Cathy TOOLE, Plaintiff--Appellant, v. James B. PEAK; Henry Paulson; Pete Geren; Joe Adair; Chevis C. Swetman; R.L. Hindman; David L. Quinn; Richard A. Daley, Defendants-Appellees.
No. 09-60446
United States Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit.
Jan. 19, 2010.
621
Summary Calendar.
Nathan Lamar Prescott, Page, Mannino, Peresich & Mcdermott, P.L.L.C., Biloxi, MS, for Defendants-Appellees.
Before GARZA, CLEMENT, and OWEN, Circuit Judges.
PER CURIAM:*
Cathy Toole has filed a pro se complaint against various officials of the United States Government alleging that the Veterans Administration owes her $7,000,000 in benefits related to her late husband‘s military service. She also lists Chevis C. Swetman, President of the Peoples Bank, as a defendant. The district court dismissed the entire complaint without prejudice for lack of jurisdiction.
On appeal, Toole simply reurges her argument that the Government owes her $7,000,000 plus interest related to her late husband‘s veteran‘s benefits. Although this court applies less stringent standards to parties proceeding pro se than to parties represented by counsel and liberally construes the briefs of pro se litigants, a pro se appellant still must actually argue something that is susceptible of liberal construction. Grant v. Cuellar, 59 F.3d 523, 524 (5th Cir.1995). Claims not adequately argued in the body of the brief are deemed abandoned on appeal. Yohey v. Collins, 985 F.2d 222, 224-25 (5th Cir. 1993). Because Toole has not addressed the district court‘s reasons for dismissing her action, she has waived the only issues significant to her appeal. See Grant, 59 F.3d at 525. The judgment of the district court is AFFIRMED.