UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS

TENTH CIRCUIT

DANNY R. FISH,

Plaintiff - Appellant,

v.

GARY GOLDER, Sterling Correctional Facility; PAUL KLINE, Captain, Casemanager III, Sterling Correctional Facility; J. YATES, LT., Classification Chairman, Living Unit Supervisor; C. THOMAS, LT., Living Unit 3 Supervisor, Sterling Correctional Facility,

Defendants - Appellees.

No. 04-1294

(D. Colorado)

(D.Ct. No. 04-Z-1046)
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ORDER DENYING REQUEST TO PROCEED IN FORMA PAUPERIS

Before SEYMOUR, LUCERO, and O'BRIEN, Circuit Judges.

After examining the briefs and 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); 10th Cir. R. 34.1.(G). The case is therefore ordered submitted without oral argument.

Appellant Danny Fish is confined in the custody of the Colorado Department of Corrections for violating the conditions of his parole. He seeks leave to proceed on appeal in forma pauperis (ifp). We deny his request.

While detained at the prison facility in Sterling, Colorado, Fish was charged with violating a posted operational rule when he was observed using a "cheat sheet" during a computer class. He was convicted of the offense at an informal hearing and was sanctioned with fourteen days of extra duty and fourteen days of confinement. On May 21, 2004, Fish filed a pro se complaint pursuant to 42 U.S.C. 1983 and 28 U.S.C. 1343 alleging, inter alia, his confinement in a Level V facility and his transfer to a more restricted housing unit within the facility without reclassification violated due process. A short time later, he moved to amend his complaint to add claims under the Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990, 42 U.S.C. 12101-12213 ("ADA"), and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, 29 U.S.C. 701-796l. His motion to amend was granted.

Finding the amended complaint woefully inadequate, the magistrate judge ordered Fish to submit another amended complaint within thirty days that would meet the pleading requirements of Rule 8(a) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.1 On the same day, Fish was granted leave to proceed ifp. In his third and final amended complaint filed on June 21, 2004, Fish abandoned his ADA and Rehabilitation Act claims, returning to his initial theory of recovery—a violation of due process based on his transfer to a higher security unit without reclassification.

On July 6, 2004, the district court dismissed, sua sponte, Fish's final complaint as legally frivolous pursuant to 28 U.S.C. 1915(e)(2)(B). See Schlicher v. Thomas, 111 F.3d 777, 779 (10th Cir. 1997) (holding that an action is frivolous under § 1915(e)(2)(B)(i) if "the claim [is] based on an indisputably meritless legal theory or if it is founded on clearly baseless factual contentions") (quotations omitted). The district court found Fish had not asserted a violation of a constitutional liberty interest pursuant to Sandin v. Conner, 515 U.S. 472 (1995).

Thereafter, Fish gave notice of his intent to appeal the district court's dismissal and requested the district court's authorization to proceed ifp on appeal. The district court denied his motion pursuant to 1915(a)(3), finding his "appeal was not taken in good faith because [he had] not shown the existence of a reasoned, nonfrivolous argument on the law and facts in support of the issues raised on appeal." (Order Denying Leave to Proceed on Appeal Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. 1915 and Fed. R. App. P. 24 at 1.) Fish then filed this appeal, again moving to proceed

on appeal ifp.

"An appeal may not be taken in forma pauperis if the trial court certifies in writing that it is not taken in good faith." 28 U.S.C. 1915(a)(3). Upon consideration of the briefs, the record on appeal and the applicable law, we conclude the district court correctly determined that Fish had failed to show the existence of a reasoned, nonfrivolous argument on the law and facts in support of the issues he raises on a appeal.2 Fish's final complaint consists solely of conclusory allegations and fails to present any legal theory or specific fact that could conceivably amount to a constitutional violation.3 Accordingly, we DENY his motion to proceed in forma pauperis on appeal and ORDER that he pay the filing fee in full within

twenty days of this order or his appeal will be dismissed.4

Entered by the Court:

Terrence L. O'Brien

United States Circuit Judge