USA v. Bernard Dolenz, No. 13-11185 (5th Cir. 2014)

Annotate this Case
Download PDF
Case: 13-11185 Document: 00512677105 Page: 1 Date Filed: 06/25/2014 IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT No. 13-11185 Summary Calendar United States Court of Appeals Fifth Circuit FILED June 25, 2014 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Plaintiff-Appellee Lyle W. Cayce Clerk v. BERNARD JOSEPH DOLENZ, Defendant-Appellant Appeal from the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas USDC No. 3:98-CR-107-1 Before HIGGINBOTHAM, DENNIS, and GRAVES, Circuit Judges. PER CURIAM: * Bernard Dolenz has applied for leave to proceed in forma pauperis (IFP) in this appeal from the district court s orders denying his request for issuance of a writ of coram nobis challenging his 1998 convictions of mail fraud. See United States v. Dolenz, No. 99-10032, 2000 WL 1239090 (5th Cir. Aug. 4, 2000) (unpublished) (affirming convictions). 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 R. 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not be published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5TH CIR.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. * Case: 13-11185 Document: 00512677105 Page: 2 Date Filed: 06/25/2014 No. 13-11185 Dolenz contends that the Government failed to disclose exculpatory evidence to the defense in violation of the rule in Brady v. Maryland, 373 U.S. 83 (1963). The writ of coram nobis is available to correct Brady violations resulting in a complete miscarriage of justice. Jimenez v. Trominski, 91 F.3d 767, 768 (5th Cir. 2008). Dolenz has failed to show that the result of his criminal trial would have been different if the Government had disclosed the materials identified in his brief. See id.; see also Brady, 373 U.S. at 87-88; United States v. Bagley, 473 U.S. 667, 682 (1985). Next, Dolenz asserts that the district court lacked subject matter jurisdiction and that the Government lacked standing. In support of these contentions, Dolenz asserts that his victims were private insurers and not the federal government. There was no nexus with the federal government, he contends, and the federal government did not sustain an injury in fact. It was not necessary to show such a nexus to obtain a conviction for mail fraud. See United States v. Bieganowski, 313 F.3d 264, 275 (5th Cir. 2002). The foregoing substantive issues were not presented to a jury, Dolenz complains. Dolenz has not shown that there were any unresolved issues of material fact capable of resolution by a jury. Finally, Dolenz complains that the district court erred in failing to treat certain matters as admitted. Leave to conduct discovery was never requested by Dolenz nor given by the district court. Because Dolenz has not shown that his appeal involves legal points arguable on their merits, leave to proceed IFP is DENIED. See Howard v. King, 707 F.2d 215, 220 (5th Cir. 1983). Because the appeal is frivolous, it is DISMISSED. See Beaugh v. Taylor, 117 F.3d 197, 202 n.24 (5th Cir. 1997); 5TH CIR. R. 42.2. Dolenz was warned previously that frivolous, repetitive, or otherwise abusive filings will invite the imposition of sanctions, which may 2 Case: 13-11185 Document: 00512677105 Page: 3 Date Filed: 06/25/2014 No. 13-11185 include dismissal, monetary sanctions, and restrictions on his ability to file pleadings in this court and any court subject to this court s jurisdiction. United States v. Dolenz, No. 11-10926, 2012 WL 1033471, 1 (5th Cir. Mar. 28, 2012) (unpublished). As Dolenz has filed another frivolous motion, he is ORDERED to pay a sanction in the amount of $500 to the clerk of this court. Until the sanction has been paid in full, Dolenz is BARRED from filing any pleading in this court or any court subject to this court s jurisdiction, unless he first obtains leave of the court in which he seeks to make the filing. Dolenz is WARNED that future frivolous, repetitive, or otherwise abusive filings will invite the imposition of additional and progressively more severe sanctions and that he should review any pending appeals and actions and move to dismiss any that are frivolous. 3

Some case metadata and case summaries were written with the help of AI, which can produce inaccuracies. You should read the full case before relying on it for legal research purposes.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.