Stuart Ex Rel. B.O.S. v. City of San Antonio

561 F. App'x 404

• Court: Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
• Decided: April 9, 2014
• Docket: 13-50879
• Status: Unpublished

Opinion

PER CURIAM: *

Pro se Appellant Leola Adelena Stuart appeals the denial of her request for ap pointment of counsel and the dismissal of her lawsuit asserting violations of her constitutional rights. In her complaint, Appellant claimed that Marlene J. Stuart, the State of Texas, and the Bexar County District Attorney were responsible for removing Appellant’s grandchildren from her home against her will. Appellant’s complaint also included various allegations against unnamed San Antonio police officers. Appellant sought to proceed in for-ma pauperis under 28 U.S.C. § 1915, and requested the appointment of counsel. The district court referred this motion to the magistrate judge, who permitted Appellant to proceed in forma pauperis, but denied the appointment of counsel. The magistrate judge also prepared a thorough report recommending that Appellant’s complaint be dismissed as factually frivolous under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2) and for failure to state a claim. The district court adopted the magistrate’s report, and dismissed the case. Having little to add to the opinion below, we now affirm.

This court reviews the dismissal of Appellant’s claims as frivolous for abuse of discretion. Denton v. Hernandez, 504 U.S. 25, 33, 112 S.Ct. 1728, 118 L.Ed.2d 340 (1992). The decision regarding the appointment of counsel is also reviewed for abuse of discretion. Cupit v. Jones, 835 F.2d 82, 86 (5th Cir.1987). A dismissal for failure to state a claim is reviewed de novo. Doe ex rel. Magee v. Covington Cnty. Sch. Dist. ex rel. Keys, 675 F.3d 849, 854 (5th Cir.2012).

The district court was well within its discretion to dismiss Appellant’s claims as frivolous. Appellant’s complaint recites a series of seemingly unconnected events that have happened to her since 1998. Although she frequently refers to “Defendants,” she does not state which defendant is responsible for each alleged harm. Further, Appellant’s complaint asserts no grounds for jurisdiction against any defendant. Her complaint does not identify the authority under which she seeks to represent her grandchildren, or establish that she had legal custody over them in the first place. Appellant’s allegations, taken together, are clearly baseless.

Appellant also fails to state a claim. Her claim against Marlene J. Stuart fails because she does not allege that this Appellee, a non-state actor, engaged in an agreement with state actors to deprive Appellant of her constitutional rights. Tebo v. Tebo, 550 F.3d 492, 496 (5th Cir.2008). Her claim against the City of San Antonio fads because she does not allege that the city caused a constitutional tort through the execution of a policy or custom. Monell v. Dep’t of Soc. Servs., 436 U.S. 658, 691, 98 S.Ct. 2018, 56 L.Ed.2d 611 (1978). Her allegations against the State of Texas fail because she has not established standing and because of state sovereign immunity. Pennhurst State School and Hospital v. Halderman, 465 U.S. 89, 100-01, 104 S.Ct. 900, 79 L.Ed.2d 67 (1984). Her claims against the Bexar County District Attorney fail because she has not established standing and because of prosecutorial immunity. Imbler v. Pachtman, 424 U.S. 409, 431, 96 S.Ct. 984, 47 L.Ed.2d 128 (1976).

We also agree that Appellant has not shown the “exceptional circumstances” necessary to warrant the appointment of counsel. Cupit, 835 F.2d at 86. The appointment of counsel is dependent upon, inter alia, the type and complexity of the case. Id. Appellant has not shown that her case was factually or legally complex.

Accordingly, we AFFIRM.

* 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.