Wake County NC Human Services v. Davis

Filing 11

ORDER ADOPTING 5 Memorandum and Recommendation, filed by US Magistrate Judge James E. Gates; DENYING AS MOOT 7 Motion to Vacate; DENYING 8 Motion for Recusal; DENYING AS MOOT 9 Motion to Stay; and DENYING AS MOOT 10 Motion for Extension of Time. This matter is REMANDED in its entirety back to Wake County District Court. Signed by US District Judge Terrence W. Boyle on 3/24/2014. Copy mailed to pro se plaintiff via US Mail. (Fisher, M.)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF NORTH CAROLINA
WESTERN DIVISION
No. 5:14-CV-47-BO

WAKE COUNTY NC HUMAN
SERVICES,
Plaintiff,

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V.

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ORDER

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WILLIAM SCOTT DAVIS, JR.,
Defendant.

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This cause comes before the Court on the memorandum and recommendation of United
States Magistrate Judge James E. Gates regarding frivolity review pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §
1915(e)(2). Defendant has moved to vacate the memorandum and recommendation (M&R), and
the matter is ripe for review. For the reasons discussed below, the Court adopts the M&R and
remands this matter to state court. Defendant's remaining motions for recusal of Magistrate
Judge Gates, to stay, and for extension of time are denied.
BACKGROUND
Defendant, Mr. Davis, is seeking remove a child support case filed in state court pursuant
to the domestic relations abstention doctrine. This doctrine provides that federal courts should
generally abstain from hearing matters involving domestic relations. See e.g. Cole v. Cole, 633
F.2d 1083, 1087 (4th Cir. 1980).
DISCUSSION
A claim proceeding in forma pauperis may be dismissed at any time if it is frivolous. 28
U.S.C. § 1915( e )(2)(B)(i). A complaint is frivolous if"it lacks an arguable basis either in law

or fact." Neitzke v. Williams, 490 U.S. 319, 325 (1989). A court may also consider subject
matter jurisdiction on frivolity review. Lovern v. Edwards, 190 F.3d 648, 654 (4th Cir. 1999).
To make a frivolity determination, a court may designate a magistrate judge "to submit ...
proposed findings of fact and recommendations" for the disposition of a variety of motions. 28
U .S.C. § 636(b)(l)(B).
A district court is required to review de novo those portions of an M&R to which a party
timely files specific objections or where there is plain error. 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(l); Thomas v.

Arn, 474 U.S. 140, 149-50 (1985). De novo review is not required when an objecting party
makes only general or conclusory objections that do not direct a court to a specific error in the
magistrate judge's recommendations. Orpiano v. Johnson, 687 F.2d 44, 47 (4th Cir. 1982).
Further, when "objections to strictly legal issues are raised and no factual issues are challenged,
de novo review may be dispensed with." !d.
Mr. Davis has sought to vacate the M&R [DE 7], which the Court construes liberally as a
response. In his motion to vacate, Mr. Davis makes no specific objections to the basis for
Magistrate Judge Gates' recommendation that this matter be remanded, other than by arguing the
Judge Gates is biased and should have recused himself. However, neither "opinions held by
judges as a result of what they learned in earlier proceedings" nor opinions "properly and
necessarily acquired in the course of [earlier] proceedings" have been found to be the basis of
bias or prejudice that might require recusal. Liteky v. United States, 510 U.S. 540, 551 (1994).
Mr. Davis has presented nothing that would persuade the Court that Judge Gates has acted with
any bias in this matter, and thus the Court further denies his motion for recusal.
The Court finds no plain error in Magistrate Judge Gates' recommendation that this

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matter be remanded pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1447(c). As noted above, federal courts lack
original jurisdiction over matters concerning child custody and child support. Absent a basis for
original jurisdiction, removal to this Court is improper. 28 U.S.C. § 1441(a). Remand to Wake
County District Court is therefore required.
CONCLUSION
For the foregoing reasons, the Court ADOPTS the M&R [DE 5]. Accordingly, for the
reasons discussed therein, this matter is REMANDED in its entirety to Wake County District
Court. Defendant's motion for recusal of Magistrate Judge Gates [DE 8] is DENIED.
Defendant's remaining pending motions [DE 7, 9, 10] are DENIED AS MOOT.
On March 3, 2014, Judge Fox entered a pre-filing injunction against Mr. Davis in this
district. Davis v. Mitchel, No. 5:12-CV-493-F (E.D.N.C.). Although it does not apply to this
complaint, it will apply to any future filings submitted by Mr. Davis. Mr. Davis may, however,
notice an of appeal of this order.

SO ORDERED, this

_1!f_ day of March, 2014.

~w,~~
TERRENCE W. B O Y L E '
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

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