Davis v. Solomon et al

Filing 49

ORDER RULING ON REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION adopting 44 Report and Recommendation, terminating 35 Motion for Summary Judgment, dismissing this action with prejudice for lack of prosecution. Signed by Honorable Richard M Gergel on 6/24/2013. (jpet, )

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE DISTRICT OF SOUTH CAROLINA

ROCK HILL DIVISION

Jonathan Aaron Davis
Plaintiff,
v.

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CIA No. 0:12-CV-2667-RMG

ORDER

Dr. John Solomon, Dir. ofHealth Service
SCDC; Dr. Thomas A. Moore, Jr., Dir. of
Medical SCDC; Dr. Thomas E. Byrne,
Physician ofAllendale CI; Nurse Pamela C. )
Derrick, Nurse Administrator/Manager I,
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)
Defendants.
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This matter is before the Court on the Report and Recommendation, ("R&R"), of the
Magistrate Judge recommending dismissal of this pro se section 1983 action with prejudice for
lack of prosecution. (Dkt. No. 44). For the reasons set forth below, the Court adopts the R&R as
the order of the Court.

Discussion
Plaintiff filed this pro se claim pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1983 on September 17,2012.
(Dkt. No.1). This matter was referred to a Magistrate Judge in accordance with 28 U.S.C.
§ 636(b) and Local Civil Rule 73.02(B)(2) DSC for all pretrial proceedings. The Magistrate

Judge makes only a recommendation to this Court. The recommendation has no presumptive
weight, and responsibility for making a final determination remains with this Court. Mathews v.

Weber, 423 U.S. 261, 270-71 (1976). This Court may "accept, reject, or modify, in whole or in
part, the findings or recommendations made by the magistrate." 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(l).

In

reviewing these pleadings, the Court is mindful of its charge to construe liberally the pleadings
of this pro se litigant. See, e.g., De 'Lonta v. Angelone, 330 F.3d 630,633 (4th Cir. 2003).

On March 27, 2013, Defendants filed a motion for summary judgment. (Dkt. No. 35).
The following day the Magistrate Judge issued an order, pursuant to Roseboro v. Garrison, 528
Fold 309 (4th Cir. 1975), directing the clerk to forward an explanation of the summary judgment
and dismissal proceedings to Plaintiff. (Dkt. No. 36). Further, the order directed Plaintiff to
respond to the motion for summary judgment by May 2,2013. (Id.). A week after the deadline,
the Magistrate Judge issued another order instructing Plaintiff that failure to respond by May 28,
2013, would result in a recommendation of dismissal for lack of prosecution. (Dkt. No. 41). On
June 3, 2013, after no response was received from Plaintiff, the Magistrate Judge issued the R&R
recommending that the claim be dismissed with prejudice for lack of prosecution and that any
pending motions be terminated. (Dkt. No. 44).
The Magistrate Judge dutifully reviewed the pleadings, accurately summarized the law,
and correctly concluded that the Court should dismiss Plaintiffs section 1983 claim for lack of
prosecution. (Dkt. No. 44). Despite warnings from the Magistrate Judge that the claim would be
dismissed for failure to prosecute, Plaintiff has failed to respond to Defendants' motion for
summary judgment. The last filing by the Plaintiff occurred on December 5, 2012, indicating
either dilatory action or abandonment of the claim. Finally, given the Magistrate Judge's prior
explicit warning that dismissal would be recommended if the Plaintiff failed to respond,
dismissal is the only appropriate sanction. Accordingly, the Magistrate Judge was correct in
recommending that the Court find Plaintiff has satisfied all the criteria for dismissal set forth in
Chandler Leasing Corp. v. Lopez, 669 Fold 919, 920 (4th Cir. 1982). (Dkt. No. 44 at 2 n. 1).

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Conclusion
After careful review of the record, the Magistrate Judge's R&R, and the applicable law,
this Court therefore adopts the R&R as the order of this Court.
DISMISSES this action with prejudice for lack of prosecution.
AND IT IS SO ORDERED.

June ~L-( ,2013
Charleston, South Carolina

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Accordingly, the Court