Richter v. United States Postal Service

Filing 22

ORDER - The plaintiff's objections to the F&R, Filing No. 18 , Filing No. 19 , and Filing No. 21 , are overruled. The F&R of the magistrate judge (Filing No. 17 ) is adopted in all respects. The plaintiff's Motion to Strike Defendan t's Notice of Filing Notice of Removal Document (Filing No. 10 ) is denied. The plaintiff's Motion to Remand (Filing No. 11 ) is denied. The defendant's Motion to Dismiss (Filing No. 7 ) is granted. This action is dismissed. Ordered by Judge Joseph F. Bataillon. (Copy mailed to pro se party)(GJG)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF NEBRASKA
RUTH RICHTER,
Plaintiff,

8:14CV71

vs.
ORDER
UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE,
Defendant.

This matter is before the court on the parties’ responses, Filing No. 18, Filing No.
19, Filing No. 20 and Filing No. 21, to the Findings and Recommendation (“F&R”) of the
magistrate judge, Filing No. 17. The court will consider the plaintiff’s responses to be
objections to the F&R. This action was removed from state small-claims court under 28
U.S.C. §§ 1346(b)(1), 1441(a), and 39 U.S.C. § 409(a). In her pro se complaint, the
plaintiff makes various allegations against the United States Postal Service involving an
alleged incident of misdelivery of mail. Her complaint contains allegations of evidence
tampering, perjury, slander, discrimination and retaliation.

The magistrate judge

recommends denial of the plaintiff’s motions to strike and to remand, Filing No. 10 and
Filing No. 11, but recommends that court grant the defendant’s motion to dismiss, Filing
No. 7.
The Supreme Court has construed the statutory grant of authority conferred on
magistrate judges under 28 U.S.C. § 636 to mean that nondispositive pretrial matters
are governed by § 636(b)(1)(A) and dispositive matters are covered by § 636(b)(1)(B).
Gomez v. United States, 490 U.S. 858, 873-74 (1989); see also Fed. R. Civ. P. 72(a).
On review of a decision of the magistrate judge on a nondispositive matter, the district
court may set aside any part of the magistrate judge’s order that it finds is clearly

erroneous or contrary to law. 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)(A); Fed. R. Civ. P. 72(a). With
respect to dispositive motions, a magistrate judge’s findings and recommendations are
subject to de novo review. United States v. Lothridge, 324 F.3d 599, 600 (8th Cir.
2003); 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1).
The court has conducted a de novo review and has considered the plaintiff’s
objections.

The court agrees with the magistrate judge’s finding that the plaintiff’s

claims are barred by sovereign immunity and that, if immunity were waived, the claims
are barred for failure to exhaust administrative remedies, arise within the exclusive
jurisdiction of the Postal Regulatory Commission and are barred by collateral estoppel.
Accordingly, the court adopts the magistrate judge’s recommendation and find this
action should be dismissed.
IT IS ORDERED:
1.

The plaintiff’s objections to the F&R, Filing No. 18, Filing No. 19, and Filing

No. 21, are overruled.
2. The F&R of the magistrate judge (Filing No. 17) is adopted in all respects.
3. The plaintiff’s Motion to Strike Defendant’s Notice of Filing Notice of Removal
Document (Filing No. 10) is denied.
4. The plaintiff’s Motion to Remand (Filing No. 11) is denied.
5. The defendant’s Motion to Dismiss (Filing No. 7) is granted.
6. This action is dismissed.
Dated this 13th day of August, 2014.
BY THE COURT:
s/ Joseph F. Bataillon
United States District Judge

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