Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_07-cv-01060/USCOURTS-caed-2_07-cv-01060-1/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 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

HOWARD NEDOSS DONTUS LEONARD,

Petitioner, No. CIV S-07-1060 MCE GGH P

vs.

JAMES WALKER, Warden, et al., 

Respondents. ORDER

 /

Petitioner, a state prisoner proceeding pro se, has purported to file an application

for a writ of habeas corpus pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2254 and has belatedly paid the $5.00 filing

fee. 

Petitioner’s putative petition consists largely of incoherent and nonsensical

ramblings. For example, the following is set forth as ground one: “Defendents [sic] of the

M.G.M. Studio’s of Universal Hollywood Groucho Metro, Godwin Harpo, Meyer Marko and

Maloof Entertainment Michael Landon - Highway to Heaven was Little Joe on the Bonanza

Cowboys the Cartwrights Loof is London and Olympia and Olympus.” Petition, p. 3. At a later

point, petitioner claims that prison officials have attempted to isolate him and to steal

unidentified property from him because he is “the Son of God.” Id., p. 4. Petitioner asks that

federal marshals be directed to have police release him from Psychiatric Security Units. Id, p. 5. 

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 If leave to file in forma pauperis is granted, plaintiff will still be required to pay the filing 1

fee but will be allowed to pay it in installments. Because plaintiff, as petitioner, has paid $5.00 for

the habeas application filing fee, plaintiff, if he elects to proceed, will be assessed an additional

$345.00 ($5.00 deducted from the $350.00 filing fee) to proceed under § 1983.

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Petitioner also asks that his television and other items be returned to him.

On the face of it, this “petition” should be summarily dismissed. To the extent

that petitioner has any basis for proceeding, it would have to be by way of an action under 42

U.S.C. § 1983. “Federal law opens two main avenues to relief on complaints related to

imprisonment: a petition for habeas corpus, 28 U.S.C. 2254, and a complaint under the Civil

Rights Act of 1871, Rev. Stat. 1979, as amended, 42 U.S.C. 1983. Challenges to the validity of

any confinement or to particulars affecting its duration are the province of habeas corpus, Preiser

v. Rodriguez, 411 U.S. 475, 500, 93 S.Ct. 1827, 36 L.Ed.2d 439 (1973).” Muhammad v. Close,

540 U.S.749, 750, 124 S.Ct. 1303, 1304 (2004) (per curiam).

The petition will be dismissed with leave granted for petitioner, as plaintiff, to file

an action under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, within thirty days. In order to do so, petitioner, as plaintiff,

must file a complaint as required by Rule 3 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, and must

either pay the required filing fee or file an application requesting leave to proceed in forma

pauperis. See 28 U.S.C. §§ 1914(a), 1915(a). 

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Petitioner, as plaintiff, will be provided the opportunity to file a complaint, and to

submit an application requesting leave to proceed in forma pauperis or to submit the appropriate

filing fee. 

In accordance with the above, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that:

1. The petition is dismissed with leave granted for petitioner, as plaintiff, to file a

civil rights complaint, pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983, within thirty days from the date of service

of this order; the complaint must comply with the requirements of the Civil Rights Act, the

Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, and the Local Rules of Practice; the complaint must bear the

docket number assigned this case; plaintiff must file an original and two copies of the complaint. 

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Plaintiff shall also submit, within thirty days from the date of this order, the application to

proceed in forma pauperis on the form provided by the Clerk of Court, or the filing fee in the

amount of $350.00. Plaintiff's failure to comply with this order will result in a recommendation

that this matter be dismissed; and

2. The Clerk of the Court is directed to send plaintiff the court’s form for filing a

civil rights action, and the application to proceed in forma pauperis by a prisoner.

DATED: 12/17/07

/s/ Gregory G. Hollows

GREGORY G. HOLLOWS

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

GGH:009

leon1060.dis 

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