Rodarte v. Schumming et al
Filing
13
ORDER ADOPTING FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 7 in full. 12 Motion for Extension of Time to File Objection to Findings and Recommendations is DENIED. This dismissal counts as a strike pursuant to 28 U.S.C. Section 1915(g). Any appeal of this decision would not be taken in good faith. Signed by Judge Dana L. Christensen on 5/15/2017. Mailed to Rodarte. (TAG)
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF MONTANA
HELENA DIVISION
CV 16-55-H-DLC-JTJ
FRANCISCO RODARTE,
Plaintiff,
ORDER
vs.
SUSAN SCHUMMING, et al.,
Defendants.
United States Magistrate Judge John Johnston entered his Order, Findings
and Recommendations in this matter on February 14, 2017, recommending
dismissal of Plaintiff Francisco Rodarte's ("Rodarte") Complaint. On February
27, 2017, Rodarte moved for a 30 day extension to file his objections to the
Findings and Recommendations and the Court granted his request. (Doc. 9.) On
May 11, 2017, Rodarte again moved for a 30 day extension of time to file his
objections arguing that his access to the prison library has been inadequate. (Doc.
12.)
As a matter of practice, the Court often allows pro se litigants additional
time to file objections to Findings and Recommendations. However, the Court
will deny Rodarte's motion because it is clear that the claims raised in his
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Complaint are either barred under the doctrine of res judicata or fail to state a
claim upon which relief may be granted. 1 First, as discussed by Judge Johnston,
Rodarte' s Complaint alleges that Defendants conspired to modify his criminal
sentence from four consecutive sentences to one concurrent sentence, which he
argues denied him the opportunity to appear before the parole board on each of his
sentences. This claim has previously been raised by Rodarte in this Court and,
consequently, is now barred by the doctrine of res judicata. See Rodarte v.
Kirkegard, Civil Action No. CV 14-09-GF-DLC (D. Mont. Jan. 6, 2015).
Second, Rodarte also claims that he was denied access to the courts because
Defendant Denise Deyott and the mail room staff allegedly lost or stole the legal
paperwork he sent to provide support for his state habeas petition. Nevertheless,
the Court agrees with Judge Johnston that this claim cannot establish a
nonfrivolous legal attack on his criminal sentence because the state court found
that his habeas petition should be denied because it did not attack the validity of
his sentence and, thus, failed state a claim within the meaning of Montana Code
Annotated§ 46-21-20l(l)(a).
1
This Court reviews for clear error those findings and recommendations to which no
party objects. See McDonnell Douglas Corp. v. Commodore Bus. Mach., Inc., 656 F.2d 1309,
1313 (9th Cir. 1981); Thomas v. Arn, 474 U.S. 140, 149 (1985). Clear error exists if the Court is
left with a "definite and firm conviction that a mistake has been committed." United States v.
Syrax, 235 F.3d 422, 427 (9th Cir. 2000) (citations omitted).
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Accordingly, there being no clear error in Judge Johnston's Findings and
Recommendation, IT IS ORDERED that:
(1) Plaintiffs Motion for Extension of Time to File Objection (Doc. 12) is
DENIED.
(2) Judge Johnston's Findings and Recommendation (Doc. 7) are
ADOPTED IN FULL.
(3) This matter is DISMISSED with prejudice. The Clerk of Court
is directed to close this matter and enter judgment in favor of Defendants
pursuant to Rule 58 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.
( 4) The Clerk of Court is directed to have the docket reflect that this
dismissal counts as a strike pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(g) for failure to state a
claim.
(5) The Clerk of Court is directed to have the docket reflect that the
Court certifies pursuant to Rule 24(a)(3)(A) of the Federal Rules of Appellate
Procedure that any appeal of this decision would not be taken in good faith. No
reasonable person could suppose an appeal would have merit. The record makes
plain the instant Complaint lacks arguable s bstance in law or fact.
Dated this
J-h
J£ day of May, 2017.
Dana L. Christensen, Chief Ju ge
United States District Court
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