 U.S.C. § 2255 motion and a Fed. R. Civ. P. 41(e) motion for return of property. Primarily due to Ruiz's transfer to another prison facility, he did not receive notice of the dismissals until after the appellate deadlines had passed. Because of this lost opportunity to appeal the dismissal of his underlying claims, Ruiz then made claims in the district court for: (1) damages for the loss of his jewelry under the Federal Tort Claims Act ("the FTCA"), 28 U.S.C. § 2674 and § 1346(a)(2); (2) damages for the failure to receive his mail under the FTCA; (3) injunctive relief for the breach of an implied contract to deliver his mail; and (4) a loss- of-access-to-the courts claim under Bivens v. Six Unknown Named Agents, 403 U.S. 388 (1971), and under 28 U.S.C. § 1346(a)(2).
[10] We are first confronted with the issue of which standard of review to use when reviewing a trial court's dismissal pursuant to § 1915A. As part of the screening process of prisoner complaints under § 1915A, a trial court is directed to "dismiss the complaint, or any portion of the complaint, if the complaint--(1) is frivolous, malicious, or fails to state a claim upon which relief may be granted . . ." We are currently aware of no authority in this Circuit which has previously determined the proper standard to review appeals dismissed pursuant to this section. Unlike § 1915, § 1915A applies regardless of whether the plaintiff has paid a filing fee or is proceeding in forma pauperis ("IFP"), and also does not distinguish between dismissals as frivolous and dismissals for failure to state a claim.
[11] An IFP complaint may be dismissed as frivolous pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B)(i) if it has no arguable basis in law or in fact. A dismissal under § 1915(e)(2)(B)(i) is reviewed for abuse of discretion, see Siglar v. Hightower, 112 F.3d 191, 193 (5th Cir. 1997), while a dismissal under § 1915(e)(2)(B)(ii) for failure to state a claim is reviewed under the same de novo standard as dismissals under Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(6). See Black v. Warren, 134 F.3d 732, 733-34 (5th Cir. 1998). More closely analogous to § 1915A than § 1915(e) is 42 U.S.C. § 1997e(c), which directs the district court to dismiss, on its own motion or the motion of a party, "any action brought with respect to prison conditions under section 1983 . . . or any other Federal law, by a prisoner confined in any jail, prison, or other correctional facility if the court is satisfied that the action is frivolous, malicious, fails to state a claim upon which relief can be granted, or seeks monetary relief from a defendant who is immune from such relief." 42 U.S.C. § 1997e(c)(1). This Court reviews de novo a dismissal under § 1997e(c). See Bazrowx v. Scott, 136 F.3d 1053, 1054 (5th Cir. 1998). Because the language of § 1915A tracks the language of § 1997e(c), we will therefore employ the same de novo standard to review dismissals pursuant to § 1915A. Accord McGore v. Wrigglesworth, 114 F.3d 601, 604 (6th Cir. 1997); Atkinson v. Bohn, 91 F.3d 1127, 1128 (8th Cir. 1996).
[12] Because issues not briefed on appeal are waived, see S.E.C. v. Recile, 10 F.3d 1093, 1096 (5th Cir. 1993)("We liberally construe briefs in determining issues presented for review; however, issues not raised at all are waived."), we AFFIRM the lower court's dismissal of Ruiz's claims for lost jewelry under the Federal Tort Claims Act, 28 U.S.C. § 2674, and 28 U.S.C. § 1346(a)(2).
[13] We also AFFIRM the district court's dismissal of Ruiz's FTCA claim for damages caused by his failure to receive his mail because such actions are statutorily barred. See 28 U.S.C. § 2680(b)("The provisions of this chapter . . . shall not apply to [a]ny claim arising out of the loss, miscarriage, or negligent transmission of letters or postal matters."); see also Sojourner T v. Edwards, 974 F.2d 27, 30 (5th Cir. 1992)(stating that this court may "affirm the district court's judgment on any grounds supported by the record"). The district court properly dismissed Ruiz's claims for injunctive relief against Judge Hoyt and the other defendants because Ruiz failed to "demonstrate either continuing harm or a real and immediate threat of repeated injury in the future." Society of Separationists, Inc. v. Herman, 959 F.2d 1283, 1285 (5th Cir. 1992).
[14] As for Ruiz's claims under either Bivens or 28 U.S.C. § 1346(a)(2) for loss of access to the courts, we also AFFIRM the ruling of the district court. Ruiz did not receive the judgment denying his § 2255 and Rule 41(e) motions in time to file a timely appeal. However, because we agree with the trial court's characterization of Ruiz's underlying claims as frivolous, Ruiz has failed to prove that he suffered an actual injury from his lost appeal. This Court in Jackson v. Procunier, 789 F.2d 307, 312 (5th Cir. 1986), left open the question of whether even an intentional denial of mail "would be a deprivation of a constitutional right if it could be shown that no real prejudice resulted because the appeal was purely frivolous." While we decline to address whether or not the acts of the defendants in this case were intentional, we believe that it can be shown that no real prejudice resulted because Ruiz's appeal was ultimately frivolous. Therefore, we hold that without proving an actual injury, a prisoner cannot prevail on an access-to-the-courts claim. Accord Lewis v. Casey, 116 S. Ct. 2174, 2179-81 (1996).
[15] For the foregoing reasons, we AFFIRM.