Summary
holding that Heck v. Humphrey barred § 1983 monetary claims "alleging violations of . . . constitutional rights by . . . the deputy district attorney who prosecuted [plaintiff]"
Summary of this case from Cheney v. DeanOpinion
No. 11-1457 D.C. No. 1:11-CV-01647-LTB
03-09-2012
CLARENCE BALDWIN, Plaintiff - Appellant, v. CSPO OFFICER O'CONNOR, #2057; D.D.A. GAIL S. WARKENTIN, #23429; JUDGE BARNEY IUPPA, #002799, Defendants - Appellees.
(D. Colorado)
ORDER AND JUDGMENT
After examining the briefs and appellate record, this panel has determined unanimously that oral argument would not materially assist the determination of this appeal. See Fed. R. App. P. 34(a)(2); 10th Cir. R. 34.1(G). The case is therefore ordered submitted without oral argument. This order and judgment is not binding precedent except under the doctrines of law of the case, res judicata, and collateral estoppel. It may be cited, however, for its persuasive value consistent with Fed. R. App. P. 32.1 and 10th Cir. R. 32.1.
Before KELLY, HARTZ, and HOLMES, Circuit Judges.
Clarence Baldwin is a prisoner in the custody of the Colorado Department of Corrections. He filed a claim in the United States District Court for the District of Colorado under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, alleging violations of his constitutional rights by the police officer who arrested him, the deputy district attorney who prosecuted him, and the district-court judge who presided in his case. His claims included illegal search and seizure, violations of due process, subjection to double jeopardy, and prosecutorial misconduct. The only relief he sought was damages. The district court dismissed his claims without prejudice under Heck v. Humphrey, 512 U.S. 477 (1994). Mr. Baldwin appeals. We have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291 and affirm.
The district court's opinion properly applied Heck. It recognized that Heck bars any claim for damages if the claim's success "would necessarily imply the invalidity of [the] conviction or sentence." 512 U.S. at 487. It also noted that the success of a search-and-seizure claim "would not necessarily imply that the plaintiff's conviction was unlawful," id. n.7, but that Mr. Baldwin could recover damages only if he could "prove not only that the search was unlawful, but that it caused him actual, compensable injury, . . . which . . . does not encompass the 'injury' of being convicted and imprisoned." Id. Discerning that Mr. Baldwin did not allege any injury other than his conviction, the court concluded that Heck required the dismissal of all claims.
On appeal Mr. Baldwin does not challenge the district court's characterization of his allegations. He merely reiterates that his current incarceration is unlawful. We therefore hold that the dismissal below was proper.
We AFFIRM the judgment of the district court. Mr. Baldwin's motion to proceed in forma pauperis is DENIED. Mr. Baldwin shall pay the entire filing fee for this appeal forthwith.
ENTERED FOR THE COURT
Harris L Hartz
Circuit Judge