Robert Hackworth, Jr. v. P. Rangel

MEMORANDUM

California state prisoner Robert Hack-worth Jr. appeals pro se from the district court’s summary judgment in his 42 U.S.C. § 1983 action alleging excessive force. We have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291 . We review de novo. Brace v. Ylst, 351 F.3d 1283 , 1287 (9th Cir.2003). We vacate and remand.

The district court granted summary judgment on Hackworth’s excessive force claim on the basis that it was barred under Edwards v. Balisok, 520 U.S. 641 , 117 S.Ct. 1584 , 137 L.Ed.2d 906 (1997) and Heck v. Humphrey, 512 U.S. 477 , 114 S.Ct. 2364 , 129 L.Ed.2d 383 (1994). However, success on the merits of Hackworth’s excessive force claim does not necessarily imply the invalidity of his of rule-violation conviction. See, e.g., Smith v. City of Hemet, 394 F.3d 689, 693 (9th Cir.2005) (en banc) (§ 1983 action was not barred by Heck because “the excessive force may have been employed against [plaintiff] subsequent to the time he engaged in the conduct that constituted the basis for his conviction”). Furthermore, the rule established in Heck is not an evidentiary doctrine and, therefore, cannot bar evidence in a § 1983 action. See Simpson v. Thomas, 528 F.3d 685, 696 (9th…