Flatt v. Williams

669 F. Supp. 841, 1987 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 8877
CourtDistrict Court, M.D. Tennessee
DecidedJanuary 26, 1987
DocketCiv. A. No. 3:86-1080
StatusPublished

This text of 669 F. Supp. 841 (Flatt v. Williams) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, M.D. Tennessee primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Flatt v. Williams, 669 F. Supp. 841, 1987 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 8877 (M.D. Tenn. 1987).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM OPINION, ORDER AND STAY

NEESE, Senior District Judge.

The petitioner Mr. William Eugene Flatt applied pro se to this Court for the federal writ of habeas corpus and paid the required filing fee on December 29, 1986. He has not, however, made prepayment of other fees and costs or given security therefor; neither has he filed an affidavit of his indigency, see 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a).

Mr. Flatt claims that an adverse judgment and order of December 4,1986 in Flatt v. Lee and Roberts, no. C-86-2290A, was entered in his habeas corpus proceedings in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, Atlanta Division, and that he gave notice on the following day of his appeal therefrom to the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit. He claims that law-enforcement officers of Douglas County, Georgia transported him into the state of Tennessee and delivered him to a deputy of the respondent-sheriff who incarcerated him in the jail of Williamson County, Tennessee, pending trial of a criminal action therein.

It is the contention of the applicant that proceedings for the enforcement of the foregoing judgment were stayed automatically “until the expiration of 10 days after its entry,” Rule 62(a), F.R.Civ.P., and that: “[pjending review of a decision in a habeas corpus proceeding commenced before a court, justice or judge of the United States for the release of a prisoner, a person having custody of the prisoner shall not transfer custody to another [person] unless such transfer is directed in accordance with the provisions of this rule” and that “[u]pon application of a custodian showing a need therefor, the court, justice or judge rendering the decision may make an order authorizing transfer and providing for the substitution of the successor custodian as a party.” Rule 23(a), F.R.App.P.

[843]*843Mr. Flatt claims accordingly that his federal right to due process of law, Constitution, Fourteenth Amendment, was violated by his former and present custodian and their respective agents when his custody was transferred immediately before the entry of the foregoing judgment and the attachment of the automatic stay without an order of the judge of the aforenamed federal Court in Georgia authorizing such transfer upon an application showing a need therefor. He alleges: “All state remedies are inadequate.”

The latter averment would seem to allege that “there is either an absence of available [emphasis added by this writer] State corrective process or the existence of circumstances rendering such process ineffective to protect thé rights of the prisoner.” 28 U.S.C. § 2254(b). Nonetheless, the petition must be, and hereby is,

DISMISSED summarily, Rule 4, Rules —§ 2254 Cases, but without prejudice for the failure of the petitioner to prepay fees and costs. 28 U.S.C. § 1914; Rule 7(e)(3)— Local Rules. The clerk will so notify the petitioner and serve forthwith by certified mail copies thereof and of this order on the respondent-warden and the attorney-general and reporter of Tennessee, id.

However, as the petitioner is a prisoner with a constitutional right of access to the courts, Bounds v. Smith, 430 U.S. 817, 821, 97 S.Ct. 1491, 1494[1], 52 L.Ed.2d 72 (1977), such order of dismissal hereby is

STAYED for a period of 30 days to allow the petitioner the opportunity to prepay all fees and costs, or file an affidavit of his indigency stating that he is unable to pay such costs or give security therefor, should he so desire. “Such affidavit shall state the nature of the action, defense or appeal and affiant’s belief that he is entitled to redress.” 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a).

Opinion Directing Answer

The petitioner Mr. William Eugene Flatt filed with this Court an affidavit of his indigency in conformance with 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a). See order of February 6, 1987. Such affidavit notwithstanding, this Court may not entertain the petition herein unless Mr. Flatt alleges “that he is in custody in violation of the constitution or laws or treaties of the United States.” 28 U.S.C. § 2254(a).

He claims that his current custody is in violation of the Federal Rules of Civil and Appellate Procedure. “[T]he Federal Rules of Civil Procedure have statutory effect,” United States v. St. Paul Mercury Insurance Company, 361 F.2d 838, 839[1] (5th Cir.1966), cert. den., 385 U.S. 971, 87 S.Ct. 510, 17 L.Ed.2d 435 (1966), cited in Murphy v. Runfen Lauser Kg Machenenfabrick, 101 F.R.D. 360, 363 n. 3 (D.C.Vt. 1984); accord: Nordmeyer v. Sanzone, 315 F.2d 780, 781[3] (6th Cir.1963), and are deemed “laws * * * of the United States.”

It thus appears that Mr. Flatt has satisfied the requirements of 28 U.S.C. § 2254(a), supra. Therefore, it not appearing plainly on preliminary consideration of the face of the applicant’s petition that he is not now entitled to relief in this Court, Rule 4, Rules — § 2254 Cases, it hereby is

ORDERED that the respondent-warden file an answer in accordance with Rule 5, Rules — § 2254 Cases, within 23 days here-from, and that a copy of the petition herein and of this order be served forthwith by the clerk of this Court by certified mail on the respondent-warden and the attorney-general and reporter of Tennessee. Rule 4, Rules — § 2254 Cases. The noticed slow movement of the mail provides good cause for the additional time allowed. 28 U.S.C. § 2243; Rule 81(a)(2), F.R.Civ.P.

Should it be the respondent’s contention that the petitioner has not exhausted his available state-remedies, he may limit his answer to such issue, in which event the Court will consider first the exhaustion-matter and thereafter will allow the respondent additional time in which to file a supplemental answer, addressing the merits of the petition, should exhaustion be found.

Opinion on Denial of Relief

The petitioner Mr. William Eugene Flatt filed a motion to be admitted to bail; a motion to stay the proceedings pending [844]*844against him (apparently) in Williamson County, Tennessee; and a motion for the appointment of counsel. The respondent-warden answered the petition herein, see order herein of February 12, 1987, claiming that such petition should be dismissed because Mr.

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Bounds v. Smith
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McLallen v. Wyrick
494 F. Supp. 138 (W.D. Missouri, 1980)
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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
669 F. Supp. 841, 1987 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 8877, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/flatt-v-williams-tnmd-1987.