Staley v. The City of Buffalo

District Court, W.D. New York

Staley v. The City of Buffalo

Trial Court Opinion

TES DISTR] KD Sih FILED Lop UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT = PX WESTERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK JUN 13 2024 i ty we Wests LOEWENGUTY oF wi DERRICK STALEY and NEVAEH ERN DISTRICS STALEY, Plaintiff, 22-CV-945 (JLS) v. CITY OF BUFFALO, AHMED ABDO, individually and in his capacity as a Buffalo Police Officer, ALLYSA TABORN, individually and in her capacity as a Buffalo Police Officer, ERIC PRENTISS, individually and in his capacity as a Buffalo Police Officer, JONATHAN JACKSON, individually and in his capacity as a Buffalo Police Officer, CHRISTINA IHLE, individually and in her capacity as a Buffalo Police Officer, JOSEPH FISCHER, individually and in his capacity as a Detective for the City of Buffalo, DEBORAH STWORZYDLAK, individually and in her official capacity as a caseworker for the Erie County Child Protective Services, Defendants.

DECISION AND ORDER Plaintiff Derrick Staley and Nevaeh Staley brought this lawsuit challenging actions taken by members of the City of Buffalo Police, Child Protective Services, and others, which Plaintiffs allege violated their constitutional rights. See Dkt. 7 (Amended Complaint). It is unclear whether Plaintiffs served the Amended Complaint. Plaintiffs also moved to consolidate this matter with another pending

action, Derrick Staley, et al. v. City of Buffalo, et al., 22-CV-00620-JLS. See Dkt. 8. Defendants moved to dismiss the Amended Complaint for failure to timely effect service and failure to prosecute. See Dkts. 12, 17. On May 22, 2024, Judge McCarthy issued a Report and Recommendation (“R&R”), recommending that this Court deny Defendants’ motions to dismiss. See Dkt. 24, at 7. Neither party objected to the R&R, and the time to do so has expired. See

28 U.S.C. § 636

(b)(1); Fed. R. Civ. P. 72(b)(2). A district court may accept, reject, or modify the findings or recommendations of a magistrate judge.

28 U.S.C. § 636

(b)(1); Fed. R. Civ. P. 72(b)(3). A district court must conduct a de novo review of those portions of a magistrate judge’s recommendation to which a party objects. See

28 U.S.C. § 686

(b)(1)(C); Fed. R. Civ. P. 72(b)(3). But neither

28 U.S.C. section 636

nor Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 72 requires a district court to review the recommendation of a magistrate judge to which no objections are raised. See Thomas v. Arn,

474 U.S. 140, 149-50

(1985). Although not required to do so here, this Court nevertheless reviewed Judge McCarthy's R&R. Based on that review, and absent any objections, the Court accepts the R&R’s recommendation to deny Defendants’ motions to dismiss (Dkts. 12, 17). See Dkt. 24, at 7.

1 This Court referred the case to United States Magistrate Judge Jeremiah J. McCarthy for all proceedings under

28 U.S.C. sections 636

(b)(1)(A), (B), and (C). Dkt. 9.

CONCLUSION For the reasons above and in the R&R, the Court DENIES Defendants’ motions to dismiss (Dkts. 12, 17). The case is referred back to Judge McCarthy consistent with the January 25, 2024 referral order. Dkt. 9.

SO ORDERED.

Dated: June 13, 2024 L ) □ Buffalo, New York /

| /\ oN . THe SINATRA, JR. U ED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

Reference

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