Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-alnd-1_19-cv-00109/USCOURTS-alnd-1_19-cv-00109-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 530
Nature of Suit: Prisoner Petitions - Habeas Corpus
Cause of Action: 28:2241 Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus (federa

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF ALABAMA

EASTERN DIVISION

MONTAVIOUS PIPPINS,

Petitioner,

v.

WARDEN B.H. ROMERO,

Respondent.

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Case No. 1:19-cv-109-KOB-GMB

MEMORANDUM OPINION

On January 30, 2020, the magistrate judge entered a report and 

recommendation that this action be dismissed with prejudice. (Doc. 8). On March 

2, 2020, Petitioner filed timely objections. (Doc. 11). 

In his objections, Petitioner arguesthat the Federal Bureau of Prisons (“BOP”)

was required to rewrite and reprocess his Incident Report after failing to provide him 

with the report within 24 hours of the time BOP staff became aware of the charge. 

(Doc. 11 at 5). Petitioner advanced a similar argument before the Magistrate Judge, 

who rejected it. (Doc. 8 at 8–9). This court finds that Wolff v. McDonnell, 418 U.S. 

539, 563–71 (1974), does not impose the requirement Petitioner seeks to graft onto 

it. 

Under Wolff, the relevant inquiry is whether Petitioner received notice of the 

charge against him at least 24 hours before the Discipline Hearing Officer (“DHO”)

hearing, not whether he received notice within 24 hours of the time BOP staff 

FILED

 2020 Mar-13 PM 12:25

U.S. DISTRICT COURT

N.D. OF ALABAMA

Case 1:19-cv-00109-KOB-GMB Document 12 Filed 03/13/20 Page 1 of 2
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became aware of the charge. See Wolff, 418 U.S. at 564. The undisputed evidence 

shows that BOP served Petitioner with the Incident Report on April 12, 2018, and 

with the Notice of Discipline Hearing on April 13, 2018. (Docs. 5-5 at 2 & 5-9 at 

2). Petitioner’s DHO hearing did not take place until April 18, 2018. (Doc. 5-2 at 

2–4). Therefore, Petitioner was provided more than 24 hours advance written notice 

of the DHO hearing in compliance with Wolff. 

Having carefully reviewed and considered de novo all the materials in the 

court file, including the report and recommendation and the objections to it, the court 

OVERRULES Petitioner’s objections, ADOPTS the magistrate judge’s report, and 

ACCEPTS his recommendation. Accordingly, this action is due to be dismissed 

with prejudice. 

A separate order will be entered. 

DONE and ORDERED this 12th day of March, 2020. 

____________________________________

KARON OWEN BOWDRE

UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

Case 1:19-cv-00109-KOB-GMB Document 12 Filed 03/13/20 Page 2 of 2