Parker v. Stiles, CIVIL ACTION No. 00-5334 (E.D. Pa. 6/29/2001)
| Decision Date | 29 June 2001 |
| Docket Number | CIVIL ACTION No. 00-5334. |
| Parties | NATHANIEL PARKER, SR. v. MICHAEL R. STILES, United States Attorney, MIKE FISHER, Pennsylvania Attorney General, and ANTHONY SARCIONE, District Attorney of Chester County. |
| Court | U.S. District Court — Eastern District of Pennsylvania |
Plaintiff is a federal inmate. He has asserted claims pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983 arising out of his arrest on state charges and his subsequent conviction on related federal charges which he asserts deprived him of due process and violated the proscription against double jeopardy. Plaintiff is asking for damages, a declaration that defendants have violated his constitutional rights and an order directing his immediate release and barring any further prosecution of him.
The pertinent facts as alleged in the complaint are as follow. On November 24, 1998, plaintiff was arrested by police in Chester County on charges of possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver. After being detained, plaintiff was released on bail from Chester County Prison in October 1999. He was again arrested by police in Chester County on February 1, 2000 while on bail on new drug charges and was detained. Three of these charges were dismissed at a preliminary hearing by defendant Anthony Sarcione's office and plaintiff was held for trial on two charges by the Chester County Common Pleas Court. The case against plaintiff was adopted by the United States Attorney and the two pending state charges against him were dismissed nolle prosequi on May 4, 2000 at which time he was released by Chester County to federal custody.1
It appears from court records that plaintiff was subsequently found guilty in a federal jury trial on twelve counts of drug offenses in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1) and 860(a).
Plaintiff alleges that the filing of federal charges after the state charges were dismissed nolle prosequi violated his protection against double jeopardy. Plaintiff further alleges that the federal prosecution has deprived him of liberty without due process because the federal government is "without authority and jurisdiction to detain and prosecute" him because the indictment did not set forth facts to show that he interfered with interstate commerce and he was charged under Title 21 which "is a civil statute and not a criminal statute." Plaintiff also alleges that "defendants are in violation under Title 18 U.S.C. § 245(a)(1)," apparently because his federal prosecution was not authorized in writing by the Attorney General or other specified Department of Justice official.
Defendant Sarcione has moved to dismiss plaintiff's claims against him on the ground of prosecutorial immunity.
A motion to dismiss tests the legal sufficiency of a claim accepting the veracity of the claimant's allegations. See Markowitz v. Northeast Land Co., 906 F.2d 100, 103 (3d Cir. 1990); Sturm v. Clark, 835 F.2d 1009, 1011 (3d Cir. 1987). A complaint may be dismissed when the facts alleged and the reasonable inference s therefrom are legally insufficient to support the relief sought. See Pennsylvania ex. rel. Zimmerman v. PepsiCo., Inc., 836 F.2d 173, 179 (3d Cir. 1988). A claim may be dismissed when it appears from the factual allegations that it is subject to an asserted defense of immunity. See In re Burlington Coat Factory Sec. Litig., 114 F.3d 83, 86 n. 6 (3d Cir. 1997); Moser v. Bascelli, 865 F. Supp. 249, 252 (E.D.Pa. 1994).
A prosecutor is immune from civil liability for damages under § 1983 if the ultimate act complained of is within the scope of a prosecutor's official function. Imbler v. Polhtman, 424 U.S. 409, 431 (1976). Prosecutors are absolutely immune from liability for acts that are "intimately associated with the judicial phase of the criminal process." Id. at 430. Such acts include initiating and prosecuting a criminal case. Id. at 431 (); Kulwicki v. Dawson, 969 F.2d 1454, 1463-64 (3d Cir. 1992) (); Parker v. Shefsko, 1999 WL 248316, *1 (E.D.Pa. Apr. 23, 1999) (). A decision not to prosecute is also protected by absolute immunity. Roe v. City & County of San Fransisco, 109 F.3d 578, 583 (9th Cir. 1997) (); Doe v. Phillips, 81 F.3d 1204, 1209-10 (2d Cir. 1996) (same); Harrington v. Almy, 977 F.2d 37, 40-42 (1st Cir. 1992) (same). Mr. Sarcione is immune from liability for any decision to initiate or dismiss charges against plaintiff.
Plaintiff also has alleged no facts which would entitle him to any injunctive or declaratory relief against defendant. There is no suggestion that any further state proceedings, improper or otherwise, are pending or imminent. See, e.g., Carter v. Chief of Police, 437 F.2d 413, 415 (3d Cir. 1971); Panayotides v. Rabenold, 35 F. Supp.2d 411, 417 (E.D.Pa. 1999).2 It is also clear that neither Mr. Sarcione nor any other defendant has violated any federally secured right of plaintiff. ACCORDINGLY, this day of June, 2001, upon consideration of defendant Sarcione's Motion to Dismiss (Doc. #4) and plaintiff's response, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that said Motion is GRANTED and all claims herein against defendant Anthony Sarcione are DISMISSED and he is terminated as a defendant in this action.
MEMORANDUM ORDERPlaintiff is a federal inmate. He has asserted claims pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983 arising out of his arrest on state charges and his subsequent conviction on related federal charges which he asserts deprived him of due process and violated the proscription against double jeopardy. Plaintiff is asking for damages, a declaration that defendants have violated his constitutional rights and an order directing his immediate release and barring any further prosecution of him.
The pertinent facts as alleged in the complaint are as follow. On November 24, 1998, plaintiff was arrested by police in Chester County on charges of possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver. After being detained, plaintiff was released on bail from Chester County Prison in October 1999. He was again arrested by police in Chester County police on February 1, 2000 while on bail on new drug charges and was detained. Three of these charges were dismissed at a preliminary hearing by defendant Anthony Sarcione's office and plaintiff was held for trial on two charges by the Chester County Common Pleas Court. The case against plaintiff was adopted by the United States Attorney and the two pending state charges against him were dismissed nolle prosequi on May 4, 2000 at which time he was released by to federal custody.1a
It appears from court records that plaintiff was subsequently found guilty in a federal jury trial on twelve counts of drug offenses in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1) and 860(a).
Defendant Stiles has filed a motion to dismiss. A motion to dismiss tests the legal sufficiency of a claim accepting the veracity of the claimant's allegations. See Markowitz v. Northeast Land Co., 906 F.2d 100, 103 (3d Cir. 1990); Sturm v. Clark, 835 F.2d 1009, 1011 (3d Cir. 1987). A complaint may be dismissed when the facts alleged and the reasonable inference s therefrom are legally insufficient to support the relief sought. See Pennsylvania ex. rel. Zimmerman v. PepsiCo., Inc., 836 F.2d 173, 179 (3d Cir. 1988).
Although plaintiff titles his pleading as a "§ 1983 Civil Complaint," he cannot maintain a § 1983 claim against a federal official. The court will construe plaintiff's claims against Mr. Stiles as a Bivens action. See Bivens v. Six Unknown Agents of Federal Bureau of Narcotics, 403 U.S. 388, 397 (1971); Brown v. Phillip Morris Inc., 2001 WL 533654, **7-8 (3d Cir. May 17, 2001) (); Zolicoffer v. F.B.I., 884 F. Supp. 173, 175 (E.D.Pa. 1995) ().
Plaintiff alleges that the filing of federal charges after the state charges were dismissed nolle prosequi violated his protection against double jeopardy. Plaintiff further alleges that the federal prosecution has deprived him of liberty without due process because the federal government is "without authority and jurisdiction to detain and prosecute" him because the indictment did not set forth facts to show that he interfered with interstate commerce and he was charged under Title 21 which "is a civil statute and not a criminal statute." Plaintiff also alleges that "defendants are in violation under Title 18 U.S.C. § 245(a)(1)," apparently because his federal prosecution was not authorized in writing by the Attorney General or other specified Department of Justice official.
Unless and until plaintiff's conviction is reversed, expunged or held invalid, he cannot maintain a Bivens claim. See Heck v. Humphrey, 512 U.S. 477, 486-87 (1994) (§ 1983 claim); Whitmore v. Harrington, 204 F.3d 784, 784-85 (8th Cir. 2000) (Bivens action); Zolicoffer v. F.B.I., 884 F. Supp. 173, 175-76 (E.D.Pa. 1995) (Bivens action). Otherwise, the civil action would simply be a collateral review of the conviction. Zolicoffer, 884 F. Supp. at 175-76.2a
Plaintiff also cannot obtain an injunctive order requiring his release. Any challenge to the fact or duration of confinement must be lodged in a habeas corpus action. See Preiser v. Rodriquez, 411 U.S. 475, 484-85 (1973); Urrutia v. Harrisburg Police Dept., 91 F.3d 451, 462 (3d Cir. 1996); Death Row Prisoners of Pa. v. Ridge, 948 F. Supp. 1258, 1272-73 (E.D.Pa. 1996).
Even if plaintiff could obtain the damages and injunctive relief he seeks in this action, his...
To continue reading
Request your trial