Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_07-cv-01277/USCOURTS-caed-2_07-cv-01277-1/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

KEVIN DANIEL DILL, No. CIV S-07-1277-LEW-CMK-P

Plaintiff, 

vs. FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

SHASTA COUNTY JAIL STAFF, 

et al.,

Defendants.

 /

Plaintiff, a state prisoner proceeding pro se, brings this civil rights action pursuant

to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. Pending before the court is plaintiff’s complaint (Doc. 1), filed on June 28,

2007.

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

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

§ 1915A(a). The court must dismiss a complaint or portion thereof if it: (1) is frivolous or

malicious; (2) fails to state a claim upon which relief can be granted; or (3) seeks monetary relief

from a defendant who is immune from such relief. See 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(b)(1), (2). Moreover,

the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure require that complaints contain a “. . . short and plain

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statement of the claim showing that the pleader is entitled to relief.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(a)(2). 

This means that claims must be stated simply, concisely, and directly. See McHenry v. Renne,

84 F.3d 1172, 1177 (9th Cir. 1996) (referring to Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(e)(1)). These rules are satisfied

if the complaint gives the defendant fair notice of the plaintiff’s claim and the grounds upon

which it rests. See Kimes v. Stone, 84 F.3d 1121, 1129 (9th Cir. 1996). Because plaintiff must

allege with at least some degree of particularity overt acts by specific defendants which support

the claims, vague and conclusory allegations fail to satisfy this standard. Additionally, it is

impossible for the court to conduct the screening required by law when the allegations are vague

and conclusory. 

Plaintiff claims that he was “erroneously intered [sic] and publicly ran as a sex

offender on the internet” by defendants. Given plaintiff’s allegation that his incarceration is

based on some kind of error, he necessarily challenges the fact or duration of his confinement.

Success on the instant claim would imply the invalidity of his conviction and/or sentence. 

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

determination that he is entitled to an earlier or immediate release, such a challenge is not

cognizable under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 and the prisoner’s sole federal remedy is a petition for a writ

of habeas corpus. See Preiser v. Rodriguez, 411 U.S. 475, 500 (1973); see also Neal v. Shimoda,

131 F.3d 818, 824 (9th Cir. 1997); Trimble v. City of Santa Rosa, 49 F.3d 583, 586 (9th Cir.

1995) (per curiam). Similarly, where a § 1983 action seeking monetary damages or declaratory

relief alleges constitutional violations which would necessarily imply the invalidity of the

prisoner’s underlying conviction or sentence, such a claim is not cognizable under § 1983 unless

the conviction or sentence has first been invalidated on appeal, by habeas petition, or through

some similar proceeding. See Edwards v. Balisok, 520 U.S. 641, 646 (1987) (holding that §

1983 claim not cognizable because allegations of procedural defects and a biased hearing officer

implied the invalidity of the underlying prison disciplinary sanction); Heck v. Humphrey, 512

U.S. 477, 483-84 (1994) (concluding that § 1983 not cognizable because allegations were akin to

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malicious prosecution action which includes as an element a finding that the criminal proceeding

was concluded in plaintiff’s favor); Butterfield v. Bail, 120 F.3d 1023, 1024-25 (9th Cir. 1997)

(concluding that § 1983 claim not cognizable because allegations of procedural defects were an

attempt to challenge substantive result in parole hearing); but see Neal, 131 F.3d at 824

(concluding that § 1983 claim was cognizable because challenge was to conditions for parole

eligibility and not to any particular parole determination). 

If a § 1983 complaint states claims which sound in habeas, the court should not

convert the complaint into a habeas petition. See id.; Trimble, 49 F.3d at 586. Rather, such

claims must be dismissed without prejudice and the complaint should proceed on any remaining

cognizable § 1983 claims. See Balisok, 520 U.S. at 649; Heck, 512 U.S. at 487; Trimble, 49

F.3d at 585.

Because the only claim raised in this case implies the invalidity of plaintiff’s

underlying conviction and/or sentence, he may not proceed under § 1983. This action must be

dismissed without prejudice to plaintiff’s right to challenge the conviction and/or sentence by

way of habeas corpus. Further, because it is not possible that the deficiencies identified herein

can be cured by amending the complaint, plaintiff is not entitled to leave to amend prior to

dismissal of the entire action. See Lopez v. Smith, 203 F.3d 1122, 1126, 1131 (9th Cir. 2000)

(en banc). 

Based on the foregoing, the undersigned recommends that this action be

dismissed, without prejudice.

These findings and recommendations are submitted to the United States District

Judge assigned to the case, pursuant to the provisions of 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(l). Within 20 days

after being served with these findings and recommendations, any party may file written

objections with the court. The document should be captioned “Objections to Magistrate Judge's

/ / /

/ / /

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Findings and Recommendations.” Failure to file objections within the specified time may waive

the right to appeal the District Court's order. Martinez v. Ylst, 951 F.2d 1153 (9th Cir. 1991).

DATED: August 17, 2007.

______________________________________

CRAIG M. KELLISON

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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