Opinion
CIVIL ACTION 4:16-1706-MGL
02-06-2017
JOSHUA MARK HOLLIDAY, Plaintiff, v. AIKEN COUNTY DETENTION CENTER, ROBERT WILLIAMS, and ALMAZ CLARK, Defendants.
ORDER ADOPTING THE REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION AND DISMISSING THIS ACTION WITH PREJUDICE FOR FAILURE TO PROSECUTE
This case was filed under 42 U.S.C. § 1983. Plaintiff is proceeding pro se. The matter is before the Court for review of the Report and Recommendation (Report) of the United States Magistrate Judge suggesting this action be dismissed with prejudice under Rule 41(b) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure for failure to prosecute. The Report was made in accordance with 28 U.S.C. § 636 and Local Civil Rule 73.02 for the District of South Carolina.
The Magistrate Judge makes only a recommendation to this Court. The recommendation has no presumptive weight. The responsibility to make a final determination remains with the Court. Mathews v. Weber, 423 U.S. 261, 270 (1976). The Court is charged with making a de novo determination of those portions of the Report to which specific objection is made, and the Court may accept, reject, or modify, in whole or in part, the recommendation of the Magistrate Judge or recommit the matter with instructions. 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1).
The Magistrate Judge filed the Report on January 25, 2017, but Plaintiff failed to file any objections. "[I]n the absence of a timely filed objection, a district court need not conduct a de novo review, but instead must 'only satisfy itself that there is no clear error on the face of the record in order to accept the recommendation.'" Diamond v. Colonial Life & Acc. Ins. Co., 416 F.3d 310, 315 (4th Cir. 2005) (quoting Fed. R. Civ. P. 72 advisory committee's note). Moreover, a failure to object waives appellate review. Wright v. Collins, 766 F.2d 841, 845-46 (4th Cir. 1985).
The Court notes in the Magistrate Judge's June 22, 2016, Order, he informed Plaintiff he was "ordered to always keep the Clerk of Court advised in writing (Post Office Box 2317, Florence, South Carolina 29503) if your address changes for any reason, so as to assure that orders or other matters that specify deadlines for you to meet will be received by you. If as a result of your failure to comply with this Order, you fail to meet a deadline set by this Court, your case may be dismissed for violating this Order. Therefore, if you have a change of address before this case is ended, you must comply with this Order by immediately advising the Clerk of Court in writing of such change of address and providing the Court with the docket numbers of all pending cases you have filed with this Court. Your failure to do so will not be excused by the Court." ECF No. 8 at 3. Nevertheless, the Post Office returned the Magistrate Judge's Roseboro Order to the Clerk of Court on January 27, 2016, marked "RETURN TO SENDER[.] ATTEMPTED-NOT KNOWN[.] UNABLE TO FORWARD[.]" ECF No. 40. Thereafter, the Post Office returned the Report on February 6, 2017, marked "RETURN TO SENDER[.] NOT DELIVERABLE AS ADDRESSED[.] UNABLE TO FORWARD[.]" ECF No. 45. Evidently, Plaintiff has failed to follow the dictates of the Court to keep the Clerk apprised of his address change. Consequently, the consequence of Plaintiff's failure to receive the Orders is a self-inflicted wound. --------
After a thorough review of the Report and the record in this case pursuant to the standard set forth above, the Court adopts the Report and incorporates it herein. Therefore, it is the judgment of the Court this action is DISMISSED WITH PREJUDICE under Fed. R. Civ. P. 41(b) for failure to prosecute; and the pending motion for summary judgement is RENDERED MOOT.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
Signed this 6th day of February, 2017, in Columbia, South Carolina.
s/ Mary Geiger Lewis
MARY GEIGER LEWIS
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
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NOTICE OF RIGHT TO APPEAL
Plaintiff is hereby notified of the right to appeal this Order within thirty days from the date hereof, pursuant to Rules 3 and 4 of the Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure.