Muhammad v. Newell et al

Filing 76

Memorandum Order denying 72 Motion for Leave to Proceed in forma pauperis filed by Herbert Ameen Muhammad. (See Order) (Ordered by Magistrate Judge Jeff Kaplan on 4/27/2010) (skt)

DISTRICTCOURT IN THE LINITEDSTATES DISTRICTOF TEXAS NORTHERN D A L L A S DIVISION HERBERT AMEEN MUHAMMAD
Plaintiff,

VS. W . K .NEWELL, AL. ET
Defendants.

$ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $

NO.3-08-CV-r426-BD

M E M O R A N D U M ORDER P l a i n t i f f Herbert Ameen Muhammad, a Texas prisoner,has filed a motion to proceedln forma pauperis onappeal. For the reasonsstatedherein,the court finds that plaintiff is indigent but c e r t i f i e sthat his appealis not takenin good faith. I n this civil action, plaintiff suedthe City of Terrell, Texasand one of its police officers, W . K . Newell, for malicious prosecution,false arrest,and false imprisonmentunder federaland T e x a slaw, and for assaultand intentionalinfliction of emotionaldistressunder Texaslaw. The federal claims againstthe City and the stateclaims againstNewell were dismissedat the pleading WL 559931(N.D.Tex. Mar. 4,2449). Newell,No. 3-08-Cy-1426-8D,2009 s t a g e .Muhammadv. Newell,No. 3-08-CV-1426on T h e otherclaimsweredismissed sunmaryjudgment. Muhammadv. B D , 2009 WL2482142 (N.D. Tex. Aug. 12,2009). A final judgment was enteredon August 13, 2 0 0 9 . Sevenmonthslater,on March 18,2010,plaintiff filed a noticeof appeal.Plaintiff now seeks l e a v eto proceedinforma pauperis on appeal. T h e s t a n d a r d s g o v e r n i n g i n f o r m a p a u p e r i s m o t i o n s a r e s e t f o r t h i n 2 3 U . S . C . $ 1The ( a ) . 915 or m o t i o n must state"the natureof the action,defense appealand affiant'sbelief that [he] is entitled

to redress."28 U.S.C. $ 1915(a). The district court may deny leaveto proceedinforma pauperis Rustonv.DallasCounty,Tex.,320Fed.Appx.262,263,2009 ifanappealisnottakeningoodfaith. W L 9 2 8 1 9 l a t * 1 ( 5 t h C i r . A p r . 7 , 2 0 0 9 ) , c e r t . d i s m ' d , 1 3 0 S . C t . 2 6 7 ( 2 0A n a.p p e a l i s t a k e n i n 09) good faith if it presentsan arguableissueon the merits and thereforeis not frivolous. Coppedgev. Howardv. King,707F.2d U.S.438, 445,82S.Ct.917,92l,8L.Ed.2d2l (1962); States,369 United the of 2 1 5 , 2 1 9 (5th Cir. l9S3). A movant must demonstrate existence a non-frivolousissuefor a p p e a l .Seealso Paynev. Lynaugh,843F .2d 177 178(5th Cir. 1988). , to T h e informationsubmittedby plaintiff showsthat he lacksthe financialresources paythe set c o s t sof an appeal. However,suchan appealis patentlyfrivolous. For the reasons forth in the motion to dismissand the August 12,2009 order M a r c h 4,2009 ordergrantingdefendants'partial granting defendants'motionfor summaryjudgment, plaintiff hasfailed to presentan arguableissue on the merits with respectto any of his claims againstdefendants.The court thereforecertifies that is t h i s appeal not takenin good faith. See28 U.S.C.$ 1915(a)(3).' P l a i n t i f f s motion to proceedin forma pauperis on appeal[Doc. #72] is denied. If plaintiff informa pauperiswith the motion to proceed this ruling, he must file a separate w i s h e sto challenge c l e r k of the United StatesCourt of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit within 30 daysof the dateof this o r d e r . SeeBaugh v. Taylor, I l7 F.3d 197 (5th Cir. 1997).

S OORDERED. D A T E D : April27,2010.
AN S T A T E SMACISTRATE .IUDGE

I The court also notesthat plaintiffs appeal,which was perfectedmore than sevenmonthsafter thejudgmentwas e n t e r e d ,is untimely. SeeFro. R. App. P. a(a)I XA) (notice of appealmust be filed within 30 days afterjudgment is entered).