Jones v. Ivey (INMATE 1)

CourtDistrict Court, M.D. Alabama
DecidedApril 22, 2020
Docket1:20-cv-00220
StatusUnknown

This text of Jones v. Ivey (INMATE 1) (Jones v. Ivey (INMATE 1)) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, M.D. Alabama primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Jones v. Ivey (INMATE 1), (M.D. Ala. 2020).

Opinion

IN THE DISTRICT COURT OF THE UNITED STATES FOR THE MIDDLE DISTRICT OF ALABAMA SOUTHERN DIVISION

MARCUS ANTONIO JONES, #203884, ) ) Plaintiff, ) ) v. ) CIVIL ACTION NO. 1:20-CV-220-WHA ) KAY IVEY, et al., ) ) Defendants. )

RECOMMENDATION OF THE MAGISTRATE JUDGE

I. INTRODUCTION

This 42 U.S.C. § 1983 action is pending before the court on a complaint filed by Marcus Antonio Jones, a state inmate currently serving a ninety-nine year sentence for a murder conviction imposed upon him in 1999 by the Circuit Court of Coffee County, Alabama.1 In this complaint, Jones challenges the constitutionality of his arrest in August of 1997 for capital murder from which his murder conviction arose. Doc. 1 at 2. Jones also presents claims attacking the constitutionality of his 1999 murder conviction. Doc. 1 at 3–4.2 Finally, Jones raises a claim regarding his attack by another inmate while in prison

1The Clerk stamped the complaint “received” on March 27, 2020 but Jones executed the complaint on March 24, 2020. Doc. 1 at 6. Thus, the latter date is the earliest date he could have placed the complaint in the prison mail system. A pro se inmate’s complaint is deemed filed the date he places it in the prison mail system for delivery to the court. Houston v. Lack, 487 U.S. 266, 271–72 (1988); Fuller v. United States, 173 F.3d 1339, 1340–41 (11th Cir. 1999); Garvey v. Vaughn, 993 F.2d 776, 780 (11th Cir. 1993). The court therefore considers March 24, 2020 as the date of filing.

2The record in a prior habeas action filed by Jones establishes that the Circuit Court of Coffee County imposed the murder conviction upon him on February 18, 1999. See Jones v. Mitchem, et al., Civil Action No. 05-CV-200-WKW- SRW (M.D. Ala. Oct. 2006). In this habeas action, Jones raised a majority of the claims challenging his conviction that he presents in the instant complaint. Id. at Doc. 1. This court denied the habeas petition, Id. at Docs. 27 & 28, and the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed this denial. Id. at Doc. 33. Under well-established law, this court takes judicial notice of its own records. Nguyen v. United States, 556 F.3d 1244, 1259 n.7 (11th Cir.2009). “almost 4 years ago” and advises he has a case pending before this court on this issue. Doc. 1 at 5.3 Jones names numerous defendants most of whom were in some way involved with

his arrest and conviction. It appears that Governor Kay Ivey, Attorney General Steve Marshall, Commissioner Jeff Dunn and Warden Charles Tipton are listed as defendants based solely on Jones’ current incarceration which he alleges is improper. Jones seeks reversal of his murder conviction, his immediate release from prison and monetary damages for the alleged violations of his constitutional rights. Doc. 1 at 6. Upon a thorough review of the complaint, the undersigned concludes that this case

is due to be dismissed prior to service of process in accordance with the provisions of 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B)(i), (ii) and (iii).4 II. DISCUSSION A. Claims Related to Arrest Jones challenges the constitutionality of his arrest for capital murder on August 13,

1997.5 Specifically, Jones complains the arrest violated his constitutional rights because:

3Jones raises the failure to protect claim in Jones v. Nolin, Civil Action No. 17- CV-342-WKW-SRW (M.D. Ala).

4This court granted Jones leave to proceed in forma pauperis in this case. Doc. 3. Even though Jones submitted payment of an initial partial filing fee, the court remains obligated to screen the complaint for possible summary dismissal. 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2) (“Notwithstanding any filing fee, or any portion thereof, that may have been paid, the court shall dismiss the case” for the reasons set forth herein.). Specifically, the screening procedure requires the court to “dismiss the case at any time if the court determines that— . . . the action . . . is frivolous or malicious; . . . fails to state a claim on which relief may be granted; or . . . seeks monetary relief against a defendant who is immune from such relief.” 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B)(i)–(iii); see also 28 U.S.C. §§ 1915A(b)(1)-(2) (“On review [of a prisoner’s complaint], the court shall identify cognizable claims or dismiss the complaint, or any portion of the complaint, if the complaint— . . . is frivolous, malicious, or fails to state a claim upon which relief may be granted; or . . . seeks monetary relief from a defendant who is immune from such relief.”).

5Although Jones identifies the date of arrest as August 12, 1997, Doc. 1 at 2, the entries on the case action summary sheet for the District Court of Coffee County made upon initiation of the capital murder charge maintained by the Alabama Trial Court System, hosted at www.alacourt.com, indicates the arrest of Jones occurred on August 13, 1997. For purposes of this Recommendation and as either date renders claims related to the arrest outside the pertinent statute (1) The “[a]rrest warrant & complaint was issued & signed by a Circuit Court Clerk (Not a Judge or a Magistrate) for a Capital Felony, therefore arrest warrant & complaint [are]

invalid.”; (2) The officer who applied for the warrant based his probable cause on double hearsay. Doc 1 at 3.6 Any claims related to issuance of the arrest warrant and the arrest of Jones pursuant to the warrant are barred by the statute of limitations applicable to a federal civil action filed by an inmate under 42 U.S.C. § 1983. All constitutional claims brought under § 1983 are tort actions, subject to the statute of limitations governing personal injury actions in the state where the § 1983 action has been brought. Wilson v. Garcia, 471 U.S. 261, 275–76, 105 S.Ct. 1938, 1946-47, 85 L.Ed.2d 254 (1985). [The plaintiff’s] claim was brought in Alabama where the governing limitations period is two years. Ala. Code § 6-2-38; Jones v. Preuit & Mauldin, 876 F.2d 1480, 1483 (11th Cir. 1989) (en banc). Therefore, in order to have his claim heard, [the plaintiff is] required to bring it within two years from the date the limitations period began to run.

McNair v. Allen, 515 F.3d 1168, 1173 (11th Cir. 2008). Issuance of the warrant and the arrest about which Jones complains occurred in August of 1997. By its express terms, the tolling provision of Ala. Code § 6-2-8(a) affords no relief to Jones from application of the time bar.7 The statute of limitations applicable

of limitations, the court will use August 13, 1997 as the date of arrest. In addition, this case action summary sheet lists Jones’ date of birth as March 1, 1971, making Jones 26 years of age at the time of his arrest. As permitted by applicable federal law, the court likewise takes judicial notice of this state court document See Keith v. DeKalb Cnty, 749 F.3d 1034, 1041 n.18 (11th Cir. 2014).

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Bluebook (online)
Jones v. Ivey (INMATE 1), Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/jones-v-ivey-inmate-1-almd-2020.