Thomas v. Seminole Electric Cooperative Inc.

Filing 74

ORDER ADOPTING 73 Report and Recommendations; DENYING WITHOUT PREJUDICE 70 Defendant's Motion for Attorneys' Fees, with leave to re-file, if appropriate, within thirty (30) days of the entry of a decision by the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals on Plaintiff's pending appeal. Signed by Judge Mary S. Scriven on 11/14/2018. (GMD)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
MIDDLE DISTRICT OF FLORIDA
TAMPA DIVISION
JOZETTE THOMAS,
Plaintiff,
v.

Case No: 8:16-cv-3404-T-35JSS

SEMINOLE ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE
INC.,
Defendant.

ORDER
THIS CAUSE comes before the Court for consideration of the Motion for Attorneys’
Fees filed by Defendant. (Dkt. 70) On October 23, 2018, United States Magistrate
Judge Julie S. Sneed issued a Report and Recommendation, finding that the ends of
justice would be best served by denying the Motion without prejudice due to the pendency
of Plaintiff’s appeal, with leave to re-file after the conclusion of the appeal. (Dkt. 73) No
objections to Judge Sneed’s Report and Recommendation have been filed, and the time
to do so has now passed.
After conducting a careful and complete review of the findings and
recommendations, a district judge may accept, reject or modify the Magistrate Judge's
report and recommendation. 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1); Williams v. Wainwright, 681 F.2d
732, 732 (11th Cir. 1982), cert. denied, 459 U.S. 1112 (1983). A district judge “shall
make a de novo determination of those portions of the report or specified proposed
findings or recommendations to which objection is made.” 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)(C). This
requires that the district judge “give fresh consideration to those issues to which specific

objection has been made by a party.” Jeffrey S. v. State Bd. of Educ., 896 F.2d 507, 512
(11th Cir.1990) (quoting H.R. 1609, 94th Cong. § 2 (1976)). In the absence of specific
objections, there is no requirement that a district judge review factual findings de novo,
Garvey v. Vaughn, 993 F.2d 776, 779 n.9 (11th Cir. 1993), and the court may accept,
reject, or modify, in whole or in part, the findings and recommendations. 28 U.S.C. §
636(b)(1)(C). The district judge reviews legal conclusions de novo, even in the absence
of an objection. See Cooper-Houston v. Southern Ry., 37 F.3d 603, 604 (11th Cir. 1994).
Upon consideration of the Report and Recommendation, in conjunction with an
independent examination of the file, the Court is of the opinion that the Report and
Recommendation should be adopted, confirmed, and approved in all respects.
Accordingly, it is ORDERED that:
1.

The Report and Recommendation, (Dkt. 73), is CONFIRMED and
ADOPTED as part of this Order; and

2.

Defendant’s Motion for Attorneys’ Fees, (Dkt. 70), is DENIED WITHOUT
PREJUDICE and with leave to re-file, if appropriate, within thirty (30) days
of the entry of a decision by the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals on
Plaintiff’s pending appeal.

DONE and ORDERED in Tampa, Florida, this 14th day of November, 2018.

Copies furnished to:
Counsel of Record
Any Unrepresented Person

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