Tarun Kumar Vyas v. Joseph Walters

Opinion

Al FLED VA August 12, 2026 IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT tAURA i □□□ □ □ FOR THE WESTERN DISTRICT OF VIRGINIA ERK ROANOKE DIVISION TARUN KUMAR VYAS, ) Petitioner, ) Civil Action No. 7:25-cv-00790 ) Vv. ) ) By: Elizabeth K. Dillon JOSEPH WALTERS, ) Chief United States District Judge Respondent. )

ORDER GRANTING STAY This action is a petition for relief under 28 U.S.C. § 2254 by Tarun Kumar Vyas, acting pro se. Before the court is a motion to stay filed by the respondent. (Dkt. No. 135.) Respondent’s motion correctly notes that petitioner has challenged the same state court convictions in a separate action. See Case No. 7:25-cv-2 (W.D. Va.) The court finds that it would be a waste of judicial resources to adjudicate two petitions challenging the same convictions. See Landis v. N. Am. Co., 299 U.S. 248, 254 (1936) (discussing the court’s inherent power to stay one federal lawsuit while another proceeds to resolution). The outcome of the proceedings in 7:25-cv-2 may render the instant matter a successive petition, divesting the court of jurisdiction in the absence of pre-filing authorization from the Fourth Circuit. See Bixby v. Stirling, 90 F.4th 140, 146 (4th Cir. 2024) (citing 28 U.S.C. § 2244). Accordingly, it is HEREBY ORDERED that respondent’s motion for a stay (Dkt. No. 135) is GRANTED. This matter is STAYED pending the court’s resolution of Case No. 7:25- cv-2. All other pending motions in this matter are DISMISSED without prejudice. The Clerk shall transmit a copy of this order to Vyas and to all counsel of record.

Entered: August 12, 2026. /s/ Elizabeth K. Dillon Elizabeth K. Dillon Chief United States District Judge