Opinion
No. 13-1308
11-26-2014
WALLACE GILBERT-MITCHELL, JR, Plaintiff - Appellant, v. DAVID V. ALLRED, in his personal and professional capacities; H. NEWCOMB, in his personal and professional capacities; MS. INOUYE, in her personal and professional capacities; J. RODRIGUES, in his personal and professional capacities; ROBERT LEGGITT, in his personal and professional capacities; THERESA MONTOYA, in her personal and professional capacities; MS. MCDERMOTT, in her personal and professional capacities, Defendant - Appellees.
(D.C. No. 1:12-CV-01997-RM-MJW)
(D. Colo.)
ORDER AND JUDGMENT Before LUCERO, TYMKOVICH, and PHILLIPS, Circuit Judges.
After examining appellant's brief and the 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)(2) and 10th Cir. R. 34.1(G). The case is therefore ordered submitted without oral argument. This order and judgment is not binding precedent, except under the doctrines of law of the case, res judicata, and collateral estoppel. It may be cited, however, for its persuasive value consistent with Fed. R. App. P. 32.1 and 10th Cir. R. 32.1.
Wallace Gilbert-Mitchell, a federal prisoner proceeding pro se, appeals a district court order that dismissed his complaint as a sanction for his misuse of the judicial process. Because the district court did not abuse its discretion by dismissing Gilbert-Mitchell's complaint, we exercise jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291 and affirm.
Because Gilbert-Mitchell is proceeding pro se, we construe his filings liberally. See Hall v. Bellmon, 935 F.2d 1106, 1110 (10th Cir. 1991).
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I
On July 30, 2012, Gilbert-Mitchell filed a pro se complaint alleging that several employees at the United States Prison in Florence, Colorado, had violated his constitutional rights. Gilbert-Mitchell alleges that prison officials knowingly denied him medical treatment, fed him meals containing known allergens, obstructed his religious observances, and subjected him to a variety of other misconduct that violated his First, Fourth, Fifth, and Eighth Amendment rights. Although neither the Bureau of Prisons nor its personnel were served as defendants, the Bureau of Prisons nevertheless filed a motion asking the court to reconsider its order granting Gilbert-Mitchell leave to proceed in forma pauperis, because he concealed his prior lawsuits and his "three-strikes" status as a repeat filer under the Prison Litigation Reform Act ("PLRA"). In view of these allegations, the district court dismissed Gilbert-Mitchell's complaint for misuse of the judicial process and revoked his in forma pauperis status. Gilbert-Mitchell appealed.
II
Dismissal is an appropriate sanction for abuses of the judicial process. Chavez v. City of Albuquerque, 402 F.3d 1039, 1044-45 (10th Cir. 2005); see also Childs v. Miller, 713 F.3d 1262, 1265 (10th Cir. 2013) (discussing dismissal of a complaint for abuse of judicial process). We review a district court's sanctions that dismiss a claim for abuse of discretion. Chavez, 402 F.3d at 1044.
There is no indication that the district court abused its discretion in this case. It found that Gilbert-Mitchell deliberately attempted to circumvent the filing requirements of the PLRA by filing cases under aliases without disclosing his "three strikes" status. On appeal, Gilbert-Mitchell contends that dismissal was inappropriate because he attempted to notify the court of his previous lawsuits in an amended complaint, which he avers never reached the court because defendants thwarted his attempts to mail it. But Gilbert-Mitchell does not challenge the district court's factual finding that he has filed more than three prior lawsuits, and his own filings evidence at least six previous cases. Gilbert-Mitchell's initial complaint failed to disclose these previous filings, mention his "three-strikes" status, include his prisoner identification number, or use the same name he used in his previous filings. These deficiencies provide ample basis for the district court's decision. Accordingly, the district court did not abuse its discretion by dismissing Gilbert-Mitchell's complaint as a sanction for abusing the judicial process by attempting to circumvent the PLRA.
III
For the foregoing reasons, the judgment of the district court is AFFIRMED. All pending motions are DENIED.
Entered for the Court
Carlos F. Lucero
Circuit Judge