Opinion
Case No. 2:13-cv-00388-MMD-GWF
05-01-2013
VICTOR TAGLE, Plaintiff, v. KATHLEEN M. HAMERS, et al., Defendants.
ORDER
Plaintiff, a Nevada state prisoner, has submitted a pro se civil rights complaint filed pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. I. IN FORMA PAUPERIS APPLICATION
Plaintiff has filed an application to proceed in forma pauperis. (Dkt. no. 5.) However, on April 19, 2013, plaintiff paid the Clerk of Court the full filing fee of $350.00 for this action. (Dkt. no. 6.) As such, plaintiff's motion to proceed in forma pauperis is denied as moot.
II. SCREENING STANDARD
Federal courts must conduct a preliminary screening in any case in which a prisoner seeks redress from a governmental entity or officer or employee of a governmental entity. See 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(a). In its review, the court must identify any cognizable claims and dismiss any claims that are frivolous, malicious, fail to state a claim upon which relief may be granted or seek monetary relief from a defendant who is immune from such relief. See 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(b)(1),(2). Pro se pleadings, however, must be liberally construed. Balistreri v. Pacifica Police Dep't, 901 F.2d. 696, 699 (9th Cir. 1988). To state a claim under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, a plaintiff must allege two essential elements: (1) that a right secured by the Constitution or laws of the United States was violated, and (2) that the alleged violation was committed by a person acting under color of state law. See West v. Atkins, 487 U.S. 42, 48 (1988).
In addition to the screening requirements under § 1915A, pursuant to the Prison Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (PLRA), a federal court must dismiss a prisoner's claim, "if the allegation of poverty is untrue," or if 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). Dismissal of a complaint for failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted is provided for in Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6), and the court applies the same standard under § 1915 when reviewing the adequacy of a complaint or an amended complaint. When a court dismisses a complaint under § 1915(e), the plaintiff should be given leave to amend the complaint with directions as to curing its deficiencies, unless it is clear from the face of the complaint that the deficiencies could not be cured by amendment. See Cato v. United States, 70 F.3d. 1103, 1106 (9th Cir. 1995).
Review under Rule 12(b)(6) is essentially a ruling on a question of law. See Chappel v. Laboratory Corp. of America, 232 F.3d 719, 723 (9th Cir. 2000). Dismissal for failure to state a claim is proper only if it is clear that the plaintiff cannot prove any set of facts in support of the claim that would entitle him or her to relief. See Morley v. Walker, 175 F.3d 756, 759 (9th Cir. 1999). In making this determination, the court takes as true all allegations of material fact stated in the complaint, and the court construes them in the light most favorable to the plaintiff. See Warshaw v. Xoma Corp., 74 F.3d 955, 957 (9th Cir. 1996). Allegations of a pro se complainant are held to less stringent standards than formal pleadings drafted by lawyers. See Hughes v. Rowe, 449 U.S. 5, 9 (1980); Haines v. Kerner, 404 U.S. 519, 520 (1972) (per curiam). While the standard under Rule 12(b)(6) does not require detailed factual allegations, a plaintiff must provide more than mere labels and conclusions. Bell Atlantic Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 555 (2007). A formulaic recitation of the elements of a cause of action is insufficient. Id.; see Papasan v. Allain, 478 U.S. 265, 286 (1986).
Additionally, a reviewing court should "begin by identifying pleadings [allegations] that, because they are no more than mere conclusions, are not entitled to the assumption of truth." Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 679 (2009). "While legal conclusions can provide the framework of a complaint, they must be supported with factual allegations." Id. "When there are well-pleaded factual allegations, a court should assume their veracity and then determine whether they plausibly give rise to an entitlement to relief." Id. "Determining whether a complaint states a plausible claim for relief [is] a context-specific task that requires the reviewing court to draw on its judicial experience and common sense." Id.
Finally, all or part of a complaint filed by a prisoner may therefore be dismissed sua sponte if the prisoner's claims lack an arguable basis either in law or in fact. This includes claims based on legal conclusions that are untenable (e.g., claims against defendants who are immune from suit or claims of infringement of a legal interest which clearly does not exist), as well as claims based on fanciful factual allegations (e.g., fantastic or delusional scenarios). See Neitzke v. Williams, 490 U.S. 319, 327-28 (1989); see also McKeever v. Block, 932 F.2d 795, 798 (9th Cir. 1991).
III. SCREENING OF THE COMPLAINT
In the complaint, plaintiff brings action against a Clark County deputy public defender, a Clark County district attorney, a Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department officer, and a Clark County Detention Center official. Plaintiff alleges that he received "inappropriate" assistance of counsel during his criminal proceedings, a denial of equal protection during his criminal proceedings, and was subject to unreasonable search and seizure in connection with his arrest. Plaintiff's allegations challenge the conviction for which he is now incarcerated. Plaintiff seeks "sentence relief," which appears to mean release from incarceration.
When a prisoner challenges the legality or duration of his custody, or raises a constitutional challenge which could entitle him to an earlier release, his sole federal remedy is a writ of habeas corpus. Preiser v. Rodriguez, 411 U.S. 475 (1973); Young v. Kenny, 907 F.2d 874 (9th Cir. 1990), cert. denied 11 S.Ct. 1090 (1991). When seeking damages for an allegedly unconstitutional conviction or imprisonment, "a § 1983 plaintiff must prove that the conviction or sentence has been reversed on direct appeal, expunged by executive order, declared invalid by a state tribunal authorized to make such determination, or called into question by a federal court's issuance of a writ of habeas corpus, 28 U.S.C. § 2254." Heck v. Humphrey, 512 U.S. 477, 487-88 (1994). "A claim for damages bearing that relationship to a conviction or sentence that has not been so invalidated is not cognizable under § 1983." Id. at 488. Plaintiff has not alleged that his conviction has been reversed or otherwise invalidated. Plaintiff fails to state a cognizable civil rights claim. Because amendment would be futile, this action is being dismissed with prejudice and without leave to amend. To the extent that plaintiff seeks to challenge the conviction under which he is incarcerated, he may do so by filing the form habeas petition provided by the court, in a new action, as specified below.
IV. CONCLUSION
IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that petitioner's motion to proceed in forma pauperis (dkt. no. 5) is DENIED as moot.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that this action is DISMISSED WITH PREJUDICE.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the Clerk of Court shall enter judgment accordingly.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that this Court CERTIFIES that any in forma pauperis appeal from this order would not be taken "in good faith" pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a)(3).
IT FURTHER IS ORDERED that the Clerk of the Court shall send plaintiff two (2) copies of an in forma pauperis application form for a prisoner, two (2) copies of a blank 28 U.S.C. § 2254 habeas corpus petition form, and one (1) copy of instructions for the each.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that plaintiff may file a habeas corpus petition and in forma pauperis application in a new action, but he may not file further documents in this action.
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MIRANDA M. DU
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE