Carter v. Payne

F I L E D
United States Court of Appeals
Tenth Circuit
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
October 26, 2005
TENTH CIRCUIT
Clerk of Court
CLIFTON CARTER,
Plaintiff - Appellant,
No. 05-7025
vs. (D.C. No. CIV-03-697-WH)
(E.D. Okla.)
DONALD ED PAYNE, Individually;
ESTATE OF PERRY HARKDIDER,
Individually and officially; RICHARD
D. AMATUCCI, Individually; PAUL
G. HESS, Individually and officially;
SCOTT M. ANDERSON, Individually;
RALPH MECHAM, Individually and
officially; HOPPY DENNISON,
Individually and officially; DENNIS
BRYANT, Individually and officially;
DEB PICKERING, Individually and
officially; KEVIN WILSON,
Individually and officially;
MARGARET GROVE, Individually
and officially; JOE CANTRELL,
Individually and officially; DAN
GREISAN, Individually and officially,
Defendants - Appellees.
ORDER AND JUDGMENT *
*
This order and judgment is not binding precedent, except under the
doctrines of law of the case, res judicata, and collateral estoppel. This court
generally disfavors the citation of orders and judgments; nevertheless, an order
and judgment may be cited under the terms and conditions of 10th Cir. R. 36.3.
Before KELLY, O’BRIEN, and TYMKOVICH, Circuit Judges. **
Plaintiff-Appellant Clifton Carter, an inmate appearing pro se, appeals from
the dismissal of his civil rights complaint alleging that various state and federal
officials violated his constitutional rights as a result of a search warrant executed
in 1990. The fruits of that search were later used in criminal proceedings which
led to his incarceration. The district court dismissed the complaint for failure to
state a claim on which relief could be granted because Mr. Carter’s underlying
criminal conviction had not been declared invalid and any relief in this suit for
damages would necessarily imply its invalidity. Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(6); Heck v.
Humphrey, 512 U.S. 477, 486-87 (1994).
Mr. Carter contends that the warrant served lacked an affidavit and the
signature of the authorizing magistrate judge was forged. In addition, Mr. Carter
alleges that the warrant served is defective because it differs from the certified
copy he received from the court. We review a district court’s grant of a motion to
dismiss under Rule 12(b)(6) de novo, and uphold dismissal only when it appears
that the plaintiff can prove no set of facts that would entitle him to relief. Yanaki
v. Iomed, 415 F.3d 1204, 1207 (10th Cir. 2005). We construe Mr. Carter’s pro se
**
After examining the briefs and the appellate record, this three-judge
panel has determined unanimously that oral argument would not be of material
assistance in the determination of this appeal. See Fed. R. App. P. 34(a); 10th
Cir. R. 34.1(G). The cause is therefore ordered submitted without oral argument.
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complaint liberally. Haines v. Kerner, 404 U.S. 519, 520 (1972). We may affirm
a district court’s decision on any grounds supported by the record. Aguilera v.
Kirkpatrick, 241 F.3d 1286, 1290 (10th Cir. 2001).
After reviewing the record, we agree with the district court that to the
extent that Mr. Carter sought damages arising from his allegedly unlawful
incarceration, his suit would be barred by Heck. But Mr. Carter also appears to
be alleging other types of damages, including property damages. R. Doc. 1 at 13-
14. Heck specifically excluded from its coverage a suit for damages (where the
underlying injury was something other than incarceration) based upon an unlawful
search. Heck, 512 U.S. at 487 n.7.
Be that as it may, we conclude that Mr. Carter has not adequately alleged a
constitutional violation. He does not challenge the underlying affidavit or
probable cause. Rather, he alleges that the magistrate judge issued two warrants
for the search of his home–one warrant, on file with the clerk of court along with
supporting affidavits, and a second warrant, which the police served upon him.
These items do not differ in any material respect, though they differ slightly in
appearance. Mr. Carter tells us he hired a handwriting expert that concluded the
warrants were signed “by the same Magistrate for the same date and location.”
See R. Doc. 27 at 5. No facts alleged, as opposed to conclusory allegations,
suggest any bad faith. Mr. Carter cites no case law or rule that requires law
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enforcement to serve the underlying affidavit at the same time as the warrant.
Rule 41 requires only that a copy of the warrant be served. See Fed. R. Crim. P.
41.
AFFIRMED. All pending motions are denied.
Entered for the Court
Paul J. Kelly, Jr.
Circuit Judge
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