Linn v. Ouachita American Job Center

Opinion

Case: 23-30788 Document: 63-1 Page: 1 Date Filed: 05/09/2024

United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit United States Court of Appeals Fifth Circuit ____________ FILED May 9, 2024 No. 23-30788 ____________ Lyle W. Cayce Clerk Montreal Linn,

Plaintiff—Appellant,

versus

Ouachita American Job Center; Jay Mitchell; Doretha Bennett; City of Monroe; Frederick Coleman; Police Jury of Ouachita Parish,

Defendants—Appellees,

consolidated with _____________

No. 23-30791 _____________

Montreal Linn,

Ouachita American Job Center; Police Jury of Ouachita Parish; Louisiana Workforce Commission; Doretha Bennett,

Defendants—Appellees, Case: 23-30788 Document: 63-1 Page: 2 Date Filed: 05/09/2024

No. 23-30792 _____________

City of Monroe; Frederick Coleman,

No. 23-30799 _____________

Healthy Blue; Amanda Williams; William Rasbarry; Susan Colbert; Lincoln Nova Vital Recovery,

Defendants—Appellees. ______________________________

Appeal from the United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana USDC Nos. 3:22-CV-6259, 3:23-CV-716, 3:23-CV-718, 3:23-CV-706 ______________________________ Case: 23-30788 Document: 63-1 Page: 3 Date Filed: 05/09/2024

No. 22-30788 c/w Nos. 23-30791, 23-30792, 23-30799

Before Willett, Duncan, and Ramirez, Circuit Judges. Per Curiam:* Appellant Montreal Linn appeals (1) a notice of intent to dismiss for failure to prosecute, and (2) an order denying his motion to appoint counsel. Claims remain pending in the proceedings below. We must examine the basis of our jurisdiction, on our own motion if necessary. Hutchings v. County of Llano, 34 F.4th 484, 485 (5th Cir. 2022) (per curiam). We have jurisdiction over appeals from final decisions. 28 U.S.C. § 1291. We also have jurisdiction over appealed orders falling within the collateral-order doctrine or certified under 28 U.S.C. § 1292(b). Linn does not contend that either the collateral-order doctrine or 28 U.S.C. § 1292(b) provide jurisdiction here, so we examine whether the appealed orders are final. The notice of intent to dismiss for failure to prosecute is, at best, an interlocutory order. Hay v. Univ. of Tex. Med. Branch, 689 F. App’x 298, 299 (5th Cir. 2017) (per curiam). So is the order denying Linn’s motion to appoint counsel. Marler v. Adonis Health Prods., 997 F.2d 1141, 1143 (5th Cir. 1993); Risby v. United States, 168 F. App’x 655, 655–56 (5th Cir. 2006) (per curiam). Because we are without jurisdiction over the two orders on appeal, we must dismiss. See Sw. Elec. Power Co. v. Certain Underwriters at Lloyds of London, 772 F.3d 384, 388 (5th Cir. 2014). The appeal is DISMISSED for want of jurisdiction.

_____________________ * This opinion is not designated for publication. See 5th Cir. R. 47.5.