Doward v. State of Minnesota

U.S. District Court, District of Minnesota

Doward v. State of Minnesota

Trial Court Opinion

                UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT                             
                    DISTRICT OF MINNESOTA                                


Monique Annette Doward,                   Civ. No. 24-182 (JWB/LIB)      

         Plaintiff,                                                      
                                          ORDER ACCEPTING                
v.                                            REPORT AND                  
                                        RECOMMENDATION OF                
State of Minnesota,                        MAGISTRATE JUDGE               

         Defendant.                                                      
________________________________________________________________________  

Monique Annette Doward, pro se Plaintiff.                                 


    United States Magistrate Judge Leo I. Brisbois issued a Report and   
Recommendation (“R&R”) on January 30, 2024. (Doc. No. 3.) Plaintiff Monique Annette 
Doward has filed objections. (Doc. No. 4.) A district court reviews the portions of the 
R&R to which the parties object de novo and “may accept, reject, or modify, in whole or 
in part, the findings or recommendations made by the magistrate judge.” 
28 U.S.C. § 636
(b)(1); D. Minn. LR 72.2(b)(3). When a party fails to file specific objections to an 
R&R or merely repeats its prior arguments, de novo review is not required. See 
Montgomery v. Compass Airlines, LLC, 
98 F. Supp. 3d 1012, 1017
 (D. Minn. 2015). The 
portions of an R&R to which no specific objection is made are reviewed for clear error. 
Grinder v. Gammon, 
73 F.3d 793, 795
 (8th Cir. 1996). Because Doward is pro se, her 
objections receive liberal construction. Erickson v. Pardus, 
551 U.S. 89, 94
 (2007). 
    Doward’s objection that her claims present federal questions misunderstands the 
procedural defects in her filing and does not present a specific argument challenging the 
R&R’s findings. As either plaintiff or counterclaim plaintiff, Doward is not permitted to 

remove her own claims to federal court. 
28 U.S.C. §§ 1446
(a), 1441; Shamrock Oil & 
Gas Corp. v. Sheets, 
313 U.S. 100, 107
 (1941). There is no subject matter jurisdiction and 
Doward’s objection is overruled.                                          

ORDER

    Based on the R&R of the Magistrate Judge, and on all the files, records, and 
proceedings herein, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that:                            

    1.   The January 30, 2024 Report and Recommendation (Doc. No. 3) is  
ACCEPTED;                                                                 
    2.   The present action is DISMISSED WITHOUT PREJUDICE for           
improper removal and lack of subject matter jurisdiction; and             
    3.   Plaintiff Monique Annette Doward’s Application to Proceed in District 

Court without Prepaying Fees or Costs (Doc. No. 2) is DENIED as moot.     
    LET JUDGMENT BE ENTERED ACCORDINGLY.                                 

Date: April 2, 2024                 s/ Jerry W. Blackwell                 
                                  JERRY W. BLACKWELL                     
                                  United States District Judge           

Trial Court Opinion

                UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT                             
                    DISTRICT OF MINNESOTA                                


Monique Annette Doward,                   Civ. No. 24-182 (JWB/LIB)      

         Plaintiff,                                                      
                                          ORDER ACCEPTING                
v.                                            REPORT AND                  
                                        RECOMMENDATION OF                
State of Minnesota,                        MAGISTRATE JUDGE               

         Defendant.                                                      
________________________________________________________________________  

Monique Annette Doward, pro se Plaintiff.                                 


    United States Magistrate Judge Leo I. Brisbois issued a Report and   
Recommendation (“R&R”) on January 30, 2024. (Doc. No. 3.) Plaintiff Monique Annette 
Doward has filed objections. (Doc. No. 4.) A district court reviews the portions of the 
R&R to which the parties object de novo and “may accept, reject, or modify, in whole or 
in part, the findings or recommendations made by the magistrate judge.” 
28 U.S.C. § 636
(b)(1); D. Minn. LR 72.2(b)(3). When a party fails to file specific objections to an 
R&R or merely repeats its prior arguments, de novo review is not required. See 
Montgomery v. Compass Airlines, LLC, 
98 F. Supp. 3d 1012, 1017
 (D. Minn. 2015). The 
portions of an R&R to which no specific objection is made are reviewed for clear error. 
Grinder v. Gammon, 
73 F.3d 793, 795
 (8th Cir. 1996). Because Doward is pro se, her 
objections receive liberal construction. Erickson v. Pardus, 
551 U.S. 89, 94
 (2007). 
    Doward’s objection that her claims present federal questions misunderstands the 
procedural defects in her filing and does not present a specific argument challenging the 
R&R’s findings. As either plaintiff or counterclaim plaintiff, Doward is not permitted to 

remove her own claims to federal court. 
28 U.S.C. §§ 1446
(a), 1441; Shamrock Oil & 
Gas Corp. v. Sheets, 
313 U.S. 100, 107
 (1941). There is no subject matter jurisdiction and 
Doward’s objection is overruled.                                          

ORDER

    Based on the R&R of the Magistrate Judge, and on all the files, records, and 
proceedings herein, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that:                            

    1.   The January 30, 2024 Report and Recommendation (Doc. No. 3) is  
ACCEPTED;                                                                 
    2.   The present action is DISMISSED WITHOUT PREJUDICE for           
improper removal and lack of subject matter jurisdiction; and             
    3.   Plaintiff Monique Annette Doward’s Application to Proceed in District 

Court without Prepaying Fees or Costs (Doc. No. 2) is DENIED as moot.     
    LET JUDGMENT BE ENTERED ACCORDINGLY.                                 

Date: April 2, 2024                 s/ Jerry W. Blackwell                 
                                  JERRY W. BLACKWELL                     
                                  United States District Judge           

Reference

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