Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-casd-3_18-cv-02817/USCOURTS-casd-3_18-cv-02817-0/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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18cv2817 GPC (BLM)

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

MAURICE GAITHER,

Petitioner,

v.

RAYMOND MADDEN, Warden, et al.,

Respondents.

Case No.: 18cv2817 GPC (BLM)

ORDER: (1) CONSTRUING TRUST 

ACCOUNT STATEMENT AS A 

MOTION TO PROCEED IN FORMA 

PAUPERIS; (2) DENYING MOTION 

TO PROCEED IN FORMA 

PAUPERIS; and (3) DISMISSING 

CASE WITHOUT PREJUDICE AND 

WITH LEAVE TO AMEND

Petitioner, a state prisoner proceeding pro se, has filed a Petition for Writ of 

Habeas Corpus pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2254 together with a trust account statement 

which the Court CONSTRUES as a motion to proceed in forma pauperis.

MOTION TO PROCEED IN FORMA PAUPERIS

The trust account statement provided by Petitioner reflects a balance of $148.13. 

(ECF No. 2.) The filing fee associated with this type of action is $5.00. See 28 U.S.C.

§ 1914(a). It appears Petitioner can pay the requisite filing fee. Accordingly, the Court 

DENIES the request to proceed in forma pauperis.

FAILURE TO STATE A COGNIZABLE CLAIM ON HABEAS CORPUS

Upon review of the Petition, it appears to the Court that a Petition for Writ of 

Habeas Corpus brought pursuant to § 2254 is not the proper vehicle for the claims 

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Petitioner presents. Challenges to the fact or duration of confinement are brought by 

petition for a writ of habeas corpus, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2254; challenges to 

conditions of confinement are brought pursuant to the Civil Rights Act, 42 U.S.C. 

§ 1983. See Preiser v. Rodriguez, 411 U.S. 475, 488-500 (1973); Nettles v. Grounds, 830 

F.3d 922, 931 (9th Cir. 2016) (en banc). When a state prisoner is challenging the very 

fact or duration of his physical imprisonment, and the relief he seeks is a determination 

that he is entitled to immediate release or a speedier release from that imprisonment, his 

sole federal remedy is a writ of habeas corpus. Preiser, 411 at 500; Nettles, 830 F.3d at 

927. On the other hand, a § 1983 action is a proper remedy for a state prisoner who is 

making a constitutional challenge to the conditions of his prison life, but not to the fact or 

length of his custody. Preiser, 411 at 500; Nettles, 830 F.3d at 927. 

Petitioner claims that prison authorities improperly cancelled his appeal of a prison 

disciplinary hearing that did not result in any loss of custody credits. (See Pet., ECF No. 

1 at 17-20, 36.) Petitioner’s claims are not cognizable on habeas because they do not 

challenge the constitutional validity or duration of confinement. See 28 U.S.C. 2254(a); 

Preiser, 411 U.S. at 500; Heck v. Humphrey, 512 U.S. 477, 480-85 (1994); Nettles, 830

F.3d at 931. “[A] § 1983 action is the exclusive vehicle for claims brought by state 

prisoners that are not within the core of habeas corpus.” Nettles, 830 F.3d at 927.

CONCLUSION

Based on the foregoing, the Court CONSTURES Petitioner’s trust account 

statement as a motion to proceed in forma pauperis, DENIES the motion to proceed in 

forma paupers, and DISMISSES this case without prejudice and with leave to amend. If 

Petitioner wishes to proceed with this case he must, no later than February 26, 2019: (1) 

pay the $5.00 filing fee or submit adequate proof of his inability to pay the fee; AND (2) 

file a First Amended Petition that cures the pleading deficiencies outlined in this Order. 

If Petitioner wishes to file a case pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983, he must file a civil rights 

complaint pursuant to § 1983 which will be given a new case number. The Clerk of 

Court is directed to mail Petitioner a blank motion to proceed in forma pauperis form, 

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a blank First Amended Petition form, and a blank 42 U.S.C. § civil rights complaint 

form together with a copy of this Order.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: January 8, 2019

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