Yelverton v. Yelverton Farms, Ltd., et al

Filing 29

ORDER granting 18 Motion to Strike 16 Letter to Clerk of Court - Signed by District Judge Louise Wood Flanagan on 07/30/2014. (Attachments: # 1 Form AO-85) (Baker, C.)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF NORTH CAROLINA
WESTERN DIVISION
NO. 5:14-CV-365-FL

STEPHEN THOMAS YELVERTON,
Plaintiff,
v.
YELVERTON FARMS, LTD. and
PHYLLIS Y. EDMUNDSON,
Defendants.

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ORDER

This matter comes now before the court upon plaintiff's motion to strike (DE 18), where the
clerk recently had indexed on the docket correspondence dated July 10, 2014, sent to her by a lawyer,
Matthew S. Sullivan, of the law firm of White and Allen, P.A., asserting defendants' interest in
denial by the court of a motion to recuse (DE 6). At the time of that writing, no service had been
achieved on any defendant nor any notice of appearance entered.
Included with the lawyer’s letter were copies of two letters he had written to the undersigned,
including one dated July 9, 2014, which this court had cause to disclaim maintenance of and have
returned to defense counsel through the case manager. The July 9, 2014, letter with its many
enclosures, should not have been sent by counsel, for reasons set forth in the court's order entered
July 11, 2014. That eighty-eight (88) page missive should not now be included on the docket.
Also included with the letter sent to the clerk was a July 7, 2014, letter the attorney also
addressed to the undersigned. That letter earlier was indexed on the docket where the attorney

referred to an order deemed "Gatekeeper Order," and plaintiff's motion to proceed in forma pauperis
then was pending. Said motion was withdrawn. The Gatekeeper Order already is a matter of record
and there is no need to repeat that filing on the docket a second time.
Nor is there need for the lawyer’s transmittal letter to the clerk, regurgitating complaints
about plaintiff, spanning some three pages, be made a part of the record of this case. The letter
dated July 9, 2014, sent before service of process was executed, without formality of a notice of
appearance having been entered, and in response to a pending motion but outside of the framework
of the record of the case, had no bearing in the court’s consideration of the motion to recuse. For
reasons stated in the July 10, 2014, order, the court denied the motion to recuse, as well as the
motion to disqualify the law firm of White and Allen, P.A. (DE 11), the latter without prejudice to
its renewal when and if timely.
The court dispenses under the circumstances presented with any response by defendants to
the motion to strike. For reasons herein discussed, where good cause grounded on the face of the
court's earlier order has been shown, the motion to strike (DE 18) is ALLOWED.
The court notes that on July 25, 2014, counsel through the law firm of White and Allen, P.A.,
entered an appearance. In anticipation, two days earlier, the motion to recuse was renewed by
plaintiff in that filing made July 27, 2014. (DE 27). Response in the regular course shall by made
to the renewed motion to disqualify (DE 27).
Plaintiff brings up utility of a magistrate judge holding hearing in the motion now pending.
The court NOTICES the parties of the availability of a magistrate judge to conduct all proceedings
in the case, including any trial, and to order entry of a final judgment. In furtherance of this notice,
the court DIRECTS the clerk please now to serve upon the parties form AO 85 Notice, Consent, and
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Order of Reference – Exercise of Jurisdiction by a United States Magistrate Judge for their
consideration. If all parties consent, the clerk will assign this case to a magistrate judge resident in
Raleigh, North Carolina.
SO ORDERED, this the 30th day of July, 2014.

_______________________
LOUISE W. FLANAGAN
United States District Judge

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