Randall v. Wade et al

Filing 3

ORDER granting 1 MOTION for Leave to Proceed in forma pauperis but DISMISSING CASE without prejudice because there is no indication that Mr. Randall has exhausted his available state remedies. Signed by Judge Kristine G. Baker on 1/17/14. (kpr)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
EASTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS
NORTHERN DIVISION
MARCUS RANDALL, JR.
v.

PLAINTIFF
Case No. 1:13-cv-00095 KGB

WAREN WADE and CHAINE TAYLOR

DEFENDANTS

ORDER
Marcus Randall, an inmate in the Arkansas Department of Correction, filed this pro se
case under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 (Dkt. No. 2), along with a motion to proceed in forma pauperis
(Dkt. No. 1). Upon consideration of the financial information provided with Mr. Randall’s
motion, the Court grants Mr. Randall leave to proceed in forma pauperis. However, the Prison
Litigation Reform Act (“PLRA”), codified at 28 U.S.C. § 1915, nonetheless requires prisoners to
pay the filing fee when a prisoner brings a “civil action.” Although Mr. Randall styles his claim
as a § 1983 action, it is in fact, as discussed further below, a petition for writ of habeas corpus.
The Eighth Circuit has held that habeas corpus, a “unique creature of the law,” is not a “civil
action” for the purposes of the PLRA’s filing fee provision. Malave v. Hedrick, 271 F.3d 1139,
1139–40 (8th Cir. 2001). Where an action is not filed as such, but is properly a habeas corpus
action, the PLRA’s filing fee provision is inapplicable. See United States v. Feist, 346 F. App’x
127, 128 (8th Cir. 2009). Consistent with Eighth Circuit precedent, the Court waives the filing
fee in this action. Furthermore, for the reasons set forth below, the Court dismisses this action
with prejudice.
Mr. Randall categorized his complaint as an action under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, under which
individuals may bring claims against state officials for civil rights violations. However, Mr.
Randall’s allegations arise out of the “fact or duration” of his physical imprisonment, and thus

his sole remedy is a writ of habeas corpus. Heck v. Humphrey, 512 U.S. 477, 481 (1994);
Preiser v. Rodriguez, 411 U.S. 475, 500 (1973). A § 1983 civil rights claim, on the other hand,
is the proper means for a prisoner to seek money damages or injunctive relief from unlawful
treatment. Kruger v. Erickson, 77 F.3d 1071, 1073 (8th Cir. 1996). Mr. Randall’s claim is that
he is wrongly imprisoned as a result of incidents surrounding his conviction and sentencing.
Thus, to the extent he is seeking release from confinement, his claim lies at the “core of habeas
corpus” and his remedy is with a writ of habeas corpus, not through a civil rights suit brought
under 42 U.S.C. § 1983.
The Court further notes that, even if the instant case had been properly brought as a
petition for writ of habeas corpus, the action would be subject to dismissal because there is no
indication that Mr. Randall has exhausted his available state remedies, which he must do before
invoking federal habeas corpus jurisdiction. See, e.g., O’Sullivan v. Boerckel, 526 U.S. 838, 848
(1999). The Court dismisses Mr. Randall’s instant § 1983 claim without prejudice.
SO ORDERED this 17th day of January, 2014.

Kristine G. Baker
United States District Judge