Opinion ID: 609044
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Claims One through Three-Official Capacity

Text: 6 Initially, we note that all claims against Getty in her official capacity which sought damages should have been dismissed because they were barred by sovereign immunity. See Hagemeier v. Block, 806 F.2d 197, 202 (8th Cir. 1986), cert. denied, 481 U.S. 1054 (1987); Gilbert v. DaGrossa, 756 F.2d 1455, 1458 (9th Cir. 1985). Accordingly, we affirm the denial of relief on these claims on this basis. 7 Those claims against Getty in her official capacity which sought injunctive relief are not barred by sovereign immunity, though Bivens does not provide the court with a basis for providing relief. See Berger v. Pierce, 933 F.2d 393, 397 (6th Cir. 1991) (Bivens action may not be brought against a federal official in her official capacity); Daly-Murphy v. Winston, 837 F.2d 348, 355 (9th Cir. 1987) (same). 8 We agree with the district court that Noll must exhaust his remedies under § 2241 before he can seek relief on claims one and two. See Spina v. Aaron, 821 F.2d 1126, 1128 (5th Cir. 1987) (if resolution of factual and legal issues necessary to resolve the civil rights claims would necessarily entitle plaintiff to accelerated release, then plaintiff must first exhaust his remedies under § 2241); Fendler v. United States Parole Comm'n, 774 F.2d 975, 979 (9th Cir. 1985) (same). However, we conclude that rather than dismissing claim three on the merits, the court should have allowed Noll to exhaust this claim as well. 1 See Cox v. Warden, Federal Detention Center, 911 F.2d 1111, 1114 (5th Cir. 1990) (prisoner may challenge mental health aftercare condition under § 2241). 9 While we agree with the district court that exhaustion of these claims was required, we vacate that portion of the order dismissing these claims. Because Noll may be barred by the applicable statute of limitations 2 from bringing these claims later if they are dismissed, the district court should determine whether it is appropriate to stay the claims on its docket rather than dismissing them. Spina, 821 F.2d at 1128. 10