Opinion
Civil Action No. 1:16cv212
03-02-2018
LINWOOD LAMONT JONES, Plaintiff, v. MR. J. FIKES, individually and official capacity; MR. M. WEAVER, individually and official capacity; DR. E. ANDERSON, individually and official capacity; PA C. GHERKE, individually and official capacity aka Gherky; DR. T. SAVAGE, individually and official capacity; WARDEN R. A. PERDUE, individually and official capacity, Defendants.
( ) ORDER ADOPTING AMENDED REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION [DKT. NO. 31] , GRANTING-IN-PART AND DENYING-IN-PART DEFENDANTS' MOTION TO DISMISS [DKT. NO. 12], AND DENYING AS MOOT PLAINTIFF'S MOTION TO TAKE JUDICIAL NOTICE [DKT. NO. 26]
On November 7, 2016, the pro se plaintiff, Linwood Lamont Jones ("Jones"), filed a Bivens action against multiple employees at FCI Gilmore (Dkt. No. 1), alleging that the defendants failed to provide appropriate medical treatment for his spinal stenosis. Id. Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636 and the local rules, the Court referred the action to United States Magistrate Judge Michael J. Aloi for initial review. On August 3, 2017, the defendants moved to dismiss Jones' complaint for lack of proper service under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(5) (Dkt. No. 12).
Bivens v. Six Unknown Named Agents of Federal Bureau of Narcotics, 403 U.S. 388, 390 (1971).
On January 4, 2018, Magistrate Judge James E. Seibert entered an Amended Report and Recommendation ("R&R"), recommending that the Court grant in part and deny in part the defendants' motion to dismiss (Dkt. No. 31). Judge Seibert concluded that, despite earlier procedural miscues, Jones had properly served defendants Dr. E. Anderson ("Anderson"), PA C. Gherke ("Gherke"), and Mr. M. Weaver ("Weaver") in advance of the extended deadline for service established by the Court. Id. at 3-5. Judge Seibert further concluded, however, that Jones had failed to accomplish proper service on defendants Mr. J. Fikes ("Fikes"), Dr. T. Savage ("Savage"), and Warden R. A. Perdue ("Perdue") by the Court's deadline. Id. at 4.
On September 15, 2017, the referral in this case was reassigned to Magistrate Judge James E. Seibert. On December 27, 2017, Judge Seibert entered a Report and Recommendation recommending that the Court grant in part and deny in part the defendants' motion to dismiss (Dkt. No. 30). On January 4, 2018, Judge Seibert entered an Amended Report and Recommendation, correcting an inadvertent transposing of two defendants' names on page five of the original R&R (Dkt. No. 31 at 1 n.1). --------
The R&R also informed the parties of their right to file "written objections, identifying those portions of the recommendation to which objection is made and the basis for such objections." Id. at 5. It further warned them that failure to do so may result in waiver of the right to appeal. Id. at 5-6. No party has filed any objections to the R&R.
When reviewing a magistrate judge's R&R, the Court must review de novo only those portions of the R&R to which an objection has been timely made. 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)(C). On the other hand, "the Court may adopt, without explanation, any of the magistrate judge's recommendations to which the prisoner does not object." Dellacirprete v. Gutierrez, 479 F. Supp. 2d. 600, 603-04 (N.D.W. Va. 2007)(citing Camby v. Davis, 718 F.2d 198, 199 (4th Cir. 2005)). Courts will uphold those portions of the recommendation to which no objection has been made unless they are "clearly erroneous." See Diamond v. Colonial Life & Accident Ins. Co., 416 F.3d 310, 315 (4th Cir. 2005).
Because no party has objected, the Court is under no obligation to conduct a de novo review. Dellacirprete, 479 F. Supp. at 603-04. Upon Review of the R&R and the record for clear error, the Court:
1. ADOPTS the Amended R&R (Dkt. No. 31);
2. GRANTS in PART the defendants' Motion to Dismiss as to defendants Fikes, Savage, and Perdue (Dkt. No. 12) and DISMISSES Jones' complaint WITHOUT PREJUDICE as to these defendants (Dkt. No. 1);
3. DENIES in PART the defendants' Motion to Dismiss as to defendants Anderson, Gherke, and Weaver (Dkt. No. 12);
4. DENIES as MOOT Jones' Motion for the Court to Take Judicial Notice (Dkt. No. 26);
5. DIRECTS the Clerk to TERMINATE as MOOT the original R&R (Dkt. No. 30); and
6. DIRECTS the Clerk to issue a summons for the United States Attorney for the Northern District of West Virginia and the Attorney General of the United States, and to serve a copy of the summons and complaint upon those parties by certified mail, return receipt requested.
It is so ORDERED.
The Court DIRECTS the Clerk to transmit copies of this Order to counsel of record and the pro se plaintiff, certified mail and return receipt requested. DATED: March 2, 2018.
/s/ Irene M. Keeley
IRENE M. KEELEY
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE