Opinion
6:23-cv-298-MJT-ZJH
11-08-2023
ORDER ADOPTING THE REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION OF THE UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE
Michael J. Truncale, United States District Judge
Plaintiff Jay Williams, an inmate of the Henderson County Jail proceeding pro se, filed this lawsuit under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 and did not pay the filing fee. The case was reassigned to the undersigned after the recusal of several judges, and it was referred to United States Magistrate Judge Zach Hawthorn for findings of fact, conclusions of law, and recommendations for the disposition of the case.
On October 3, 2023, Judge Hawthorn issued a Report recommending that Plaintiff's lawsuit be dismissed for failure to prosecute because Plaintiff had failed to comply with the Court's order to satisfy the filing fee requirement and to file an amended complaint to correct deficiencies observed in the initial pleading. Docket No. 33. A copy of this Report was mailed to Plaintiff, but he has not filed written objections or sought an extension of time to do so.
This Court reviews the findings and conclusions of the Magistrate Judge de novo only if a party objects within fourteen days of the Report and Recommendation. 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1). In conducting a de novo review, the Court examines the entire record and makes an independent assessment under the law. Douglass v. United Servs. Auto. Ass'n, 79 F.3d 1415, 1430 (5th Cir. 1996) (en banc), superseded on other grounds by statute, 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1) (extending the time to file objections from ten to fourteen days).
Here, Plaintiff did not object in the prescribed period. The Court therefore reviews the Magistrate Judge's findings for clear error or abuse of discretion and reviews his legal conclusions to determine whether they are contrary to law. See United States v. Wilson, 864 F.2d 1219, 1221 (5th Cir. 1989), cert. denied, 492 U.S. 918 (1989) (holding that, if no objections to a Magistrate Judge's Report are filed, the standard of review is “clearly erroneous, abuse of discretion and contrary to law.”).
Having reviewed the Magistrate Judge's Report and the record in this case, the Court finds no clear error or abuse of discretion and no conclusions contrary to law. Accordingly, the Court hereby ADOPTS the Report and Recommendation of the United States Magistrate Judge (Docket No. 33) as the findings of this Court. It is therefore ORDERED that this case is DISMISSED without prejudice for failure to prosecute. Any pending motions are DENIED as MOOT.