Guiden v. Morrow, 10th Cir. (2004)
Guiden v. Morrow, 10th Cir. (2004)
Guiden v. Morrow, 10th Cir. (2004)
FEB 17 2004
PATRICK FISHER
Clerk
RONALD GUIDEN,
Plaintiff-Appellant,
v.
MARTHA MORROW, Clerk,
No. 03-3282
(D. Kansas)
(D.Ct. No. 03-CV-3152-GTV)
Defendant-Appellee.
ORDER AND JUDGMENT *
Before SEYMOUR, MURPHY, and OBRIEN, Circuit Judges.
After examining the briefs and appellate record, this panel has determined
unanimously that oral argument would not materially assist the determination of
this appeal. See Fed. R. App. P. 34(a)(2); 10th Cir. R. 34.1(G). The case is
therefore ordered submitted without oral argument.
Ronald Guiden, appearing pro se, appeals the district courts dismissal of
his 1983 complaint against Martha Morrow, a state district court clerk, based on
This order and judgment is not binding precedent except under the
doctrines of law of the case, res judicata and collateral estoppel. The 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.
*
her immunity from suit. 1 We exercise jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. 1291. The
appeal is frivolous and we dismiss it under 28 U.S.C. 1915(e)(2)(B)(i).
Background
As alleged in his complaint, Guiden, an inmate at the El Dorado Correctional
Facility in El Dorado, Kansas, mailed a petition and an inmate account statement to
Martha Morrow, the Clerk of the District Court of Butler County, Kansas, for filing.
Morrow did not immediately file these papers but instead referred them to a district
judge for review. After the judges review, Morrow sent Guiden a letter informing
him that a district judge had determined his papers could not be filed because they
failed to specifically name individual defendants. She returned his papers with her
letter. Guiden then filed a notice of appeal, which Morrow refused to file, as there
was no case from which to appeal.
Thereafter, Guiden filed suit against Morrow in the United States District Court
for the District of Kansas, pursuant to 42 U.S.C. 1983. 2 He alleged Morrows
failure to file his papers deprived him of his right of access to the courts and violated
his due process and equal protection rights. He sought damages totaling $300,000
and such other and further relief as is just. (R., Doc. 1, Complaint at 5.)
The district court screened Guidens complaint as required by 28 U.S.C.
We construe pro se pleadings liberally. Ledbetter v. City of Topeka,
Kan., 318 F.3d 1183, 1187 (10th Cir. 2003).
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1915A(a) and (b). 3 Concluding that Morrow was entitled to immunity, the district
court dismissed the complaint under 1915(e)(2)(B)(iii). 4 This appeal followed. 5
Discussion
On appeal, Guiden challenges the dismissal of his complaint, alleging the
district court erred in finding Morrow was entitled to immunity. He also asserts it
was Morrows duty under Kansas law to file his pleadings before turning them over to
the district judge for review. 6
3
Notwithstanding any filing fee, or any portion thereof, that may have
been paid, the court shall dismiss the case at any time if the court
determines that-- . . . the action or appeal--(i) is frivolous or
malicious;(ii) fails to state a claim on which relief may be granted; or
(iii) seeks monetary relief against a defendant who is immune from
such relief.
The district court granted Guidens motion to proceed on appeal without
prepayment of the filing fee.
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1915(e)(2)(B)(iii).
Attempting to avoid dismissal, Guiden argues he was seeking more than
monetary relief against Morrow. He states he also sought such other and further
relief as is just, including an injunction or mandamus, etc. Although Morrow would
not be entitled to immunity in a suit seeking injunctive relief, Lundahl, 296 F.3d at
938-40, the question is whether Guidens complaint gave any indication that he
might be entitled to injunctive relief for Morrows alleged failure to file his state
court papers. Calderon v. Kansas Dept of Social & Rehabilitation Servs., 181 F.3d
1180, 1183 (10th Cir. 1999). In his appellate papers, Guiden has taken liberties with
the facts. His request for relief in his complaint specifically sought [j]udgment
against defendant in the sum of [$300,000] and costs, and such other and further
relief as is just. His request made no mention of equitable relief. Cf. Frazier v.
Simmons, 254 F.3d 1247, 1251, 1255 (10th Cir. 2001) (finding injunctive relief
requested where complaint sought money damages and such other relief as the Court
deems just and equitable and where pretrial order listed "the nature and extent of any
equitable relief" as an issue of law) (emphasis added). Faithful to our duty to
construe pro se prisoner complaints liberally, we have carefully reviewed Guidens
complaint. Reynoldson v. Shillinger, 907 F.2d 124, 125 (10th Cir. 1990). Nowhere
did he suggest that he sought an order requiring Morrow to file his papers in state
court. In fact, in the statement of facts attached to the complaint, he merely asserted
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(e) Filing with the court defined. The filing of pleadings and other
papers with the court . . . shall be made by filing them with the clerk
of the court. In accordance with K.S.A. 60-271 and amendments
thereto and supreme court rules, pleadings and other papers may be
filed by telefacsimile communication. The judge may permit the
papers to be filed with the judge, in which event the judge shall note
thereon the filing date and forthwith transmit them to the office of
the clerk.
Kan. Stat. Ann. 60-205(e). Although state statutes may create liberty interests
that are entitled to the procedural protections of the Due Process Clause of the
Fourteenth Amendment, Kan. Stat. Ann. 60-205(e) is not one of them. Vitek v.
Jones, 445 U.S. 480, 488 (1980). This statute is Kansass equivalent to Federal
Rule of Civil Procedure 5. Plainly, it was not meant to create any rights
enforceable by an inmate against a court clerk. See Sandin v. Conner, 515 U.S.
472 (1995).
Kan. Stat. Ann. 60-2001(b) provides in pertinent part: (b) Poverty
affidavit in lieu of docket fee. . . . In any case where a plaintiff by reason of
poverty is unable to pay a docket fee, and an affidavit so stating is filed, no fee
will be required.
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Conclusion
The district court was correct in dismissing Guidens complaint pursuant to 28
U.S.C. 1915(e)(2)(B)(iii). We adopt the reasoning of the district court and
DISMISS this appeal as frivolous. The dismissal of this appeal counts as one strike
under 28 U.S.C. 1915(g). 9 Guiden also accumulated a strike as a result of the
district courts dismissal. 10 Therefore, Guiden has accumulated a total of two strikes
in this matter. Guiden is reminded to continue making partial payments of his
appellate filing fee until the entire balance is paid.
Entered by the Court:
TERRENCE L. OBRIEN
United States Circuit Judge
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