Jones v. Pummill

Filing 20

ORDER ADOPTING 17 REPORT AND RECOMMENDATIONS. Plaintiff's Motion for Default Judgment (ECF No. 10 ) is DENIED. Defendant Bethel's Motion to Dismiss for Failure to State a Claim (ECF No. 11 ) is GRANTED. Signed by Judge George C. Smith on 5/3/2017. (agm)(This document has been sent by regular mail to the party(ies) listed in the NEF that did not receive electronic notification.)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF OHIO
EASTERN DIVISION
KEITH LAMARR JONES,
Plaintiff,
vs.

Case No.: 2:16-cv-519
JUDGE GEORGE C. SMITH
Magistrate Judge Kemp

CATHY PUMMILL, et al.,
Defendants.

ORDER
On March 22, 2017, the United States Magistrate Judge issued a Report and
Recommendation recommending that Plaintiff’s Motion for Default Judgment be denied and
Defendant Bethel’s Motion to Dismiss be granted. (See Report and Recommendation, Doc. 17).
The parties were advised of their right to object to the Report and Recommendation. This matter
is now before the Court on Plaintiff’s Objections to the Report and Recommendation. (See Doc.
18). Defendant has responded in opposition. (Doc. 19). The Court will consider the matter de
novo. See 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1); Fed. R. Civ. P. 72(b)(3).
The objections present, once again, the issues presented to and considered by the
Magistrate Judge in the Report and Recommendation. Specifically, Plaintiff continues to argue
that the conduct report was issued in retaliation for his exercise of his First Amendment rights.
However, the Court has carefully considered Plaintiff’s objections and nonetheless, agrees with
the reasoning set forth in the Report and Recommendation. The caselaw cited by the Magistrate
Judge clearly shows that not all speech is protected by the First Amendment. Plaintiff’s speech

regarding grievances about the prisoner litigation process was deemed inappropriate. Therefore,
the conduct report was not retaliation, but was a legitimate response to an inappropriate
comment. For the reasons stated in the Report and Recommendation, this Court finds that
Plaintiff’s objections are without merit and are hereby OVERRULED.
The Report and Recommendation, ECF No. 17, is ADOPTED and AFFIRMED.
Plaintiff’s Motion for Default Judgment against Colleen Bethel is DENIED. And Defendant
Bethel’s Motion to Dismiss is GRANTED.
The Clerk shall remove Documents 10, 11, and 17 from the Court’s pending motions list.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
/s/ George C. Smith__________________
GEORGE C. SMITH, JUDGE
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

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