Court Opinion

ID: 1073912
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2013-10-09 20:02:18.926755+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:50:58.388285
License: Public Domain

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF TENNESSEE
                                AT JACKSON

           ROGER L. KAUFMAN v. STATE OF TENNESSEE, ET AL.

                 Direct Appeal from the Circuit Court for Hardeman County
                          No. 9018    Jon Kerry Blackwood, Judge

                   No. W1999-02449-COA-R3-CV - Decided May 15, 2000

An inmate presently in custody of the Whiteville Correctional Facility (WCF) sued the warden of
that facility, Corrections Corporation of America (CCA), its CEO and the State of Tennessee. He
seeks release from that facility contending that the State of Wisconsin Department of Corrections
(DOC) released him and surrendered him to a facility outside the borders of the State of Wisconsin
for incarceration. The trial court dismissed the cause of action and we affirm.

Tenn. R. App. P. 3 Appeal as of Right; Judgment of the Circuit Court Affirmed; and
Remanded.

FARMER , J., delivered the opinion of the court, in which CRAWFORD , P.J., W.S., and LILLARD , J.,
joined.

Roger L. Kaufman, Pro Se.

Tom Anderson, Jackson, Tennessee, for the appellee, Corrections Corporation of America.

                                            OPINION

        The appellant, Roger L. Kaufman, has appealed from an order of the trial court dismissing
his cause of action for failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted. See Rule 12.02(6)
T.R.C.P. A motion to dismiss for failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted challenges
the legal sufficiency of the claim, not the strength of the plaintiff’s proof. The court determines
whether to grant the motion based solely on the allegations stated in the complaint and, for purposes
of the motion, the allegations are taken as true. See Bell ex rel. Snyder v. Icard, Merrill, Cullis,
Timm, Furen and Ginsburg, P.A., 986 S.W.2d 550 (Tenn. 1999).

        The pleading filed by Mr. Kaufman is styled Motion for Unconditional Release. Mr.
Kaufman avers that the basis for his incarceration is a judgment of conviction entered in the circuit
court for Juneau County, Wisconsin. He further alleges that he was illegally shipped to the State of
Tennessee by the Wisconsin DOC because the contract entered into by the State of Wisconsin and
CCA is an “illegal” contract. He further contends that the State of Wisconsin voluntarily surrendered
sovereign jurisdiction over him and that, while attempting to leave the WCF he “was caught before
he made it through the first two fences” following which the State of Wisconsin refused to help him
return to that state. Therefore, he alleges that this is an indication that Wisconsin no longer wishes
to have any right or claim over him.

        Insofar as the pleading filed in this case can be interpreted as a petition for writ of habeas
corpus, it is well-established that habeas corpus relief for a person incarcerated as a result of having
been convicted of a crime is limited and available in Tennessee only when the face of the judgment
or the record of the proceedings upon which the judgment is rendered reveals that the convicting
court was without jurisdiction or authority over the appellant or that the appellant’s sentence of
imprisonment has expired. See Archer v. State, 851 S.W.2d 157, 164 (Tenn.1993); Passarella v.
State, 891 S.W.2d 619, 627 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1994). Mr. Kaufman’s petition does not so allege.
If, from the face of the petition, the reviewing court finds nothing to indicate that the appellant’s
challenged convictions might be void or not entitled to any relief, the court shall dismiss the petition
and refuse the issuance of the writ. Tenn. Code Ann. § 29-21-109 (1980). Moreover, habeas corpus
proceedings are essentially civil in nature and the Rules of Civil Procedure are applicable where
consistent with Tenn. Code Ann. § 29-21-101 et. seq. Tenn. R. Civ. P. 12 provides trial courts the
authority to dismiss pleadings which fail to state a claim upon which relief may be granted. Mr.
Kaufman has not alleged that the convicting court in Wisconsin was without jurisdiction or authority
over him or that his sentence of imprisonment has expired.

        Insofar as the complaint filed by Mr. Kaufman challenges the validity of a contract between
the State of Wisconsin DOC and CCA, we believe that the State of Wisconsin would be a necessary
and indispensable party to such an action. See 67A C.J.S. Parties §§ 4, 53(a).

        It is further alleged that the complainant was deprived of due process. An inmate does not
have a constitutional right to be assigned to a particular penal institution. See Olim v. Wakinekona,
461 U.S.238, 245 (1983); Meachum v. Fano, 427 U.S. 215, 224-25 (1976); Montanye v. Haymes,
427 U.S. 236, 243 (1976); Moody v. Daggett, 429 U.S. 78, 88 n.9 (1976); Newell v. Brown, 981
F.2d 880, 883 (6th Cir. 1993); Beard v. Livesay, 798, F.2d 874, 876 (6th Cir. 1986).1

        It is further alleged that while incarcerated, he was kicked in the thigh and that he “put a
medical slip/request in to have it looked at and [photographed], but no one ever came.” The
complaint does not identify the assailant nor allege any negligence against the defendants and the
only relief sought in the pleading is for unconditional release.

      It is further alleged that complainant has been deprived of his rights under the Thirteenth
Amendment to the U.S. Constitution which prohibits slavery. This amendment specifically excepts
punishment for a crime where the party has been duly convicted. U.S. CONST . amend. XIII.

       1
         Pursuant to T.C.A. § 40-23-104, a trial judge has the power to order the removal of a
prisoner from the county workhouse to the department of correction under certain circumstances set
forth in the statute.

                                                  -2-
        Mr. Kaufman states additional causes of action and relief sought in his briefs filed before this
court. However, these matters were not before the trial court and will not be considered by this
court. In view of our decision, we find it unnecessary to address the issue of whether or not the state
courts of Tennessee would have jurisdiction over an action against a sister state.2

        The order of the trial court dismissing this cause is affirmed and the costs of this appeal are
taxed to the appellant, Roger L. Kaufman, for which execution may issue if necessary.

       2
         Mr. Kaufman also alleges that his motion for unconditional release was filed in the trial
court in Wisconsin where he was convicted.

                                                  -3-