District Court, D. South Carolina, 2026

Terrance Griffin ex rel. v. Ryshema Davis, Betty Smith, Brian Kendall, Jonathan...

Terrance Griffin ex rel. v. Ryshema Davis, Betty Smith, Brian Kendall, Jonathan...
District Court, D. South Carolina · Decided February 17, 2026
Terrance Griffin ex rel. v. Ryshema Davis, Betty Smith, Brian Kendall, Jonathan...

Trial Court Opinion

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF SOUTH CAROLINA ROCK HILL DIVISION EX REL- TERRANCE GRIFFIN, § Plaintiff, § § VS. § CIVIL ACTION NO. 0:23-4086-MGL § RYSHEMA DAVIS, BETTY SMITH, BRIAN § KENDALL, JONATHAN NANCE, F:S.S. § SIMONS, F.S.S. JAY, F.S.S. GORE, and F.S.S. § ALSTON, § Defendants. § ORDER ADOPTING THE REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION AND DENYING PLAINTIFF’S MOTION FOR A PRELIMINARY INJUNCTION Plaintiff Terrance Griffin (Griffin), a state inmate representing himself, brings this 42 U.S.C. § 1983 civil rights action against Defendants Ryshema Davis, Betty Smith, Brian Kendall, Jonathan Nance, F.S.S. Simons, F.S.S. Jay, F.S.S. Gore, and F.S.S. Alston.

The matter is before the Court for review of the Report and Recommendation (Report) of the United States Magistrate Judge suggesting to the Court Griffin’s motion for a preliminary injunction be denied. 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 28, 2026, but Griffin 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).

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. It is therefore the judgment of the Court Griffin’s motion for a preliminary injunction is DENIED.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Signed this 17th day of February, 2026, in Columbia, South Carolina. /s/ Mary Geiger Lewis MARY GEIGER LEWIS UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE ***** NOTICE OF RIGHT TO APPEAL The parties are 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.

Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.