1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 9 FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 10 11 MICHAEL FIORITO, No. 2:23-cv-0206 AC P 12 Petitioner, 13 v. ORDER AND FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 14 BREWER, 15 Respondent. 16 17 Petitioner, a federal prisoner, proceeds on a writ of habeas corpus pursuant to 28 U.S.C. 18 § 2241. Pending before the court are respondent’s request for judicial notice (ECF No. 21) and 19 various requests for relief filed by petitioner (ECF Nos. 23, 24, 26-28, 30, 32, 35-37). 20 I. Respondent’s “Notice” and Request for Judicial Notice 21 By order filed April 21, 2023, respondent was directed to respond to the petition within 22 thirty days. ECF No. 15. Rather than filing a response, respondent has instead filed a “notice” of 23 filing a motion for an extension of time in Fiorito v. Brewer, No. 2:23-cv-0758 WBS AC (E.D. 24 Cal.), and a request for judicial notice asking that the court take notice of various proceedings in 25 the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota and a vexatious litigant order 26 imposed by that court in relation to petitioner’s filing of civil rights actions. ECF Nos. 16, 21, 22. 27 Neither is a response to the petition or a request for an extension of time to do so in this case. 28 Respondent’s “notice” suggests that this case should potentially be stayed or dismissed 1 without prejudice pending resolution of the petition in Fiorto v. Fikes, No. 2:22-cv-2269 WBS 2 AC (E.D. Cal.). ECF No. 16 at 3. However, neither course of action is appropriate based upon 3 the incomplete record currently before the court. Any request to stay or dismiss this action will 4 not be considered unless properly briefed. 5 The request for judicial notice implies the court should re-screen and sua sponte dismiss 6 the instant petition as vexatious, successive, and duplicative based on the materials provided, or 7 potentially transfer the petition to the District of Minnesota. ECF No. 21. However, none of the 8 materials provided by respondent, which consist primarily of case dockets, demonstrate that the 9 instant petition is vexatious, successive, or duplicative and the request for judicial notice will be 10 denied. See ECF No. 22. If respondent believes that the petition should be dismissed because it 11 is successive or duplicative, then respondent must file a properly supported motion to dismiss that 12 points the court to the case which renders the instant petition successive or duplicative. 13 Considering that all but one of the dockets provided by respondent are for civil rights cases,1 it is 14 not apparent to the court that any of those actions would render the instant petition successive or 15 duplicative, and the court will not spend its time combing through cases to determine which, if 16 any, render this action duplicative. The court further notes that the fact that petitioner has been 17 deemed vexatious with respect to his filing of civil rights lawsuits in the District of Minnesota 18 does not necessarily render the instant petition vexatious or subject it to any of the prefiling 19 requirements set forth in that court. 20 Respondent shall be provided one final opportunity to file a proper response to the 21 petition. In light of respondent’s failure to properly respond up to this point and petitioner’s 22 multiple assertions that he is being held in custody past his release date (ECF Nos. 31, 32, 34-37), 23 respondent shall have twenty-one days to respond, and no extensions of time will be granted.2 24 1 One docket is for petitioner’s criminal case. ECF No. 22 at 47-98. 25 2 The court acknowledges that the “notice” filed by respondent indicates that petitioner’s 26 projected release date is September 5, 2024. ECF No. 16 at 3. However, considering petitioner’s multiple challenges to the calculation of his release date, absent evidence that the Bureau of 27 Prison’s calculation is correct, the court will assume petitioner’s calculation to be correct and this action should therefore be expedited. Respondent’s “notice” further indicates that petitioner’s 28 (continued) 1 II. Motions to Expedite the Proceedings and Serve Respondent 2 Petitioner has filed multiple motions requesting that respondent be served, the proceedings 3 be expedited, and that a ruling on the petition issue. ECF Nos. 23, 26, 35, 37. These motions will 4 be granted to the extent that respondent is being directed to respond to the petition on an 5 expedited basis with no extensions of time being permitted. Once briefing is complete, findings 6 and recommendations will issue. 7 III. Motions to Appoint Counsel 8 Petitioner has requested the appointment of counsel. ECF Nos. 24, 36. There currently 9 exists no absolute right to appointment of counsel in habeas proceedings. Nevius v. Sumner, 105 10 F.3d 453, 460 (9th Cir. 1996). However, 18 U.S.C. § 3006A(a)(2) authorizes the appointment of 11 counsel at any stage of the case if “the interests of justice so require.” Petitioner requests 12 appointment of counsel on the grounds that he believes discovery will be necessary and that he is 13 being held past his release date. ECF Nos. 24, 36. This court has now ordered briefing of the 14 petition on an expedited basis and will promptly review the briefing once it is complete. In 15 ordering respondent to respond to the petition, the court has also directed respondent to provide 16 copies of any documentation relevant to the issues presented in the petition. The court therefore 17 does not find that the interests of justice would be served by the appointment of counsel at the 18 present time and the motions will be denied. 19 IV. Motion for Temporary Restraining Order or Preliminary Injunction 20 Petitioner has moved for a temporary restraining order or preliminary injunction directing 21 the Bureau of Prisons to process his paperwork and release him to supervised release, an RCC, 22 direct home confinement, or federal location monitoring. ECF No. 28. A temporary restraining 23 order is an extraordinary measure of relief that a federal court may impose without notice to the 24 adverse party if, in an affidavit or verified complaint, the movant “clearly show[s] that immediate 25 and irreparable injury, loss, or damage will result to the movant before the adverse party can be 26 heard in opposition.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 65(b)(1)(A). The standard for issuing a temporary 27 records have long since been requested from the Bureau of Prisons (id.), meaning there should be 28 no delays attributable to obtaining documentation. 1 restraining order is essentially the same as that for issuing a preliminary injunction. Stuhlbarg 2 Int’l Sales Co. v. John D. Brush & Co., 240 F.3d 832, 839 n.7 (9th Cir. 2001) (stating that the 3 analysis for temporary restraining orders and preliminary injunctions is “substantially identical”). 4 A party seeking injunctive relief under Rule 65 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure 5 must show: (1) he is likely to succeed on the merits; (2) he is likely to suffer irreparable harm in 6 the absence of injunctive relief; (3) the balance of equities tips in his favor; and (4) an injunction 7 is in the public interest. Winter v. Nat. Res. Def. Council, Inc., 555 U.S. 7, 20 (2008).
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1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 9 FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 10 11 MICHAEL FIORITO, No. 2:23-cv-0206 AC P 12 Petitioner, 13 v. ORDER AND FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 14 BREWER, 15 Respondent. 16 17 Petitioner, a federal prisoner, proceeds on a writ of habeas corpus pursuant to 28 U.S.C. 18 § 2241. Pending before the court are respondent’s request for judicial notice (ECF No. 21) and 19 various requests for relief filed by petitioner (ECF Nos. 23, 24, 26-28, 30, 32, 35-37). 20 I. Respondent’s “Notice” and Request for Judicial Notice 21 By order filed April 21, 2023, respondent was directed to respond to the petition within 22 thirty days. ECF No. 15. Rather than filing a response, respondent has instead filed a “notice” of 23 filing a motion for an extension of time in Fiorito v. Brewer, No. 2:23-cv-0758 WBS AC (E.D. 24 Cal.), and a request for judicial notice asking that the court take notice of various proceedings in 25 the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota and a vexatious litigant order 26 imposed by that court in relation to petitioner’s filing of civil rights actions. ECF Nos. 16, 21, 22. 27 Neither is a response to the petition or a request for an extension of time to do so in this case. 28 Respondent’s “notice” suggests that this case should potentially be stayed or dismissed 1 without prejudice pending resolution of the petition in Fiorto v. Fikes, No. 2:22-cv-2269 WBS 2 AC (E.D. Cal.). ECF No. 16 at 3. However, neither course of action is appropriate based upon 3 the incomplete record currently before the court. Any request to stay or dismiss this action will 4 not be considered unless properly briefed. 5 The request for judicial notice implies the court should re-screen and sua sponte dismiss 6 the instant petition as vexatious, successive, and duplicative based on the materials provided, or 7 potentially transfer the petition to the District of Minnesota. ECF No. 21. However, none of the 8 materials provided by respondent, which consist primarily of case dockets, demonstrate that the 9 instant petition is vexatious, successive, or duplicative and the request for judicial notice will be 10 denied. See ECF No. 22. If respondent believes that the petition should be dismissed because it 11 is successive or duplicative, then respondent must file a properly supported motion to dismiss that 12 points the court to the case which renders the instant petition successive or duplicative. 13 Considering that all but one of the dockets provided by respondent are for civil rights cases,1 it is 14 not apparent to the court that any of those actions would render the instant petition successive or 15 duplicative, and the court will not spend its time combing through cases to determine which, if 16 any, render this action duplicative. The court further notes that the fact that petitioner has been 17 deemed vexatious with respect to his filing of civil rights lawsuits in the District of Minnesota 18 does not necessarily render the instant petition vexatious or subject it to any of the prefiling 19 requirements set forth in that court. 20 Respondent shall be provided one final opportunity to file a proper response to the 21 petition. In light of respondent’s failure to properly respond up to this point and petitioner’s 22 multiple assertions that he is being held in custody past his release date (ECF Nos. 31, 32, 34-37), 23 respondent shall have twenty-one days to respond, and no extensions of time will be granted.2 24 1 One docket is for petitioner’s criminal case. ECF No. 22 at 47-98. 25 2 The court acknowledges that the “notice” filed by respondent indicates that petitioner’s 26 projected release date is September 5, 2024. ECF No. 16 at 3. However, considering petitioner’s multiple challenges to the calculation of his release date, absent evidence that the Bureau of 27 Prison’s calculation is correct, the court will assume petitioner’s calculation to be correct and this action should therefore be expedited. Respondent’s “notice” further indicates that petitioner’s 28 (continued) 1 II. Motions to Expedite the Proceedings and Serve Respondent 2 Petitioner has filed multiple motions requesting that respondent be served, the proceedings 3 be expedited, and that a ruling on the petition issue. ECF Nos. 23, 26, 35, 37. These motions will 4 be granted to the extent that respondent is being directed to respond to the petition on an 5 expedited basis with no extensions of time being permitted. Once briefing is complete, findings 6 and recommendations will issue. 7 III. Motions to Appoint Counsel 8 Petitioner has requested the appointment of counsel. ECF Nos. 24, 36. There currently 9 exists no absolute right to appointment of counsel in habeas proceedings. Nevius v. Sumner, 105 10 F.3d 453, 460 (9th Cir. 1996). However, 18 U.S.C. § 3006A(a)(2) authorizes the appointment of 11 counsel at any stage of the case if “the interests of justice so require.” Petitioner requests 12 appointment of counsel on the grounds that he believes discovery will be necessary and that he is 13 being held past his release date. ECF Nos. 24, 36. This court has now ordered briefing of the 14 petition on an expedited basis and will promptly review the briefing once it is complete. In 15 ordering respondent to respond to the petition, the court has also directed respondent to provide 16 copies of any documentation relevant to the issues presented in the petition. The court therefore 17 does not find that the interests of justice would be served by the appointment of counsel at the 18 present time and the motions will be denied. 19 IV. Motion for Temporary Restraining Order or Preliminary Injunction 20 Petitioner has moved for a temporary restraining order or preliminary injunction directing 21 the Bureau of Prisons to process his paperwork and release him to supervised release, an RCC, 22 direct home confinement, or federal location monitoring. ECF No. 28. A temporary restraining 23 order is an extraordinary measure of relief that a federal court may impose without notice to the 24 adverse party if, in an affidavit or verified complaint, the movant “clearly show[s] that immediate 25 and irreparable injury, loss, or damage will result to the movant before the adverse party can be 26 heard in opposition.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 65(b)(1)(A). The standard for issuing a temporary 27 records have long since been requested from the Bureau of Prisons (id.), meaning there should be 28 no delays attributable to obtaining documentation. 1 restraining order is essentially the same as that for issuing a preliminary injunction. Stuhlbarg 2 Int’l Sales Co. v. John D. Brush & Co., 240 F.3d 832, 839 n.7 (9th Cir. 2001) (stating that the 3 analysis for temporary restraining orders and preliminary injunctions is “substantially identical”). 4 A party seeking injunctive relief under Rule 65 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure 5 must show: (1) he is likely to succeed on the merits; (2) he is likely to suffer irreparable harm in 6 the absence of injunctive relief; (3) the balance of equities tips in his favor; and (4) an injunction 7 is in the public interest. Winter v. Nat. Res. Def. Council, Inc., 555 U.S. 7, 20 (2008). Under the 8 “serious questions” variation of the test, a preliminary injunction is proper if there are serious 9 questions going to the merits; there is a likelihood of irreparable injury to the plaintiff; the 10 balance of hardships tips sharply in favor of the plaintiff; and the injunction is in the public 11 interest. Alliance for the Wild Rockies v. Cottrell, 632 F.3d 1127, 1131-32 (9th Cir. 2011). 12 Petitioner does not meet the burden under either formula. The motion relies on 13 petitioner’s allegations regarding the amount of earned time credits he has accrued. However, the 14 record before the court is inadequate for the court to make such factual determinations. In 15 addition, the motion and petition both seek the same relief. Because a determination of facts is 16 necessary for any relief to issue, both the motion and the petition must be briefed before a ruling 17 on the merits can issue. Under the present circumstances, an order of preliminary injunction 18 would not offer petitioner any relief before a ruling on the petition would be reached. Instead, as 19 briefing would run concurrently, were petitioner to ultimately prevail, an order of preliminary 20 injunction would be made superfluous by a grant of habeas corpus relief. Thus, petitioner has not 21 shown that, in the absence of a preliminary injunction, he “is likely to suffer irreparable harm 22 before a decision on the merits can be rendered.” Winter, 555 U.S. at 22. It will therefore be 23 recommended that the motion for a temporary restraining order or preliminary injunction and 24 petitioner’s request for the United States Marshal’s Service serve the motion will be denied. 25 V. Motion to Delay Transfer 26 Petitioner requests that the court delay his transfer to another facility pending resolution of 27 this matter. ECF No. 32. However, petitioner then filed a notice of change of address that 28 indicated he was transferred to another facility less than two weeks after the court received his 1 motion. ECF No. 33. Since petitioner’s transfer has already taken place, the motion to retain 2 petition at FCI-Herlong is now moot and will be denied as such. Moreover, petitioner’s motion 3 fails to demonstrate grounds for preventing the Bureau of Prisons from transferring petitioner to 4 another facility. 5 CONCLUSION 6 In accordance with the above, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that: 7 1. Respondent is directed to file a response to the petition within twenty-one days from 8 the filing of this order. No extensions of time will be granted. If an answer is filed, respondent 9 shall include with the answer any and all transcripts or other documents relevant to the 10 determination of the issues presented in the application. 11 2. If the response to the habeas petition is an answer, petitioner’s reply, if any, shall be 12 filed and served within thirty days after service of the answer. 13 3. If the response to the habeas petition is a motion, petitioner’s opposition or statement 14 of non-opposition to the motion shall be filed and served within thirty days after service of the 15 motion, and respondent’s reply, if any, shall be filed and served within fourteen days thereafter. 16 4. Respondent’s request for judicial notice (ECF No. 21) is DENIED. 17 5. Petitioner’s motions for service, expedited proceedings, and a ruling (ECF Nos. 23, 18 26, 35, 37) are GRANTED to the extent set forth above and otherwise DENIED. 19 6. Petitioner’s motion for service of his motion for a temporary restraining order or 20 preliminary injunction (ECF No. 27) is DENIED. 21 7. Petitioner’s motions for appointment of counsel (ECF Nos. 24, 36) are DENIED. 22 8. Petitioner’s motion to delay his transfer to another prison (ECF No. 32) is DENIED as 23 moot. 24 9. The Clerk of the Court is directed to assign this case to District Judge William B. 25 Shubb in accordance with the May 2, 2023 related case order (ECF No. 17). 26 IT IS FURTHER RECOMMENDED that petitioner’s motion for a temporary restraining 27 order or preliminary injunction (ECF No. 28) be DENIED. 28 These findings and recommendations are submitted to the United States District Judge 1 || assigned to the case, pursuant to the provisions of 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1). Within fourteen days 2 || after being served with these findings and recommendations, any party may file written 3 || objections with the court and serve a copy on all parties. Such a document should be captioned 4 | “Objections to Magistrate Judge’s Findings and Recommendations.” Any response to the 5 || objections shall be filed and served within fourteen days after service of the objections. The 6 || parties are advised that failure to file objections within the specified time may waive the right to 7 || appeal the District Court’s order. Martinez v. YIst, 951 F.2d 1153 (9th Cir. 1991). 8 || DATED: January 8, 2024 . 9 Bettie Clare 10 ALLISON CLAIRE UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28