Potts v. Obenland

Opinion

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT AT TACOMA SIDNEY ALBERT POTTS, CASE NO. C19-5541 BHS Petitioner, ORDER DISMISSING v. PETITIONER’S WRIT OF HABEAS CORPUS Respondent.

This matter comes before the Court on Petitioner Sidney Potts’ amended petition for writ of habeas corpus, Dkt. 12, and the Court’s order to show cause, Dkt. 25. The Court was advised by staff at Monroe Correctional Complex that Mr. Potts passed away on January 21, 2021 and ordered Respondent to show cause as to why this action should not be dismissed as moot. Id. On February 24, 2021, Respondent responded to the order to show cause, agreeing with the Court’s reasoning to dismiss the case and explaining that an official death certificate for Mr. Potts has been ordered but not yet received by the Department of Corrections. Dkt. 26. A petition for a writ of habeas corpus should be dismissed as moot if the petitioner passes away during the pendency of proceedings. See, e.g., Griffey v. Lindsey, 349 F.3d 1157 (9th Cir. 2003); Germino v. Marshall, No. CIV S-08-3010, 2010 WL 5393907, at *1 (E.D. Cal. Dec. 21, 2010) (“I[n] these habeas proceedings the relief sought, i.e.,

petitioner’s immediate release from custody, is unique to the petitioner himself and cannot be transferred.”); Pennewell v. Carey, No. 2:06-cv-0598 JKS EFB, 2008 WL 1860166, at * 1 (E.D. Cal. Apr. 23, 2008) (citing Fed. R. Civ. P. 25(a)) (“In other words, the claims [are] extinguished upon [a] petitioner’s death and no party can be substituted for him.”). The Court, therefore, DECLINES to adopt Magistrate Judge Brian Tsuchida’s

Report and Recommendation, Dkt. 22, because of the change in circumstances. The amended petition, Dkt. 12, is DENIED as moot. The Clerk shall enter a JUDGMENT and close the case. Dated this 25th day of February, 2021. A BENJAMIN H. SETTLE United States District Judge