Unpublished Dispositionharry Bout, Plaintiff-appellant, v. People of the State of Michigan, City of Grand Rapids, Amunicipal Corporation, Gerritt W. Roelofs, Individually, Andin His Representative Capacity As a Police Officer for Thecity of Grand Rapids, Sandra Arens, Individually, and in Herrepresentative Capacity As a Police Officer for the City Ofgrand Rapids, David H. Sawyer, Individually, and in Hisrepresentative Capacity As Kent County Prosecuting Attorney,varis Klavins, Individually, and in His Representativecapacity As Assistant Kent County Prosecuting Attorney, R.stuart Hoffius, Individually, and in His Representativecapacity As Kent County Circuit Judge, United Statesdepartment of Justice Federal Bureau of Investigation, Geneward, Individually, and in His Representative Capacity As Anagent for the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Richard C.holst, Individually, Defendants-appellees, 877 F.2d 62 (6th Cir. 1989)

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US Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit - 877 F.2d 62 (6th Cir. 1989) June 19, 1989

Before KENNEDY, RALPH B. GUY and ALAN E. NORRIS, Circuit Judges.


ORDER

Plaintiff, Harry Bout, appeals a judgment of the district court which dismissed his civil rights action. He now moves for the appointment of counsel. Upon review of the record, this panel unanimously agrees that oral argument is not needed. Fed. R. App. P. 34(a).

Plaintiff filed a complaint pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983 in the District Court for the Western District of Michigan. As the basis of his request for both monetary damages and injunctive relief, he alleged that he had been falsely convicted of first degree murder as a result of numerous unconstitutional acts by defendants, most of whom were officials in the Grand Rapids criminal justice system. The allegedly illegal acts included: 1) the securing of an arrest warrant unsupported by probable cause; 2) the forced entry into plaintiff's home; 3) the fabrication of evidence; 4) the coercion of witnesses into providing perjured testimony; and 5) the inducement of plaintiff to unwittingly incriminate himself. Defendants, however, moved to dismiss the complaint pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b) (6), based upon the argument that plaintiff's claims challenged the validity of his conviction and therefore could not give rise to a cause of action under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 until he had successfully obtained habeas relief upon those same claims. A magistrate agreed with that argument and recommended the granting of defendants' motion. Upon receipt of plaintiff's objections, the district court adopted the magistrate's report and dismissed the complaint. Plaintiff then filed this appeal.

Based upon careful review of the record and plaintiff's brief, this court concludes that the district court did not err in dismissing the complaint. Accordingly, the motion for appointment of counsel is hereby denied and the district court's final judgment is hereby affirmed. Rule 9(b) (5), Rules of the Sixth Circuit.

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