Foster v. Warden, Toledo Correctional Institution

Filing 85

REPORT AND RECOMMENDATIONS It is respectfully recommended that Petitioner's "Motion for Relief from an Order (ECF No. 81) Filed Based on Excusable Neglect and Inadvertence to the Merits" (ECF No. 83) be DENIED. Objections to R&R due by 8/28/2017. Signed by Magistrate Judge Michael R. Merz on 8/14/2017. (kpf)(This document has been sent by regular mail to the party(ies) listed in the NEF that did not receive electronic notification.)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF OHIO
WESTERN DIVISION AT CINCINNATI
CHRISTOPHER FOSTER,
Petitioner,

:

- vs -

Case No. 1:15-cv-713
District Judge Michael R. Barrett
Magistrate Judge Michael R. Merz

RONALD ERDOS, WARDEN,
Southern Ohio Correctional Facility,
:
Respondent.

REPORT AND RECOMMENDATIONS

This habeas corpus case is before the Court on Petitioner’s “Motion for Relief from an
Order (ECF No. 81) Filed Based on Excusable Neglect and Inadvertence to the Merits” (ECF
No. 83). Foster brings the Motion pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 60(b)(1) and (6)1. Since the
Motion was filed after judgment was entered, it is deemed referred to the Magistrate Judge for
report and recommendations under Fed. R. Civ. P. 72(b)(3).
The Order from which relief is sought is Judge Barrett’s Order of July 24, 2017, adopting
three Magistrate Judg4e Reports and Recommendations (ECF Nos. 41, 61, & 71) and dismissing
the case with prejudice (ECF No. 81).
Fed. R. Civ. P. 60 provides in pertinent part:
(b) Grounds for Relief from a Final Judgment, Order, or
Proceeding. On motion and just terms, the court may relieve a
party or its legal representative from a final judgment, order, or
proceeding for the following reasons:

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He also mentions Fed. R. Civ. P. 11(b), but that rule provides no authority for modifying a judgment.

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(1) mistake, inadvertence, surprise, or excusable neglect; . . .
(6) any other reason that justifies relief.

Rule 60(b)(1) “is intended to provide relief in only two situations: (1) when a party has
made an excusable mistake or an attorney has acted without authority, or (2) when the judge has
made a substantive mistake of law or fact in the final judgment or order.” United States v. Reyes,
307 F.3d 451, 455 (6th Cir. 2002). Foster claims the Court “inadvertently omitted all Eight
Grounds of the two consolidated habeas corpus filings in this matter. . .” However, nothing in
habeas corpus jurisprudence requires any particular form of ruling on a Magistrate Judge’s
reports and recommendations. Here the Magistrate Judge concluded all of Petitioner’s claims
were either not cognizable in habeas or were procedurally defaulted and the District Judge
adopted that conclusion on de novo review. This is particularly true of Petitioner’s claim about
the nunc pro tunc sentencing entry. Its invalidity is again argued in this Motion as a matter of
state law, but errors of state law are not cognizable in habeas corpus. Federal habeas corpus is
available only to correct federal constitutional violations.

28 U.S.C. § 2254(a); Wilson v.

Corcoran, 562 U.S. 1 (2010); Lewis v. Jeffers, 497 U.S. 764, 780 (1990); Smith v. Phillips, 455
U.S. 209 (1982), Barclay v. Florida, 463 U.S. 939 (1983). "[I]t is not the province of a federal
habeas court to reexamine state court determinations on state law questions. In conducting
habeas review, a federal court is limited to deciding whether a conviction violated the
Constitution, laws, or treaties of the United States." Estelle v. McGuire, 502 U.S. 62, 67-68
(1991). To put it more bluntly, nothing in the United States Constitution forbids the use of a
nunc pro tunc entry in state court to correct an error.
The Order complained of dealt with all the issues raised by Petitioner. Because there were

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adequate procedural defenses, it was not necessary to discuss the merits of Petitioner’s claims
any further than was done. Petitioner has not shown any error of law by the Court in entering the
Order.
It is therefore respectfully recommended that the Motion be DENIED.

August 14, 2017.
s/ Michael R. Merz
United States Magistrate Judge

NOTICE REGARDING OBJECTIONS

Pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 72(b), any party may serve and file specific, written objections to the
proposed findings and recommendations within fourteen days after being served with this Report
and Recommendations. Pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 6(d), this period is extended to seventeen
days because this Report is being served by mail. .Such objections shall specify the portions of
the Report objected to and shall be accompanied by a memorandum of law in support of the
objections. If the Report and Recommendations are based in whole or in part upon matters
occurring of record at an oral hearing, the objecting party shall promptly arrange for the
transcription of the record, or such portions of it as all parties may agree upon or the Magistrate
Judge deems sufficient, unless the assigned District Judge otherwise directs. A party may
respond to another party=s objections within fourteen days after being served with a copy thereof.
Failure to make objections in accordance with this procedure may forfeit rights on appeal. See
United States v. Walters, 638 F.2d 947, 949-50 (6th Cir. 1981); Thomas v. Arn, 474 U.S. 140,
153-55 (1985).

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