Washington v. Alfalfa County Board of County Commissioners et al

Filing 23

ORDER ADOPTING REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION 18 ; Denies 17 Motion for Summary Judgment filed by Anthony Blake Washington, Jr.; and RE-REFERRING CASE to Magistrate Judge Gary M. Purcell, as fully set forth in Order. Signed by Honorable Lee R. West on 6/28/2017. (kb)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR
THE WESTERN DISTRICT OF OKLAHOMA

ANTHONY B. WASHINGTON, JR..
Plaintiff,

)
)

vs.

No. CIV-17-401-W

ALFALFA COUNTY BOARD OF

COUNTY COMMISSIONERS et a!.,
Defendants.
ORDER

On June 1, 2017, United States Magistrate Judge Gary M. Purcell issued a Report
and Recommendation in this matter and recommended that the Court deny the Motion

for Summary Judgment filed by plaintiff Anthony B. Washington, Jr., a state prisoner

proceeding pro se. Although Washington was advised of his right to object to the Report
and Recommendation, see Doc. 18 at 2, and of the consequences of his failure to do so,
see id. at 2-3, Washington filed no objections within the allotted time.

Upon review of the record, the Court concurs with Magistrate Judge Purcell's
suggested disposition of Washington's motion, which Magistrate Judge Purcell properly

construed as a motion seeking judgment by default under Rule 55, F.R.Civ.P.""
Accordingly, the Court

(1) ADOPTS the Report and Recommendation [Doc. 18] issued on June 1, 2017;

^Although styled as a motion seeking summary judgment, Washington cited Rule 12,
F.R.Civ.P., and argued that he was entitled to relief because the defendants had "20 days from
the date [of] service[,]" Doc. 17 at 1, of process to answer, had "fail[ed] to respond to summons
issued by this Court and the... Marshal's Office[,]" jd., and "forthat reason ... [were] in default."
Id. As Magistrate Judge Purcell found, Rule 12's time limits are not applicable in this instance
since the defendants have been ordered to file a responsive pleading pursuant to 42 U.S.C. §
1997e(g)(2).

(2) DENIES Washington's Motion for Summary Judgment [Doc. 17] file-stamped
May 30, 2017; and

(3) RE-REFERS this matter to Magistrate Judge Purcell for further proceedings.
ENTERED this

of June, 2017.

:E R. WEST

UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE