Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_05-cv-00721/USCOURTS-caed-2_05-cv-00721-0/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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 Petitioner has failed to file an application requesting leave to proceed in forma pauperis

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or the required filing fee ($5.00).

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

VINCENT LEVRET HOPE,

Petitioner, No. CIV S-05-0721 FCD DAD P

vs.

T. FELKER,

Respondent. FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

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Petitioner has filed a petition for a writ of habeas corpus pursuant to 42 U.S.C. 

§ 2254. Petitioner claims that he was subject to treatment in violation of the terms of a 1

settlement reached in a class action lawsuit, Valdivia v. Schwarzenegger, CIV S-94-0671 LKK

GGH. In this regard, petitioner alleges that under the terms of the Valdivia settlement a parolee

who is the subject of a parole hold is entitled to a final revocation hearing or dismal of the parole

violation charges within thirty-five days. Petitioner alleges that he was improperly held on a

parole hold for forty-two days before being released. 

The court is required to examine a petition for federal habeas corpus relief before

requiring a response to it. See Rules 3 & 4, Rules Governing § 2254 Cases. “If it plainly appears

Case 2:05-cv-00721-FCD-DAD Document 3 Filed 04/05/06 Page 1 of 3
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 To the extent that plaintiff seeks information regarding the Valdivia settlement, she 2

may contact Karen Kennard, at Bingham McCutchen LLP, Three Embarcadero Center, San

Francisco, California 94111. 

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from the face of the petition . . . that the petitioner is not entitled to relief in the district court, the

judge shall make an order for its summary dismissal . . . .” Rule 4, Rules Governing § 2254

Cases. Rule 4 “‘explicitly allows a district court to dismiss summarily the petition on the merits

when no claim for relief is stated.’” O’Bremski v. Maass, 915 F.2d 418, 420 (9th Cir. 1990)

(quoting Gutierrez v. Griggs, 695 F.2d 1195, 1198 (9th Cir. 1983)). The court finds that this

petition should be summarily dismissed.

A habeas action is proper only when a prisoner challenges the fact or duration of

his custody and a determination of his action may result in plaintiff's entitlement to an earlier

release. See Preiser v. Rodriguez, 411 U.S. 475 (1973). Here, petitioner does not seek release

from custody since his parole violation was dismissed and he was released from custody. 

petitioner is no longer in custody. Moreover, before a state prisoner may file a federal petition

for a writ of habeas corpus, the prisoner must exhaust state court remedies by presenting all

federal claims to the highest state court. See Picard v. Connor, 404 U.S. 270, 276 (1971);

Middleton v. Cupp, 768 F.2d 1083, 1086 (9th Cir. 1986). It does not appear that plaintiff has

presented a due process claim to the California Supreme Court. 

Plaintiff is further advised that it would be futile to exhaust state court remedies

on a due process claim based on the alleged Valdivia violation. The terms of the stipulated

permanent injunction in Valdivia v. Schwarzenegger, case No. CIV S-94-0671 LKK GGH P

(E.D. Cal. 1994), do not provide for relief after a probable cause hearing has been held,

regardless of how late the hearing was conducted. Since petitioner has been released, he has no 2

remedy under the terms of the Valdivia settlement. 

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Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY RECOMMENDED that this habeas action be

summarily dismissed.

DATED: April 3, 2006.

DAD:4

hope721.sumdism

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