Ratliff v. Lester

District Court, S.D. West Virginia

Ratliff v. Lester

Trial Court Opinion

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF WEST VIRGINIA AT BECKLEY

MARSHALL LOUIS RATLIFF, Petitioner, v. CIVIL ACTION NO. 5:20-cv-00619 CHAD LESTER, et al.,

Respondents. ORDER

Pending is Plaintiff Marshall Ratliff’s Complaint [Doc. 1], filed on September 21, 2020. This action was previously referred to the Honorable Omar J. Aboulhosn, United States Magistrate Judge, for submission of proposed findings and a recommendation (“PF&R”). Magistrate Judge Aboulhosn filed his PF&R on September 20, 2021. Magistrate Judge Aboulhosn recommended that the Court dismiss Plaintiff’s Complaint without prejudice. The Court need not review, under a de novo or any other standard, the factual or legal conclusions of the magistrate judge as to those portions of the findings or recommendation to which no objections are addressed. See Thomas v. Arn,

474 U.S. 140

(1985); see also

28 U.S.C. § 636

(b)(1) (“A judge of the court shall make a de novo determination of those portions of the report or specified proposed findings or recommendations to which objection is made.” (emphasis added)). Failure to file timely objections constitutes a waiver of de novo review and the Petitioner’s right to appeal the Court’s order. 1 See

28 U.S.C. § 636

(b)(1); see also United States v. De Leon-

1 The PF&R was sent to Mr. Ratliff by mail but was returned as undeliverable. [Doc. 10]. The Court took extraordinary steps to locate Mr. Ratliff, including utilizing the West Virginia Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation Offender Search, but was unable to do so. Mr. Ratliff Ramirez,

925 F.3d 177, 181

(4th Cir. 2019) (parties may not typically “appeal a magistrate judge’s findings that were not objected to below, as § 636(b) doesn’t require de novo review absent objection”); Snyder v. Ridenour,

889 F.2d 1363, 1366

(4th Cir. 1989). Further, the Court need not conduct de novo review when a party “makes general and conclusory objections that do not direct the Court to a specific error in the magistrate’s proposed findings and recommendations.” Orpiano v. Johnson,

687 F.2d 44, 47

(4th Cir. 1982). Objections in this case were due on October 7, 2021. No objections were filed. Accordingly, the Court ADOPTS the PF&R [Doc. 9], DISMISSES the Complaint [Doc. 1] as to the following: (1) excessive force in violation of the Eighth Amendment, (2) lack of recreation in violation of the Eighth Amendment, and (3) the denial of recreation and telephone privileges in violation of the Fourteenth Amendment, and DISMISSES the matter without prejudice. The Court directs the Clerk to transmit a copy of this Order to any counsel of record and any unrepresented party. ENTER: October 15, 2021 Qe we my Frank W. Volk “Ts United States District Judge

is required to maintain a current address with the Clerk. L.R. Civ. P. 83.5 (“A pro se party must advise the clerk promptly of any changes in name, address, and telephone number.”). Thus, Mr. Ratliff’s failure to file objections by the deadline is not excused by the inability to deliver the PF&R.

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