2008 Decisions

Opinions of the United

States Court of Appeals

for the Third Circuit

8-20-2008

Armstrong v. Grondolsky

Precedential or Non-Precedential: Non-Precedential

Docket No. 08-1611

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Recommended Citation

"Armstrong v. Grondolsky" (2008). 2008 Decisions. Paper 637.

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**AMENDED BLD-219 NOT PRECEDENTIAL

UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS

FOR THE THIRD CIRCUIT

___________

No. 08-1611

___________

MARTIN A. ARMSTRONG,

 Appellant

v.

JEFF GRONDOLSKY, WARDEN; SCOTT DODRILL, 

REGIONAL DIRECTOR BOP PHILADELPHIA

On Appeal from the United States District Court

for the District of New Jersey

(D. N.J. Civil No. 08-cv-00569)

District Judge: Honorable Renee M. Bumb

____________________________________

Submitted for Possible Dismissal Due to a Jurisdictional Defect

or Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B) or for Summary Action Pursuant to Third

Circuit LAR 27.4 and I.O.P. 10.6

June 5, 2008

Before: MCKEE, RENDELL AND SMITH, Circuit Judges

Opinion filed: August 20, 2008

_________

 OPINION

_________

PER CURIAM

Martin Armstrong, a federal prisoner proceeding pro se, appeals from an order of

the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey denying his motion to stay
2

the execution of his criminal sentence, or in the alternative, to grant bail, and his motion

for immediate change in custody to home confinement. We will affirm the order of the

District Court.

In 1999, the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Commodity Futures

Trading Commission brought a civil securities fraud action against Armstrong. The

United States District Court for the Southern District of New York held Armstrong in

civil contempt for failing to turn over records and assets to a court-appointed receiver. In

2004, Armstrong filed a habeas petition challenging his confinement for civil contempt.

The United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit affirmed the district court’s

denial of habeas relief. Armstrong v. Guccione, 470 F.3d 89 (2d Cir. 2006), cert. denied,

128 S. Ct. 486 (2007). 

Armstrong was also criminally prosecuted for securities fraud. He pleaded guilty

to conspiracy to defraud the United States. In 2007, Armstrong received a 60-month

prison sentence, which would begin when the civil contempt matter was resolved. Before

he was sentenced, Armstrong unsuccessfully sought a declaratory judgment and

injunctive relief to credit the time he spent in jail for civil contempt against his criminal

sentence.

Armstrong’s civil contempt order was then vacated, and he began serving his

criminal sentence in Fort Dix, New Jersey. In January 2008, he filed a petition for a writ

of habeas corpus in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey
 The District Court also questioned whether the District of New Jersey was the proper 1

venue for civil claims arising out of Armstrong’s confinement in New York for civil

contempt.

3

pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2241. Armstrong claims, among other things, that he is entitled

to credit against his criminal sentence for the time he spent in prison for civil contempt,

that he was wrongfully confined for civil contempt, and that he was assaulted in prison

during his confinement for civil contempt. Armstrong also filed various motions,

including a motion for a change in custody to home confinement, and a motion to stay the

execution of his criminal sentence, or, in the alternative, to grant bail, pending the

conclusion of the habeas proceedings. 

The District Court found that the civil contempt order was vacated on April 27,

2007, and that Armstrong began serving his 60-month criminal sentence on that date. 

Because Armstrong was no longer in custody for civil contempt, the District Court

dismissed Armstrong’s habeas claims related to the civil contempt order. The District

Court also dismissed Armstrong’s claims for damages and injunctive relief under Bivens

v. Six Unknown Named Agents of Fed. Bur. of Narcotics, 403 U.S. 388, 389 (1971),

explaining that, under the Prison Litigation Reform Act, Armstrong was required to

pursue his claims in a separate civil action.1

The District Court ordered Armstrong’s present custodian, Warden Jeff

Grondolsky, to respond to Armstrong’s allegation that he is entitled to receive credit

against his criminal sentence for the time spent in prison for civil contempt. The District
4

Court denied Armstrong’s request for a writ of mandamus compelling such credit because

Armstrong had an available remedy pursuant to § 2241. Finally, the District Court denied

Armstrong’s motions, including his motion for a change in custody to home confinement

and his motion to stay the execution of the criminal sentence, or, alternatively, to grant

bail pending the conclusion of his habeas proceedings. 

Armstrong filed a notice of appeal limited to the District Court’s denial of bail or

an order staying the execution of his sentence, or a change in custody to home

confinement. We have jurisdiction under the collateral order doctrine to review an order

denying a motion for release on bail pending the resolution of a habeas petition. United

States v. Smith, 835 F.2d 1048, 1049 (3d Cir. 1987). Similarly, we have jurisdiction to

review the District Court’s denial of a stay of execution of sentence and a change in

custody to home confinement under the collateral order doctrine, as these rulings are also

severable from the merits, conclusively determine the disputed question, and are

effectively unreviewable on appeal from a final judgment. See id.

As recognized by the District Court, the standards governing stays of civil

judgments guide courts in determining whether to release a federal prisoner seeking bail

pending disposition of a habeas petition. Id. at 1050. These standards include the

likelihood of success on the merits, irreparable injury, injury to other parties interested in

the proceeding, and the public interest. Id. Armstrong did not make a “strong showing

that he is likely to succeed on the merits.” Id. Armstrong argued that he was wrongfully
 A state prisoner seeking habeas relief must show extraordinary circumstances

2

warranting bail. Landano v. Rafferty, 970 F.2d 1230, 1240 (3d Cir. 1992). In Landano,

we noted that the standard applied in Smith was arguably more liberal toward release

from custody than warranted. Id. at 1239 n.19. Because Armstrong does not satisfy the

more liberal standard in Smith, we need not decide whether he was required to show

extraordinary circumstances.

5

held in civil contempt, and thus the Bureau of Prisons was required to credit his criminal

sentence with the time he served for civil contempt. Armstrong’s challenge to his

confinement for civil contempt, however, was unsuccessful. The District Court did not

err in denying Armstrong’s motion to stay the execution of his criminal sentence or to

grant bail.2

We also find no error in the District Court’s denial of Armstrong’s motion to

change his custody to home confinement. Armstrong alleged that home confinement was

necessary so that he could access documents relevant to his habeas petition, and so that he

could obtain needed dental care. The District Court explained that the only remaining

issue in the habeas proceeding was whether Armstrong is entitled to credit against his

criminal sentence for the time he spent in prison for civil contempt. The District Court

noted that this claim rests in large part upon issues of statutory construction, and that the

Warden would be ordered to produce the relevant portions of the record. We also agree

with the District Court that Armstrong may pursue a civil rights action to the extent he

claims he is being deprived of dental care in violation of his Eighth Amendment rights. 

Armstrong further stated that home confinement would enable him to care for his elderly
 Armstrong also appeals the denial of his motion for work release, which was 3

contained in his motion for a stay of execution of his criminal sentence. Although the

District Court did not expressly address this motion in its opinion, Armstrong has not

shown that he has a colorable claim of entitlement to work release.

 All of Armstrong’s outstanding motions are denied. 

4

6

mother. Home confinement is not warranted on this basis. 

3

Accordingly, because this appeal does not raise a substantial question, we will

affirm the order of the District Court.4