Nobert-Manilisay Cruz v. Jennifer Karapetian

NOT FOR PUBLICATION

UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS

FOR THE NINTH CIRCUIT

NOBERT-MANILISAY CRUZ,

Plaintiff-Appellant,

v.

JENNIFER KARAPETIAN,

Defendant-Appellee,

and

STATE OF CALIFORNIA,

Defendant.

No. 19-55684

D.C. No. 2:18-cv-08586-MWF-SS

MEMORANDUM
*

Appeal from the United States District Court
for the Central District of California
Michael W. Fitzgerald, District Judge, Presiding

Submitted June 2, 2020
**

Before: LEAVY, PAEZ, and BENNETT, Circuit Judges.

California state prisoner Nobert-Manilisay Cruz appeals pro se from the

*
This disposition is not appropriate for publication and is not precedent
except as provided by Ninth Circuit Rule 36-3.

**
The panel unanimously concludes this case is suitable for decision
without oral argument. See Fed. R. App. P. 34(a)(2).
FILED

JUN 5 2020

MOLLY C. DWYER, CLERK
U.S. COURT OF APPEALS

2 19-55684
district court’s order dismissing his 42 U.S.C. § 1983 action alleging claims related
to his imprisonment. We have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291. We review de
novo a dismissal under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6). Hebbe v. Pliler,
627 F.3d 338, 341 (9th Cir. 2010). We may affirm on any basis supported by the
record. Thompson v. Paul, 547 F.3d 1055, 1058-59 (9th Cir. 2008). We affirm.
Dismissal of Cruz’s action was proper because the action is barred by Heck
v. Humphrey, 52 U.S. 477 (1994), as success in this action would necessarily imply
the invalidity of Cruz’s conviction or sentence, and Cruz failed to allege facts
sufficient to show that his conviction or sentence has been invalidated. See
Wilkinson v. Dotson, 544 U.S. 74, 78 (2005) (a prisoner in state custody cannot use
a § 1983 action to challenge the fact or duration of his confinement, but must
instead seek federal habeas corpus relief).
We do not consider matters not specifically and distinctly raised and argued
in the opening brief, or arguments and allegations raised for the first time on
appeal. See Padgett v. Wright, 587 F.3d 983, 985 n.2 (9th Cir. 2009).
AFFIRMED.