Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_07-cv-02744/USCOURTS-caed-2_07-cv-02744-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 530
Nature of Suit: Prisoner Petitions - Habeas Corpus
Cause of Action: 28:2254 Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus (State)

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

MICHAEL J. HICKS,

Petitioner, No. CIV S-07-2744 LKK JFM P

vs.

DIRECTOR, CALIFORNIA

DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTION

AND REHABILITATION, et al.,

 

Respondents. ORDER

 /

Petitioner, a state prisoner proceeding pro se, has filed a civil action styled as a

petition for writ of habeas corpus. Petitioner has not filed a request to proceed in forma pauperis,

nor has he paid any filing fee.

Although it is not entirely clear, the allegations of the original petition appear to

implicate conditions of petitioner’s confinement, rather than the fact or duration thereof. Federal

habeas corpus relief is available only for challenges to the fact or duration of an inmate’s

confinement. See Preiser v. Rodriguez, 411 U.S. 475, 484-86 (1973). Challenges to the

conditions of confinement must be raised, if at all, in a civil rights action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. §

1983. See, e.g., Crawford v. Bell, 599 F.2d 890, 891-92 (9th Cir. 1979). 

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Case 2:07-cv-02744-LKK -JFM Document 3 Filed 05/30/08 Page 1 of 4
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Good cause appearing, petitioner’s original pleading will be dismissed and

petitioner will be given an opportunity to file, as appropriate, either an amended complaint on the

form for a prisoner civil rights action under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, or a petition for a writ of habeas

corpus on the form provided with this order. If petitioner is challenging the conditions of his

confinement, he should complete the form civil rights complaint. If petitioner is challenging the

fact of his confinement or the length of his sentence, he should complete the form habeas corpus

petition. 

If petitioner does choose to file a civil rights complaint, he must demonstrate how

the conditions complained of have resulted in a deprivation of his constitutional rights. See Ellis

v. Cassidy, 625 F.2d 227 (9th Cir. 1980). Also, the amended complaint must name individual

defendants and must allege in specific terms how each named defendant is involved. There can

be no liability under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 unless there is some affirmative link or connection

between a defendant’s actions and the claimed deprivation. Rizzo v. Goode, 423 U.S. 362

(1976); May v. Enomoto, 633 F.2d 164, 167 (9th Cir. 1980); Johnson v. Duffy, 588 F.2d 740,

743 (9th Cir. 1978). Furthermore, vague and conclusory allegations of official participation in

civil rights violations are not sufficient. Ivey v. Board of Regents, 673 F.2d 266, 268 (9th Cir.

1982).

In addition, petitioner is informed that the court cannot refer to a prior pleading in

order to make petitioner’s amended complaint complete. Local Rule 15-220 requires that an

amended complaint be complete in itself without reference to any prior pleading. This is

because, as a general rule, an amended complaint supersedes the original complaint. See Loux v.

Rhay, 375 F.2d 55, 57 (9th Cir. 1967). Once petitioner files an amended complaint, the original

pleading no longer serves any function in the case. Therefore, in an amended complaint, as in an

original complaint, each claim and the involvement of each defendant must be sufficiently

alleged. 

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Finally, petitioner must also pay the appropriate filing fee ($350.00 for a civil

rights action or $5.00 for a habeas corpus action) or he must submit an application to proceed in

forma pauperis. If petitioner applies to proceed in forma pauperis and his application is granted

he will still be required to pay the filing fee for a civil rights action, but the fee will be collected

in installments. 

In accordance with the above, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that:

1. Petitioner’s original pleading is dismissed. 

2. Petitioner is granted thirty days from the date of service of this order to file an

amended pleading on one of the forms provided with this order, accompanied by the attached

Notice of Amendment; the amended complaint must bear the docket number assigned this case

and must be labeled “Amended Pleading”; petitioner must file an original and one copy of the

amended pleading; failure to file an amended pleading in accordance with this order will result in

a recommendation that this action be dismissed.

3. Petitioner is granted thirty days from the date of this order to pay the

appropriate filing fee or submit an application to proceed in forma pauperis. 

4. The Clerk of the Court is directed to send petitioner a form civil rights

complaint and accompanying instructions, a form habeas corpus petition and accompanying

instructions, and an Application to Proceed In Forma Pauperis by a Prisoner.

DATED: May 29, 2008.

12

hick2744.114

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

MICHAEL J. HICKS,

Petitioner, No. CIV S-07-2744 LKK JFM P

vs.

DIRECTOR, CALIFORNIA

DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTION

AND REHABILITATION, et al.,

 

Respondents. NOTICE OF AMENDMENT

____________________________________/

Petitioner hereby submits the following document in compliance with the court's

order filed :

______________ Amended Pleading

 Application to Proceed In Forma Pauperis

 OR

 Filing Fee

DATED: 

 

Petitioner

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