Surface v. Ciardelli et al

Filing 28

ORDER affirming and adopting 25 Report and Recommendation; granting 17 Defendant's Motion to Dismiss or Alternatively to Strike Plaintiff's Filing. Complaint at ECF No. 1 as to Defendant Victor F. Ciardelli is Dismissed Without Prejudice. By Judge Charlotte N. Sweeney on 2/7/24.(jdyne)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLORADO
Judge Charlotte N. Sweeney
Civil Action No. 1:23-cv-00443-CNS-KAS
RAYMOND TODD SURFACE,
Plaintiff,
v.
VICTOR F. CIARDELLI, CEO of Guaranteed Rate, Inc., and
ROBERT CARUSO, CEO of ServiceMac, LLC,
Defendants.

ORDER

Before the Court is the Report and Recommendation by United States Magistrate
Judge Kathryn A. Starnella issued on January 19, 2024, recommending that Defendant
Victor F. Ciardelli’s Motion to Dismiss or Alternatively to Strike Plaintiff’s Filing [Dkt. 1] be
granted (ECF Nos. 17, 25). For the following reasons, the Court AFFIRMS and ADOPTS
the Recommendation.
The parties were advised that they had 14 days, after being served with a copy of
the Recommendation, to file written objections in order to obtain reconsideration by the
District Judge assigned to the case (see ECF No. 25 at 12 (citing Fed. R. Civ. P.

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72(b)(2)). 1 Neither party has filed an objection to Magistrate Judge Starnella’s
Recommendation.
Under 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)(B), this Court may designate a magistrate judge to
consider dispositive motions and submit recommendations to the Court. When a
magistrate judge submits a recommendation, the Court must “determine de novo any part
of the magistrate judge’s [recommended] disposition that has been properly objected to.”
Fed. R. Civ. P. 72(b)(3). A party’s failure to file such written objections may bar the party
from a de novo determination by the District Judge of the proposed findings and
recommendations. Thomas v. Arn, 474 U.S. 140, 150 (1985). When this occurs, the Court
is “accorded considerable discretion” and “may review a magistrate’s report under any
standard it deems appropriate.” Summers v. State of Utah, 927 F.2d 1165, 1167 (10th
Cir. 1991) (citing Thomas, 474 U.S. at 150).
After reviewing all the relevant pleadings, the Court concludes that Magistrate
Judge Starnella’s analysis was thorough and comprehensive, the Recommendation is
well-reasoned, and the Court finds no clear error on the face of the record. As such, the
Court AFFIRMS and ADOPTS Magistrate Judge Starnella’s Recommendation as an
Order of this Court (ECF No. 25).
It appears from the docket that service upon Plaintiff of the Magistrate Judge’s
Recommendation was returned to the Court as undeliverable, likely because Plaintiff has
not provided a current mailing address (see ECF No. 27). Of note, all parties—including
pro se litigants—are required to update their contact information no later than five days
after any change. See D.C.COLO.LCivR 5.1(c). Although mindful that Plaintiff is
proceeding pro se in this matter, the Court nevertheless will not act as a pro se party’s
advocate, and such a party is governed by the same procedural rules and requirements
of substantive law that govern other litigants. See Dodson v. Bd. of Cnty. Comm’rs, 878
F.Supp.2d 1227, 1235–36 (D. Colo. 2012).
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Accordingly, the Court ORDERS as follows:
(1) Defendant’s Motion to Dismiss or Alternatively to Strike Plaintiff’s Filing [Dkt. 1] is
GRANTED (ECF No. 17); and
(2) Pursuant to Federal Rules of Civil Procedure 12(b)(2) and 12(b)(5), Plaintiff’s
complaint, styled as a “Miscellaneous Filing & Repository,” is DISMISSED
WITHOUT PREJUDICE as to Defendant Victor F. Ciardelli (ECF No. 1).
DATED this 7th day of February 2024.
BY THE COURT:
________________________________
Charlotte N. Sweeney
United States District Judge

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