Opinion
Case No. 16-cv-10177
03-08-2016
TIMOTHY ARTHUR BERRY, Plaintiff, v. OTTAWA COUNTY JAIL, Defendant.
Magistrate Judge Patricia T. Morris
ORDER ADOPTING REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION AND DISMISSING PLAINTIFF'S COMPLAINT
On January 19, 2016, Plaintiff Timothy Arthur Berry filed a complaint against the Ottawa County Jail. In the complaint Berry claims that Trese violated a series of his constitutional rights including his Seventh, Fifth, First, and Fourteenth Amendment rights. Berry also applied for permission to proceed in forma pauperis. Berry's case was referred to Magistrate Judge Patricia T. Morris for general case management.
On February 12, 2016, Judge Morris issued a report recommending Berry's complaint be dismissed for failing to state a claim on which relief may be granted. See Rep. & Rec. 5-7, ECF No. 7 Judge Morris explained that Berry's claims are properly brought under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, but must be dismissed because the Ottawa County Jail is not a "person" for purposes of that section. Thus, Judge Morris concluded, Berry's complaint is meritless and does not state a claim under 42 U.S.C. § 1983.
Although the Magistrate Judge's report explicitly stated that the parties to this action may object to and seek review of the recommendation within fourteen days of service of the report, neither Plaintiff nor Defendant filed any objections. The election not to file objections to the Magistrate Judge's report releases the Court from its duty to independently review the record. Thomas v. Arn, 474 U.S. 140, 149 (1985). The failure to file objections to the report and recommendation waives any further right to appeal.
Accordingly, it is ORDERED that the magistrate judge's report and recommendation, ECF No. 7, is ADOPTED.
It is further ORDERED that Plaintiff Timothy Berry's Complaint, ECF No. 1, is DISMISSED with prejudice.
s/Thomas L. Ludington
THOMAS L. LUDINGTON
United States District Judge Dated: March 8, 2016
PROOF OF SERVICE
The undersigned certifies that a copy of the foregoing order was served upon each attorney or party of record herein by electronic means or first class U.S. mail on March 8, 2016.
s/Michael A. Sian
MICHAEL A. SIAN, Case Manager