Washington v. Harper

Filing 5

IT IS ORDERED that the pleading filed by Washington (Doc. 3) is DISMISSED without prejudice. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Washington is GRANTED leave to file an amended pleading on or before 10/25/2017. The Clerk of Court is DIRECTED to send Washington § 1983, § 2254 and § 2241 form pleadings, and corresponding instruction booklets. Signed by Judge David R. Herndon on 9/27/2017. (tjk)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF ILLINOIS
JACOB WASHINGTON,
Petitioner,
vs.

–690-DRH

JOE HARPER
Defendants.
MEMORANDUM AND ORDER

Petitioner Jacob Washington presently resides at Chester Mental Health
Center (“CMHC”), but his legal status is unclear. The nature of Washington’s
claims and the relief he is seeking are also unclear. Accordingly, the action will be
dismissed without prejudice and with leave to amend.

Petitioner’s initial pleading includes a page that resembles a caption, but
does not comply with Federal Rule 10(a). The left side of the “caption” includes a
list of names. The right side of the “caption” states as follows:
CHESTER
territory, territory
OF THE U.S.A.
IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD
AND SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST
IN WHICH JOAN JANE
AND THE STATE SHALL
PAY 777,777,777
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(Doc. 1, p. 2). A second page in the pleading indicates that Washington has sent
the same pleading to the State Capital in Springfield, Illinois, the Illinois Supreme
Court, the Illinois Appellate Court, and the Illinois Governor’s office. (Doc. 1, p.
3). The pleading also includes a single page of handwritten text that is confusing
and often illegible. (Doc. 1, p. 1). For instance, Washington indicates that CMHC
does not have jurisdiction over him and suggests CMHC is violating the privileges
and immunities clause of the constitution. Id. He claims he was kidnapped, with a
gun pointed to his head. He also makes allegations regarding a polygraph that
proves experimentation has occurred. Id.
After reviewing this pleading, the Clerk of the Court opened the instant
action, characterizing it as a habeas action filed pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2254.
Before the Court could complete a preliminary review of the pleading, Washington
filed an amended petition using this district’s standard form for § 2254 cases.
(Doc. 3).
The Amended Petition
The Amended Petition names Joe Harper, the hospital administrator for
CMHC as the respondent. For the most part, the Amended Petition is blank or
states “N/A” in response to questions included on the district’s standard form.
Washington, however, has provided the following information:
Criminal Docket or Case Number – 17-690-DRH (this is actually the case
number for the instant action). (Doc. 3, p 1).
Date of judgment of conviction: 8-11-2014. (Doc. 3, p. 1).

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Court that entered the judgment of conviction you are challenging – Chester

Mental Health Center. (Doc. 3, p. 1).

Grounds raised – Need Mental Health Treatment. (Doc. 3, p. 4).
Relief requested – Request to be given time serve[d] and punitive damages
for my over time served. (Doc. 3, p. 18).

The Court cannot discern whether Washington intended to file a civil rights
action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983, a petition for writ of habeas corpus
pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2241, a petition for writ of habeas corpus pursuant to 28
U.S.C. § 2254, or some combination thereof. The request for damages and mental
health treatment suggest that Washington is seeking relief in accord with § 1983.
However, the request to be given time served suggests that Washington may be
seeking habeas relief pursuant to § 2254 or 2241. 1
Because the Court does not know what type of action Washington intended
to file and because so much information is missing, the Amended Petition does
not survive preliminary review. Therefore, the Court will dismiss the Amended
Petition without prejudice and with leave to re-file. This means that the Court is
giving Washington another chance. Washington should consider the following
directions before filing anything further with the Court:

1

Each of those avenues of relief offers distinct remedies and has distinct consequences that can
impact future litigation. Consequently, the Court cannot guess what Winter wants and cannot
convert a pleading under one statute to a different cause of action. See Pischke v. Litscher, 178
F.3d 497(7th Cir.1999); Glaus v. Anderson, 408 F.3d 382 (7th Cir.2005).

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Money or Mental Health Treatment
If Washington is asking for mental health treatment or monetary damages,
he should file a § 1983 action. Washington should know that the filing fee for a §
1983 action is $400 ($350 if Washington is proceeding in forma pauperis – as a
poor person). Washington should also know that a § 1983 action will be subject to
the three-strikes rule of the Prison Litigation Reform Act (meaning if his case is
frivolous or fails to state a claim he could receive a “strike”).
Release From Prison (Habeas Relief)
If Washington is challenging the fact or duration of his physical detention at
CMHC (if he wants to be released), then his only federal remedy is a writ of
habeas corpus pursuant to §2241 or §2254. Preiser v. Rodriguez, 411 U.S. 475,
499-500 (1973), Washington should know that the filing fee for a § 2241 or §
2254 action is $5.00.
If Washington is incarcerated at CMHC pursuant to a State Court judgment
and claims he is presently in custody in violation of the Constitution or laws of the
United States, then § 2254 likely governs his claim. 28 U.S.C. § 2254(a). Walker

v. O'Brien, 216 F.3d 626, 633 (7th Cir. 2000).
If Washington is at CMHC for some other reason than pursuant to a state
court judgment, such as pre-conviction custody, then § 2241 likely governs his
claim. Walker, 216 F.3d at 633; Jacobs v. McCaughtry, 251 F.3d 596 (7th Cir.
2001).

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Disposition
IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that the pleading filed by Washington (Doc.
3) is DISMISSED without prejudice.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Washington is GRANTED leave to file an
amended pleading on or before

. The ultimate filing fee due

will be based on the nature of the action filed. Failure to file an amended pleading
will result in this action being dismissed without prejudice. Washington is free to
file multiple actions if, for example he wants to file both a civil rights action and a
habeas corpus petition—but each would be a separate case and separate filing
fees would be assessed.
The Clerk of Court is DIRECTED to send Washington § 1983, § 2254 and §
2241form pleadings, and corresponding instruction booklets.
IT IS SO ORDERED.

Digitally signed by
Judge David R. Herndon
Date: 2017.09.27
13:49:37 -05'00'
David R. Herndon

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