Williams v. Buffalo Psychiatric Center
Filing
13
DECISION AND ORDER ADOPTING REPORT AND RECOMMENDATIONS; granting 4 Motion to Dismiss for Failure to State a Claim; adopting Report and Recommendations re 12 Report and Recommendations. The complaint is dismissed and the Court certifies that any appeal would not be taken in good faith and, therefore leave to appeal to the Court of Appeals as a poor person is denied. Signed by Hon. Lawrence J. Vilardo on 10/30/2020. (CGJ) Order and appeal packet mailed to Plaintiff
Case 1:17-cv-00223-LJV-MJR Document 13 Filed 10/30/20 Page 1 of 3
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
WESTERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK
Lillie Williams,
Plaintiff,
v.
17-cv-223-LJV-MJR
DECISION & ORDER
Buffalo Psychiatric Center,
Defendant.
On March 13, 2017, the plaintiff, Lillie Williams, commenced this action under
Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Docket Item 1. On November 6, 2019, the
defendant, the Buffalo Psychiatric Center, moved to dismiss. Docket Item 4. The next
day, this Court referred this case to United States Magistrate Judge Michael J. Roemer
for all proceedings under 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)(A) and (B). Docket Item 5. On
February 13, 2020, Williams moved for appointment of counsel. Docket Item 7.
On September 30, 2020, Judge Roemer issued a Report, Recommendation, and
Order (“RR&O”) finding that the Buffalo Psychiatric Center’s motion to dismiss should
be granted and denying Williams’s motion to appoint counsel as moot. Docket Item 12.
The parties did not object to the RR&O, and the time to do so now has expired. See
28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1); Fed. R. Civ. P. 72(b)(2).
A district court may accept, reject, or modify the findings or recommendations of
a magistrate judge. 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1); Fed. R. Civ. P. 72(b)(3). The court must
review de novo those portions of a magistrate judge’s recommendation to which a party
objects. 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1); Fed. R. Civ. P. 72(b)(3). But neither 28 U.S.C. § 636
Case 1:17-cv-00223-LJV-MJR Document 13 Filed 10/30/20 Page 2 of 3
nor Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 72 requires a district court to review the
recommendation of a magistrate judge to which no objections are raised. See Thomas
v. Arn, 474 U.S. 140, 149-50 (1985).
Although not required to do so in light of the above, this Court nevertheless has
reviewed Judge Roemer’s RR&O as well as the parties’ submissions to him. Based on
that review and the absence of any objections, the Court accepts and adopts
Judge Roemer’s recommendation to grant the Buffalo Psychiatric Center’s motion to
dismiss.
For the reasons stated above and in the RR&O, the Buffalo Psychiatric Center’s
motion to dismiss, Docket Item 4, is GRANTED; the complaint, Docket Item 1, is
dismissed; and the Clerk of the Court shall close the file.
The Court hereby certifies under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a)(3) that any appeal from this
order would not be taken in good faith and therefore denies leave to appeal as a poor
person. Coppedge v. United States, 369 U.S. 438 (1962). Williams must file any notice
of appeal with the Clerk’s Office, United States District Court, Western District of New
York, within 30 days of the date of judgment in this action. Requests to proceed on
appeal as a poor person must be filed with the United States Court of Appeals for the
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Case 1:17-cv-00223-LJV-MJR Document 13 Filed 10/30/20 Page 3 of 3
Second Circuit in accordance with the requirements of Rule 24 of the Federal Rules of
Appellate Procedure.
SO ORDERED.
Dated:
October 30, 2020
Buffalo, New York
LAWRENCE J. VILARDO
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
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