James Stout v. Sergeant Richie

USCA4 Appeal: 24-7173 Doc: 14 Filed: 05/28/2025 Pg: 1 of 2 UNPUBLISHED UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE FOURTH CIRCUIT No. 24-7173 JAMES STOUT, Plaintiff - Appellant, v. SERGEANT RICHIE, Defendant - Appellee. Appeal from the United States District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina, at Raleigh. Louise W. Flanagan, District Judge. (5:24-ct-03090-FL) Submitted: May 22, 2025 Decided: May 28, 2025 Before KING, AGEE, and WYNN, Circuit Judges. Affirmed by unpublished per curiam opinion. James Stout, Appellant Pro Se. Unpublished opinions are not binding precedent in this circuit. USCA4 Appeal: 24-7173 Doc: 14 Filed: 05/28/2025 Pg: 2 of 2 PER CURIAM: James Stout, a North Carolina prisoner, appeals the district court’s order dismissing without prejudice his 42 U.S.C. § 1983 complaint for failure to exhaust administrative remedies. On appeal, we confine our review to the issues raised in the appellate brief. See 4th Cir. R. 34(b). Because Stout’s informal brief does not challenge the basis for the district court’s disposition, he has forfeited appellate review of the court’s order. See Jackson v. Lightsey, 775 F.3d 170, 177 (4th Cir. 2014) (“The informal brief is an important document; under Fourth Circuit rules, our review is limited to issues preserved in that brief.”). Accordingly, we deny Stout’s motion for appointment of counsel and affirm the district court’s order. We dispense with oral argument because the facts and legal contentions are adequately presented in the materials before this court and argument would not aid the decisional process. AFFIRMED 2