Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_04-cv-00703/USCOURTS-caed-2_04-cv-00703-2/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 550
Nature of Suit: Prisoner - Civil Rights (U.S. defendant)
Cause of Action: 42:1983 Prisoner Civil Rights

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

DARREL LEE SMITH,

Plaintiff, No. CIV S-04-0703 MCE KJM P

vs.

SERGEANT J. SWANEY, et al.,

Defendants. ORDER

 /

Plaintiff is a state prisoner proceeding pro se and in forma pauperis with an action

filed under 42 U.S.C. § 1983. By order filed May 18, 2005, plaintiff was ordered to file a fourth

amended complaint. Plaintiff filed his fourth amended complaint on May 27, 2005.

The court is required to screen complaints brought by prisoners seeking relief

against a governmental entity or officer or employee of a governmental entity. 28 U.S.C.

§ 1915A(a). The court must dismiss a complaint or portion thereof if the prisoner has raised

claims that are legally “frivolous or malicious,” that fail to state a claim upon which relief may be

granted, or that seek monetary relief from a defendant who is immune from such relief. 28

U.S.C. § 1915A(b)(1),(2). 

While it is not entirely clear, plaintiff appears to challenge prison disciplinary

proceedings that resulted in plaintiff being placed in administrative segregation, losing his prison

Case 2:04-cv-00703-MCE -KJM Document 20 Filed 04/05/06 Page 1 of 2
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 The exhaustion of state court remedies is a prerequisite to the granting of a petition for

writ of habeas corpus. 28 U.S.C. § 2254(b)(1). 

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job and losing thirty days of good conduct sentence credit. Based on some of the information

contained in the attachments to the fourth amended complaint, it appears plaintiff’s sentence

credit may have been restored. However, if his credit has not been restored he may not proceed

with an action for violation of civil rights under 42 U.S.C. § 1983. This is because when a state

prisoner challenges the legality of his custody and the relief he seeks is the determination of his

entitlement to an earlier release, his sole federal remedy is a writ of habeas corpus. Preiser v.

Rodriguez, 411 U.S. 475, 500 (1973). 

Good cause appearing, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that plaintiff inform the court

within twenty days whether the sentence credit taken away as a result of the prison disciplinary

proceeding at issue in this matter has been restored. If the credit was not restored, plaintiff shall

inform the court whether he has exhausted state court remedies with respect to his challenge to

the prison disciplinary proceeding.1 Plaintiff’s failure to comply with this order will result in a

recommendation that this action be dismissed.

DATED: April 4, 2006.

______________________________________

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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smit0703.dis(5.27.05)

Case 2:04-cv-00703-MCE -KJM Document 20 Filed 04/05/06 Page 2 of 2