Opinion ID: 782348
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: lanier's motion to file an amended complaint

Text: 22 We review a district court's denial of a motion to amend a complaint for abuse of discretion. See Begala v. PNC Bank, Ohio Nat'l Ass'n, 214 F.3d 776, 783 (6th Cir.2000), cert. denied, 531 U.S. 1145, 121 S.Ct. 1082, 148 L.Ed.2d 958 (2001). In August of 1998, Lanier sought leave to file a second amended complaint. The tendered complaint alleged that Ed Bryant, Bill Castleberry, Steve Champine, Albert Moskowitz and Steve Parker conspired to prevent witnesses from testifying on Lanier's behalf at his criminal trial. Lanier sought damages under 42 U.S.C. §§ 1983 and 1985 and under the doctrine announced by the Supreme Court in Bivens. The district court denied Lanier's motion, holding that the Supreme Court's decision in Heck v. Humphrey, 512 U.S. 477, 114 S.Ct. 2364, 129 L.Ed.2d 383 (1994) barred Lanier's claims. 23 In Heck, the Supreme Court held that a state prisoner cannot state a cognizable claim under § 1983 if a ruling on his claim would necessarily imply the invalidity of his conviction and confinement until such time that the conviction is reversed on direct appeal, expunged by executive order, declared invalid by a state tribunal, or called into question by a federal court's issuance of a writ of habeas corpus. Id. at 486-87, 114 S.Ct. 2364; see also Schilling v. White, 58 F.3d 1081, 1085-86 (6th Cir.1995). We have previously extended Heck to Bivens actions, Robinson v. Jones, 142 F.3d 905, 906-07 (6th Cir.1998), and we recognize the other jurisdictions that have extended Heck to claims under § 1985, Amaker v. Weiner, 179 F.3d 48, 52 (2d Cir.1999). Lanier sought damages arising out of his conviction, and he claimed no injury distinct from his conviction. Since he sought relief which essentially attacked the lawfulness of his conviction, without first having that conviction set aside, his tendered complaint failed to state a claim under Heck. The district court did not abuse its discretion when it applied Heck and denied Lanier's motion to amend the complaint. 24