Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-almd-2_04-cv-00328/USCOURTS-almd-2_04-cv-00328-0/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 DISTRICT COURT OF THE UNITED STATES FOR THE

MIDDLE DISTRICT OF ALABAMA, NORTHERN DIVISION

PAUL EDWARD TEEL, 131540 )

)

Petitioner, )

)

v. ) CIVIL ACTION NO. 

) 2:04cv328-MHT

JERRY FARRELL, et al., ) (WO)

)

Respondents. )

OPINION

Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2254, petitioner filed this

habeas-corpus case. This lawsuit is now before the court

on the recommendation of the United States Magistrate

Judge that the habeas-corpus request be denied as timebarred. Also before the court are petitioner’s

objections to the recommendation. After an independent

and de novo review of the record, the court concludes

that the objections should be overruled and the

magistrate judge’s recommendation adopted.

The court adds the following comments: This case is

before the court on petitioner’s efforts to obtain habeas

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relief after having previously been granted relief, Teel

v. Burton, 904 F.Supp. 1294 (M.D. Ala. 1995) (Thompson,

J.), and then retried and re-convicted. The magistrate

judge recommends that the relief be denied as timebarred. In his objections, petitioner argues that the

limitations period should be tolled because he was

mentally incompetent, that is, he maintains that he

suffers from a severe communication disorder and autism

stemming from substance abuse.

“The burden of establishing entitlement to [equitable

tolling] plainly rests with the petitioner.” Drew v.

Department of Corrections, 297 F.3d 1278, 1286 (11th Cir.

2002). An inmate’s mere allegation that he is mentally

incapacitated does not warrant the extraordinary remedy

afforded by equitable tolling. See Lawrence v. Florida,

421 F.3d 1221, 1226-1227 (11th Cir.2005). Simply put,

petitioner here has produced no evidence beyond his selfserving assertion that he suffers from such disorders.

In fact, petitioner’s undertakings in both state and

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federal court undermine his assertion that his mental

problems warrant equitable tolling (he has proceeded pro

se in this petition). Moreover, he did not present any

evidence that establishes the requisite causal connection

between his mental condition and his failure to comply

with the limitations period. Id.

An appropriate judgment will be entered.

DONE, this the 28th day of April, 2006.

_____________________________ /s/ Myron H. Thompson

UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE 

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