Barbosa v. Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Filing 167

Judge Allison D. Burroughs: ELECTRONIC ORDER entered. Plaintiff filed objections [ECF No. 165, 166] to Magistrate Judge Kelly's Reports and Recommendations [ECF Nos. 144, 145, 154, 155, 157] as well as some other materials [ECF Nos. 160, 162, 163, 164] which do not specifically pertain to the Reports and Recommendations, but reference prior allegations and attempt to advance some new allegations. The Defendants have not objected to the Reports and Recommendations. The Court has reviewed Plaintiff's objections, as well as the additional materials. After careful consideration of Plaintiff's objections, the supplemental documents, and the Reports and Recommendations, the recommendations are adopted as the opinion of the Cou rt. Plaintiff's motion to appoint counsel and motion to file an amended complaint [ECF No. 166] are DENIED. All remaining defendants are dismissed and the case is closed. A copy of this Order has been mailed to the Plaintiff. (Attachments: # 1 145 R & R- Adopted, # 2 154 R & R-Adopted, # 3 155 R & R-Adopted, # 4 157 R&R-Adopted) (Montes, Mariliz)

Case 1:14-cv-13439-ADB Document 157 Filed 04/11/17 Page 1 of 3

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
DISTRICT OF MASSACHUSETTS

RICARDO MIGUEL ZEFARINO BARBOSA,
Plaintiff,

v.

CIVIL ACTION NO. 14-13439-ADB

COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS, et al.,
Defendants.

REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION ON
THE SUA SPONTE DISMISSAL OF DEFENDANTS
JAMES LENCKI, JOSEPH LENCKI, AND PAUL KEENAN.
.

KELLEY, U.S.M.J.
I. Introduction.
In a Report and Recommendation dated April 10, 2017 (#154), incorporated by reference
here, the court recommended dismissal of all claims against defendants Morrissey, Lally, Kelly,
Cousins, Statezni, Wall, Devlin, Wornum, Tenaglia, and Patricia Lencki (the Previously
Dismissed Defendants). (See #154). Given that the claims alleged against defendants James
Lencki, Joseph Lencki, and Paul Keenan stem from the same factual predicate as, and are
identical to, those asserted against the Previously Dismissed Defendants, which the court found
to be untenable under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, the court recommends that these claims be dismissed
sua sponte. See Martinez-Rivera v. Sanchez Ramos, 498 F.3d 3, 7 (1st Cir. 2007) (“a sua sponte
dismissal entered without prior notice to the plaintiff may be proper in relatively egregious

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Case 1:14-cv-13439-ADB Document 157 Filed 04/11/17 Page 2 of 3

circumstances. ‘If it is crystal clear that the plaintiff cannot prevail and that amending the
complaint would be futile, then a sua sponte dismissal may stand.’”)(quoting Gonzalez–
Gonzalez, 257 F.3d 31, 37 (1st Cir. 2001)).
II. Discussion.
Barbosa accuses James Lencki, Joseph Lencki, and Paul Keenan of stealing money from
his coat at the time of his arrest and destroying his property. (See #31 at 4, 18.) Specifically,
plaintiff asserts that while he was being fingerprinted, photographed, and read his Miranda
rights, “Kevin Devlin, James Lencki, Robert Tenaglia, Debra Wornum, Joshua Wall, Paul
Keenan, Adam Lally, Michael Morrissey, or Joseph Lencki . . . removed . . . money from the
Plaintiff’s coat . . . .” Id. at 4. With respect to the destruction of his property, Barbosa asserts that
James Lencki, Joseph Lencki, and Paul Keenan “cracked into his brand new phone, removing all
[of] its memory and it’s [sic] card, making it unworkable[,] [and] [t]hey ripped his car door
panels looking for drugs . . . .” Id. at 18.
As was made clear in the court’s earlier Report and Recommendation, plaintiff’s
allegations with respect to the theft of his money and the destruction of his property are not, and
cannot be, viable grounds on which to pursue relief under § 1983 due to the availability of postdeprivation remedies. (See #154 at 5-8.) Therefore, the claims against James Lencki, Joseph
Lencki, and Paul Keenan should be dismissed.
III. Conclusion.
For all of the reasons stated, I RECOMMEND that all claims against Defendants James
Lencki, Joseph Lencki, and Paul Keenan be DISMISSED.

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IV. Review by District Court Judge.
The parties are advised that any party who objects to this recommendation must file
specific written objections with the Clerk of this Court within 14 days of the party’s receipt of
this Report and Recommendation. The objections must specifically identify the portion of the
recommendation to which objections are made and state the basis for such objections. The
parties are further advised that the United States Court of Appeals for this Circuit has repeatedly
indicated that failure to comply with Rule 72(b), Fed. R. Civ. P., shall preclude further appellate
review. See Keating v. Secretary of Health & Human Servs., 848 F.2d 271 (1st Cir. 1988);
United States v. Emiliano Valencia-Copete, 792 F.2d 4 (1st Cir. 1986); Scott v. Schweiker, 702
F.2d 13, 14 (1st Cir. 1983); United States v. Vega, 678 F.2d 376, 378-379 (1st Cir. 1982); Park
Motor Mart, Inc. v. Ford Motor Co., 616 F.2d 603 (1st Cir. 1980); see also Thomas v. Arn, 474
U.S. 140 (1985).

/s / M. Page Kelley
M. Page Kelley
United States Magistrate Judge

April 11, 2017

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