Cox

Petitioner Ernest L. Cox is incarcerated at Mule Creek State Prison. He filed a civil complaint against real parties in interest, officials and employees of the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR), seeking monetary damages. Simultaneously, he filed a petition for relief from the government claims filing requirement. Respondent superior court deemed the civil complaint to be a petition for writ of habeas corpus, which the court then denied. Petitioner filed a petition for writ of mandate in this court, asserting respondent superior court erred in deeming the civil complaint to be a habeas corpus petition and that the court must consider his petition for relief from the government claims filing requirement on its merits. Real parties in interest concede respondent superior court erred. We agree, and order the issuance of a peremptory writ of mandate.

BACKGROUND

Petitioner filed a civil complaint against officials and employees of CDCR. The complaint is not a model of clarity, but in general alleges claims of sexual harassment, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and violation of due process. The complaint seeks compensatory and punitive damages;…