Hand v. Young

868 F. Supp. 289, 1994 WL 653509
CourtDistrict Court, D. Nevada
DecidedAugust 24, 1994
DocketNo. CV-N-92-62-ECR
StatusPublished

This text of 868 F. Supp. 289 (Hand v. Young) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, D. Nevada primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Hand v. Young, 868 F. Supp. 289, 1994 WL 653509 (D. Nev. 1994).

Opinion

ORDER

EDWARD C. REED, Jr., District Judge.

Plaintiff James A. Hand brings this 42 U.S.C. § 1983 action. Plaintiff was convicted in Nevada state courts of various crimes. Plaintiff has been released from prison after having completed his sentence of imprisonment. It is unclear whether Plaintiff was placed on parole, probation, supervised release or some other form of limited custody upon release from prison and whether he remains under any such custody.1

Plaintiffs § 1983 complaint alleges Plaintiff was denied a jury trial (Count I); denied an opportunity to confront witnesses against him and that the District Attorney and other law enforcement officials prepared false affidavits and charges against him (Count II); and that he was denied access to his legal materials and provided inadequate legal counsel during his trial (Count III). Plaintiffs requested relief seeks

reversal of all charges, judgments, convictions, fines, sentences, etc. Issuance of an order for all publicity, lies and erroneous statements and untrue news media publications to be retracted, with formal, equal space being given to the truth. That an order, summary judgement [sic], or what[291]*291ever is applicable be issued dismissing everything with predjudice [sic] against the defendants so that I can recover all costs, damages, penalties, and any and all further remedies that this court may feel fit to grant me including punitive damages against all defendants personally, and in their official capacities.... for each count of abuse to my Constitutional and due process and substansive [sic] rights.

Plaintiff’s Complaint (Doc. # 1) p. 5-B.

In light of the recent Supreme Court ease of Heck v. Humphrey, — U.S. -, 114 S.Ct. 2364, 129 L.Ed.2d 383 (1994) and the facts of this case, the Court now undertakes to determine how it should proceed with and analyze Plaintiffs complaint.

The Court determines that whenever a person’s § 1983 claims relate in some way to that person’s conviction of state crimes, sentence imposed therefore or the fact of imprisonment or custody, the district courts should make two determinations:

(1) Whether the person, in order to succeed on a § 1983 claim must establish the occurrence of unlawful conduct which would render the person’s conviction or sentence invalid; and if so,

(2) what remedies the Plaintiff seeks;

a. monetary damages, or
b. injunctive relief seeking speedier release.

The answer(s) to the above questions will determine whether and in what posture a Plaintiffs 42 U.S.C. § 1983 claims will be allowed to proceed.

DISCUSSION

A. DOES THE PLAINTIFF’S § 1983 CLAIM NECESSARILY INVOLVE A DETERMINATION OF UNLAWFUL ACTIONS WHICH WOULD RENDER A CONVICTION, SENTENCE OR THE FACT OF IMPRISONMENT UNLAWFUL?

The first question to be determined is whether the Plaintiffs § 1983 claim challenges the lawfulness of a conviction, sentence or the fact or duration of confinement.

The Supreme Court has held that “habeas corpus is the exclusive remedy for a state prisoner who challenges the fact or duration of his confinement and seeks immediate or speedier release, even though such a claim may come within the literal terms of § 1983.” Heck v. Humphrey, — U.S.-,-, 114 S.Ct. 2364, 2369, 129 L.Ed.2d 383 (1994) citing Preiser v. Rodriguez; 411 U.S. 475, 478-490, 93 S.Ct. 1827, 1830-1836, 36 L.Ed.2d 439 (1973).

Any § 1983 claim seeking immediate or speedier release through a challenge to the fact or duration of confinement is necessarily challenging the lawfulness (under federal law) of conduct whose illegality would make a resulting conviction, sentence or imprisonment illegal and thus entitling the plaintiff to the requested relief. The Supreme Court in Preiser v. Rodriguez, determined that § 1983 was not the proper vehicle for claims for relief which directly challenge the lawfulness of the plaintiffs conviction, sentence or the fact or duration of confinement. 411 U.S. at 478-490, 93 S.Ct. at 1830-1836.

The Supreme Court recently held that in order to recover damages for allegedly unconstitutional conviction or imprisonment, or for other harm caused by actions whose unlawfulness would render a conviction or sentence invalid, a § 1983 plaintiff must prove that the conviction or sentence has been reversed on direct appeal, expunged by executive order, declared invalid by a state tribunal authorized to make such determination, or called into question by a federal court’s issuance of a writ of habeas corpus. A claim for damages bearing that relationship to a conviction or sentence that has not been so invalidated is not cognizable under § 1983.

Heck v. Humphrey, — U.S. at -, 114 S.Ct. at 2372.

Regardless of whether a plaintiff seeks monetary damages or injunctive relief in a § 1983 claim, if the plaintiffs claim necessarily involves a determination of the lawfulness of the conviction, sentence or imprisonment, the district courts must make further determinations before proceeding. See Heck v. Humphrey, — U.S. -, 114 S.Ct. 2364 and Preiser v. Rodriguez, 411 U.S. 475, 93 S.Ct. 1827, 36 L.Ed.2d 439 (1973).

[292]*292Conversely, where the plaintiffs § 1983 claims do not involve any such determination or challenge, the district court should allow the case to proceed as it would any other § 1983 claim. See, Heck v. Humphrey, — U.S. at-nn. 7 & 8, 114 S.Ct. at 2373 nn. 7 & 8.

B. DOES THE PLAINTIFF SEEK MONETARY DAMAGES OR INJUNCTIVE RELIEF?

If a § 1983 plaintiffs claims challenge the lawfulness of a conviction, sentence or the fact or duration of confinement, the district court must then proceed to determine what relief is requested. How the district court shall proceed is determined by whether the plaintiff seeks monetary damages or injunctive relief ordering immediate or speedier release.

1. When the Plaintiff Seeks Monetary Damages.

Where a Plaintiffs § 1983 claim for damages necessarily involves a determination that certain actions were unlawful, which would render a conviction or sentence invalid, the § 1983 claim is not cognizable by the court unless the plaintiff alleges

the conviction or sentence has been reversed on direct appeal, expunged by executive order, declared invalid by . a state tribunal authorized to make such determination, or called into question by a federal court’s issuance of a writ of habeas corpus.

Thus, unless the plaintiff alleges some such prior determination, the plaintiff does not state a cause of action. Likewise, if the plaintiff cannot produce evidence of such a prior determination of invalidity, summary judgment for the defendants may be appropriate.

a. Young v. Kenny Distinguished.

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