(HC) Burgess v. The People of the State of CA ( 2022 )

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 9 FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 10 11 DWAYNE LAMONT BURGESS, No. 2:22-CV-0573-DAD-DMC-P 12 Petitioner, FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 13 v. 14 THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA, 15 Respondent. 16 17 18 Petitioner, a prisoner proceeding pro se, brings this civil action, which has been 19 entered on the Court’s docket as a petition for a writ of habeas corpus under 28 U.S.C. § 2254. 20 Rule 4 of the Federal Rules Governing Section 2254 Cases provides for summary 21 dismissal of a habeas petition “[i]f it plainly appears from the face of the petition and any exhibits 22 annexed to it that the petitioner is not entitled to relief in the district court.” In the instant case, it 23 is plain that Petitioner is not entitled to federal habeas relief. 24 Petitioner initiated this action with a filing entitled “Libel of Review Answer of 25 Dwayne Lamont Burgess, Motion for Relief From Judgement FRCP Rule 60(a)(b) In Re 26 Libelants’ Fraudulent Conveyance of Real Property and Cestui Que Vie Trust of Dwayne Lamont 27 Burgess.” ECF No. 1. Shortly after submitting this filing, Petitioner filed a document entitled 28 “Temporary Restraining Order In Lieu of Writ of Attachment.” ECF No. 8. Most recently, 1 Petitioner filed a document entitled “Claimant’s Motion for Summary Judgement and Demand for 2 Judgement Pursuant to FRCP Rule 56 & 54(c).” ECF No. 15. Throughout these filings, 3 Petitioner appears to complain about the confiscation of money and/or property in the context of a 4 state court criminal action. See e.g. ECF No. 1. Habeas corpus is the exclusive remedy for a 5 prisoner challenging the fact or duration of a state court conviction seeking immediate or speedier 6 release. See Heck v. Humphrey, 512 U.S. 477, 481 (1994). Property-related claims are not 7 within the scope of the writ of habeas corpus. See Rumsfeld v. Padilla, 542 U.S. 426, 435 (2004); 8 see also In re Hill, 2005 WL 613262, at *1 (D.C. Cir. 2005). 9 Indeed, courts in every circuit have held that property claims cannot be raised in 10 habeas. See, e.g., Whiting v. United States, No. 97-2033, 1998 WL 1281294 at *2 (1st Cir. June 11 26, 1998) (concluding that “the district court understandably dismissed the motion [seeking return 12 of property] without prejudice on the ground that it was not cognizable in a habeas proceeding”) 13 (unpublished); Anaya v. Smith, No. 3:11CV779, 2014 WL 315277 at *27 n.7 (N.D. Ohio Jan. 28, 14 2014) (holding that claim challenging the seizure of property “is not cognizable on federal habeas 15 review”); Weaver v. Sanders, No. CV 13-3269-FMO (JPR), 2013 WL 2147806 at *1-2 (C.D. Cal. 16 May 16, 2013) (dismissing habeas claim brought by inmate seeking to “get his property back or 17 receive the fair value of it”); Nance v. Heley, No. 11–CV–1173 (ARR), 2012 WL 2953740 at *2 18 (E.D.N.Y July 19, 2012) (concluding that “Petitioner’s claim to recover his personal property is 19 not cognizable under habeas review”); Buchanan v. Johnson, 723 F. Supp. 2d 722, 726-27 (D. 20 Del. 2010) (“Considering that the instant proceeding is one for federal habeas relief, the court 21 does not have the authority to order the return of petitioner’s property.”); Hall v. Norris, No. 09- 22 CV-4078, 2010 WL 5071201 at *1 (W.D. Ark. Dec. 9, 2010) (“Because Petitioner's claim for 23 relief seeks the return of forfeited property, it is not cognizable in a federal habeas corpus 24 proceeding. Reasonable jurists would not find this conclusion debatable.”); Veal v. 25 Superintendent, No. 3:08-CV-3-TS, 2009 WL 4799935 at *2 (N.D. Ind. Dec. 8, 2009) (“Finally, 26 Veal alleges that there was approximately $400 worth of personal property taken from his cell. 27 This is in essence a state tort claim that is not cognizable in this habeas proceeding.”); Starr v. 28 Ward, No. 04- CV-0787-CVE-PJC, 2006 WL 2474914 at *1 (N.D. Okla. Aug. 25, 2006) (“The 1 | Court finds that claims relating to Petitioner’s dispute over personal property allegedly seized 2 || from Petitioner by Department of Corrections personnel are not cognizable in this habeas 3 || action.”); Olajide v. United States Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, 402 F. 4 | Supp. 2d 688, 694-95 (E.D. Va. 2005) (dismissing immigration detainee’s habeas claim alleging 5 || that “officials have stolen some of his personal property including his money and luggage’’); 6 || Bowen v. United States, No. 7:05-CV-37 (CDL), 2005 WL 1676668 at *2 (M.D. Ga. June 29, 7 || 2005) (dismissing habeas petition seeking return of currency because a “writ of habeas corpus is 8 | not the proper vehicle for the type of relief petitioner seeks”); Turner v. Johnson, 46 F. Supp. 2d 9 || 655, 675-76 (S.D. Tex. 1999) (holding that “a petition for a writ of habeas corpus is an improper 10 || method to raise” a claim that a “typewriter and other personal property were confiscated, lost, or 11 || destroyed by prison officials”); Ronson v. Drohan, No. 89-CIV-7842 (RWS), 1990 WL 128925 12 | *1(S.D.NLY. Aug. 28, 1990) (holding that inmate’s claims that “he was wrongfully deprived of 13 || property by the State is not considered here, as it is not cognizable by a habeas court’); 14 || Fayerweather v. Bell, 447 F. Supp. 913, 915 (M.D. Pa. 1978) (dismissing inmate’s habeas claim 15 | brought under 28 U.S.C. § 2241 “for willful and wrongful taking of his personal property”). 16 Based on the foregoing, the undersigned recommends that this action be 17 || summarily dismissed and that all pending motions/requests, ECF Nos. 1, 8, 10, 11, and 15, be 18 || denied as moot. 19 These findings and recommendations are submitted to the United States District 20 || Judge assigned to the case, pursuant to the provisions of 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1). Within 14 days 21 || after being served with these findings and recommendations, any party may file written 22 || objections with the court. Responses to objections shall be filed within 14 days after service of 23 || objections. Failure to file objections within the specified time may waive the right to appeal. See 24 | Martinez v. YIst, 951 F.2d 1153 (9th Cir. 1991). 25 26 || Dated: September 14, 2022 Co 27 DENNIS M. COTA 28 UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE