Cardona v. Menifee ( 2007 )


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  •           IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
    FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT United States Court of Appeals
    Fifth Circuit
    FILED
    December 11, 2007
    No. 07-30483
    Conference Calendar              Charles R. Fulbruge III
    Clerk
    JOSE CRISTOBAL CARDONA
    Plaintiff-Appellant
    v.
    F MENIFEE; K MONTGOMERY
    Defendants-Appellees
    Appeal from the United States District Court
    for the Western District of Louisiana
    USDC No. 1:06-CV-1705
    Before REAVLEY, BARKSDALE, and GARZA, Circuit Judges.
    PER CURIAM:*
    Jose Cristobal Cardona, federal prisoner # 40869-080, appeals from the
    dismissal of his Bivens v. Six Unknown Named Agents of Federal Bureau of
    Narcotics, 
    403 U.S. 388
     (1971), action as frivolous and for failure to state a claim.
    Cardona contends that he had a First Amendment right to correspond with a
    prisoner in another institution whom he purported to represent as a next friend
    in that other prisoner’s 
    28 U.S.C. § 2255
     action. Cardona did not establish his
    *
    Pursuant to 5TH CIR. R. 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion
    should not be published and is not precedent except under the limited
    circumstances set forth in 5TH CIR. R. 47.5.4.
    No. 07-30483
    status as a next friend in the other prisoner’s proceeding, see Whitmore v.
    Arkansas, 
    495 U.S. 149
    , 164 (1990); Magallon v. Livingston, 
    453 F.3d 268
    , 271
    (5th Cir.), cert. denied, 
    126 S. Ct. 2974
     (2006); his First Amendment claim rests
    on a flawed factual premise.        Moreover, Cardona has no general First
    Amendment right to communication with prisoners in other prison units. See
    Turner v. Safely, 
    482 U.S. 78
    , 91 (1987).
    Cardona’s appeal is without arguable merit and is frivolous. See Howard
    v. King, 
    707 F.2d 215
    , 219-20 (5th Cir. 1983). Because the appeal is frivolous,
    it is dismissed. See 5TH CIR. R. 42.2.
    The district court’s dismissal of Cardona’s action and this court’s dismissal
    of his appeal count as two strikes under 
    28 U.S.C. § 1915
    (g). See Adepegba v.
    Hammons, 
    103 F.3d 383
    , 387-88 (5th Cir. 1996). The district court’s dismissal
    and this court’s dismissal of the appeal in Cardona v. Tuite, No. 07-30041 (5th
    Cir. Dec. 10, 2007) (unpublished), also count as two strikes under § 1915(g). Id.
    As Cardona has now accumulated at least three strikes, he is barred from
    proceeding in forma pauperis pursuant to § 1915 while he is incarcerated or
    detained in any facility unless he is under imminent danger of serious physical
    injury. See § 1915(g).
    APPEAL DISMISSED; 
    28 U.S.C. § 1915
    (g) BAR IMPOSED.
    2