WILLIAMS v. WARDEN

Filing 15

Entry Dismissing Action and Directing Entry of Final Judgment - Ronald Edward Williams challenged a proceeding conducted on July 23, 2014 involving Incident Report No. 2571521, which the finding made at that hearing has been expunged, and a new hea ring was conducted on August 17, 2015. Williams was again found guilty of the charged misconduct. An action which is moot must be dismissed for lack of jurisdiction. The action will be dismissed for lack of jurisdiction because the habeas petitio n and the related filings show on their face that Williams is not entitled to the relief he seeks. Judgment consistent with this Entry shall now issue. (See Entry.) Copy to petitioner via US Mail. Signed by Judge Jane Magnus-Stinson on 10/16/2015.(RSF)

Download PDF
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF INDIANA TERRE HAUTE DIVISION RONALD EDWARD WILLIAMS, ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) Petitioner, v. LEANN LARIVA, Warden. Respondent. No. 2:15-cv-00182-JMS-WGH Entry Dismissing Action and Directing Entry of Final Judgment I. “When, during the course of litigation, the issues presented in a case ‘lose their life because of the passage of time or a change in circumstances . . . and a federal court can no longer grant effective relief,’ the case is considered moot.” Ali v. Cangemi, 419 F.3d 722, 723–24 (8th Cir. 2005)(quoting Beck v. Mo. State High Sch. Activities Ass'n, 18 F.3d 604, 496 n.7 (1969)). As explained in the Entry of September 3, 2015, that is what has occurred with respect to the prison disciplinary proceeding Ronald Edward Williams challenged as invalid in this action for habeas corpus relief. More specifically, Williams challenged a proceeding conducted on July 23, 2014 involving Incident Report No. 2571521, which the finding made at that hearing has been expunged, and a new hearing was conducted on August 17, 2015. Williams was again found guilty of the charged misconduct. The events just described mean, in part, that the decision of July 23, 2014 no longer exists and the consequence is that his due process challenge to the proceeding conducted on July 23, 2014 is moot. See Alonso-Castro v. Logan, No. CV 14-00065SJO (PLA), 2014 WL 2206381, at *3 (C.D.Cal. May 22, 2014) (concluding that a procedural irregularity in DHO hearings was remedied—and the petitioner’s claims concerning those incident reports were rendered moot—when the BOP corrected the error by conducting new hearings and issuing new findings and sanctions); Waller v. Zych, No. 08-CV-15240, 2009 WL 2382557, at *3 (E.D.Mich. July 31, 2009) (dismissing a habeas petition as moot when the incident report and sanctions were expunged and good conduct time restored). The fact that this occurred through the administrative channels of the Federal Bureau of Prisons after this action had been filed is of no consequence. Macktal v. Chao, 286 F.3d 822, 825 (5th Cir. 2002)(“[I]t is generally accepted that in the absence of a specific statutory limitation, an administrative agency has the inherent authority to reconsider its decisions.”) (collecting cases). An action which is moot must be dismissed for lack of jurisdiction. Board of Educ. of Downers Grove Grade School Dist. No. 58 v. Steven L., 89 F.3d 464, 467 (7th Cir. 1996), cert. denied, 117 S. Ct. 1556 (1997). Williams was given a period of time in which to show cause why this action should not be dismissed as moot based on the circumstances described above. He has responded to the notice, but his response fails to establish that the action is not moot. Accordingly, the action will be dismissed for lack of jurisdiction because the habeas petition and the related filings show on their face that Williams is not entitled to the relief he seeks. II. Judgment consistent with this Entry shall now issue. IT IS SO ORDERED. October 16, 2015 Date: _____________ _______________________________ Hon. Jane Magnus-Stinson, Judge United States District Court Southern District of Indiana Distribution: RONALD EDWARD WILLIAMS 05122-055 TERRE HAUTE FEDERAL CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION Inmate Mail/Parcels P.O. BOX 33 TERRE HAUTE, IN 47808 Electronically Registered Counsel

Disclaimer: Justia Dockets & Filings provides public litigation records from the federal appellate and district courts. These filings and docket sheets should not be considered findings of fact or liability, nor do they necessarily reflect the view of Justia.


Why Is My Information Online?