Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-3_07-cv-06084/USCOURTS-cand-3_07-cv-06084-0/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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United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

JONATHAN LEE RICHES,

Plaintiff,

 v.

MASTERCARD INTERNATIONAL, et al.,

Defendants. ____________________________________

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No. C 07-6084 MJJ (PR)

ORDER OF DISMISSAL

Plaintiff, a federal prisoner proceeding pro se, filed this pro se complaint against

Mastercard International, Inc., and it’s Chief Executive Officer, Robert Selander. Plaintiff

alleges that defendants’ actions led to his present unlawful incarceration and sentence. He

seeks money damages for defendants’ alleged violation of his “civil rights.” 

A federal court must conduct a preliminary screening in any case in which a prisoner

seeks redress from a governmental entity or officer or employee of a governmental entity. 28

U.S.C. § 1915A(a). In its review, the court must identify any cognizable claims and dismiss

any claims that are frivolous, malicious, fail to state a claim upon which relief may be

granted or seek monetary relief from a defendant who is immune from such relief. See id. §

1915A(b)(1), (2). Pro se pleadings must, however, be liberally construed. See Balistreri v.

Pacifica Police Dep't, 901 F.2d 696, 699 (9th Cir. 1988). 

In order to recover damages for harm caused by actions whose unlawfulness would render a

conviction or sentence invalid, a plaintiff must prove that the conviction or sentence has been

reversed on direct appeal, expunged by executive order, declared invalid by a tribunal authorized to

Case 3:07-cv-06084-MJJ Document 3 Filed 12/19/07 Page 1 of 2
United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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G:\PRO-SE\MJJ\CR.07\riches42.dsm.wpd 2

make such determination, or called into question by the issuance of a writ of habeas corpus. See

Heck v. Humphrey, 512 U.S. 477, 486-487 (1994). A civil claim based upon a conviction or

sentence that has not been so invalidated is not cognizable. See id. at 487. The rationale and

conclusion of Heck apply to cases brought by individuals, such as plaintiff, convicted in

federal court, as well as state court. See Martin v. Sias, 88 F.3d 774, 775 (9th Cir. 1996). 

Plaintiff claims that defendants acted improperly and “entrapped him,” and that he is “illegally

sentenced from Defendant’s doing.” If these claims are proven true, the validity of his conviction

and sentence would be called into question conviction. Accordingly, this action is barred until

plaintiff’s conviction has been reversed, expunged, set aside or otherwise called into question. 

For the foregoing reasons, this action is hereby DISMISSED without prejudice.

The Clerk shall close the file.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

DATED: 12/18/07 _____________________________

MARTIN J. JENKINS

United States District Judge

Case 3:07-cv-06084-MJJ Document 3 Filed 12/19/07 Page 2 of 2