Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_20-cv-00120/USCOURTS-caed-1_20-cv-00120-0/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

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

PAUL DIXON LEWIS,

Plaintiff,

v.

KEN CLARK, et al.

Defendants.

Case No. 1:20-cv-00120-JDP

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE WHY CASE 

SHOULD NOT BE DISMISSED AS BARRED 

BY THE FAVORABLE-TERMINATION 

RULE

FOURTEEN-DAY DEADLINE

ORDER ASSIGNING THIS CASE TO A 

DISTRICT JUDGE

Plaintiff Paul Dixon Lewis is a state prisoner proceeding without counsel in this action

brought under 42 U.S.C. § 1983. Plaintiff argues that his prison sentence is unlawful and requests 

compensation for his allegedly illegal incarceration. See ECF No. 1 at 4. But habeas relief—

which petitioner does not now seek—is the exclusive remedy for a prisoner challenging the fact 

or duration of his confinement. See Heck v. Humphrey, 512 U.S. 477, 481 (1994). Even if 

plaintiff wishes to obtain some sort of relief for his allegedly illegal incarceration other than 

release—relief that might properly be channeled through 42 U.S.C. § 1983 rather than a habeas 

petition—plaintiff would first need to show that his underlying conviction had been invalidated. 

See Heck, 512 U.S. at 487. Accordingly, the court orders plaintiff to make such a demonstration. 

If he cannot, we will recommend that this civil rights case be dismissed as barred by the so-called 

favorable-termination rule of Heck v. Humphrey. 

ORDER

Case 1:20-cv-00120-DAD-JDP Document 7 Filed 01/29/20 Page 1 of 2
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Plaintiff has fourteen days to show cause why his 42 U.S.C. § 1983 complaint should not 

be dismissed as barred by Heck v. Humphrey. Plaintiff may make this showing by demonstrating 

that his underlying conviction has been invalidated. Failure to comply with this order may result 

in dismissal of this action. 

The clerk of court is ordered to assign this case to a district judge. 

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: January 28, 2020 

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

No. 205.

Case 1:20-cv-00120-DAD-JDP Document 7 Filed 01/29/20 Page 2 of 2