Perkins v. Bittick et al

Filing 41

RECOMMENDATION to grant 35 MOTION for Summary Judgment filed by Carol Hagen, Todd Haskins, Kirk Seckinger, and Sgt. Clay. Objections to R&R due by 11/21/2008. Ordered by U.S. Mag Judge Claude W. Hicks, Jr. on 11/4/08. (CWH)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE MIDDLE DISTRICT OF GEORGIA MACON DIVISION JOHNNIE B. PERKINS, Plaintiff VS. SGT. CLAY, et al., Defendants

NO. 5:07-CV-349 (HL)
PROCEEDINGS UNDER 42 U.S.C. § 1983 BEFORE THE U.S. MAGISTRATE JUDGE

RECOMMENDATION
Before the court is the defendants' MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT. Tab #35. On June 3, 2008, the undersigned advised plaintiff JOHNNIE B. PERKINS of his duty to respond to the defendants' motion and that failure to respond could result in the granting of said motion. Tab #36. Thereafter, on June 5, 2008, plaintiff filed a motion requesting an extension of time to file his response as well as appointed counsel. Tab #37. The undersigned denied plaintiff's request for counsel but granted a 30 day extension of time for him to file a response. Tab #39. Notwithstanding the granting of an extension, plaintiff Perkins has failed to file a response to the defendants' motion. Moreover, on October 15, 2008, the undersigned directed plaintiff to SHOW CAUSE as to why his case should not be dismissed for failure to prosecute. Tab #40. Once again, plaintiff failed to respond. Nonetheless, it is the obligation of this court to ensure that the standards for summary judgment are met. SUMMARY JUDGMENT STANDARD As previously indicated to the plaintiff in the court's notice (Tab #36), Rule 56(c) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure dealing with motions for summary judgment provides as follows: The motion shall be served at least 10 days before the time fixed for the hearing. The adverse party prior to the day of hearing may serve opposing affidavits. The judgment sought shall be rendered forthwith if the pleadings, depositions, answers to interrogatories, and admissions on file, together with the affidavits, if any, show that there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and that the moving party is entitled to a judgment as a matter of law. A summary judgment, interlocutory in character, may be rendered on the issue of liability alone although there is a genuine issue as to the amount of damages.

Summary judgment can only be granted if there are no genuine issues of material fact and if the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(c); Warrior Tombigbee Transportation Co. v. M/V Nan Fung, 695 F.2d 1294, 1296 (11th Cir. 1983). While the evidence and all factual inferences therefrom must be viewed by the court in the light most favorable to the party opposing the motion, the party opposing the granting of the motion for summary judgment cannot rest on his pleadings to present an issue of fact but must make a response to the motion by filing affidavits, depositions, or otherwise in order to persuade the court that there are material facts which exist in the case which must be presented to a jury for resolution. See Van T. Junkins & Assoc. v. U.S. Industries, Inc., 736 F.2d 656, 658 (11th Cir.1984). DISCUSSION Plaintiff Perkins has failed to respond to defendants' motion for summary judgment despite specific direction from the court to do so. Accordingly, based upon the defendants' motion and the other records provided, the undersigned finds the facts to be as set forth by the defendants in their STATEMENT
OF

MATERIAL FACTS NOT

IN

DISPUTE (Tab #35) and further finds that there is no

genuine dispute on any issues raised by plaintiff. Plaintiff contends that the defendants violated his constitutional rights in several ways. His claims include an allegation of excessive force as well as inadequate, improper, or delayed medical treatment. However, upon review of the evidence before the court, the undersigned finds that plaintiff's claims are not supported by the facts. The defendants have submitted a brief and affidavits in support of their motion. This evidence shows that the plaintiff Perkins' constitutional rights were not violated by them. Therefore, no deprivation of plaintiff's constitutional rights under 42 U.S.C. §1983 has been established. Accordingly, IT IS RECOMMENDED that the DEFENDANTS' MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT be GRANTED. Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §636(b)(1) the parties may serve and file written objections to this RECOMMENDATION with the district judge to whom the case is assigned WITHIN TEN (10) DAYS after being served with a copy thereof. The clerk is directed to serve the plaintiff with a copy of this recommendation by mailing it to the LAST ADDRESS provided by him. SO RECOMMENDED, this 4th day of NOVEMBER, 2008.

CLAUDE W. HICKS, JR. UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE