Chronister v. Bryant et al

Filing 11

ORDER adopting 8 Report and Recommendation and dismissing the action without prejudice and without issuance and service of process. Signed by Honorable Joseph F Anderson, Jr on 2/14/2017. (mwal)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
DISTRICT OF SOUTH CAROLINA

Jeffrey Lynn Chronister,

)
)
Plaintiff,
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v.
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)
Bruce M. Bryant; Otis J. Whitstine;
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J.R. Phillips; and Alan McCrory Wilson,
)
)
Defendants.
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______________________________________ )

C/A No. 0:17-27-JFA-SVH

ORDER

The pro se plaintiff, Jeffrey Lynn Chronister, is an inmate at the Kirkland
Correctional Institution. He brings this action under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 contending that the
defendants violated his constitutional rights.
The Magistrate Judge assigned to this action1 has prepared a Report and
Recommendation and opines that the complaint should be summarily dismissed. The Report
sets forth in detail the relevant facts and standards of law on this matter, and the court
incorporates such without a recitation.
The plaintiff was advised of his right to file objections to the Report and
Recommendation, which was entered on the docket on January 11, 2017. However, the

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The Magistrate Judge’s review is made in accordance with 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)(B) and Local Civil
Rule 73.02. The Magistrate Judge makes only a recommendation to this court. The recommendation has no
presumptive weight, and the responsibility to make a final determination remains with the court. Mathews
v. Weber, 423 U.S. 261 (1976). The court is charged with making a de novo determination of those portions
of the Report and Recommendation to which specific objection is made, and the court may accept, reject, or
modify, in whole or in part, the recommendation of the Magistrate Judge, or recommit the matter to the
Magistrate Judge with instructions. See 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1).

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plaintiff did not file objections and the time within which to do so has now expired. In the
absence of specific objections to the Report of the Magistrate Judge, this court is not required
to give any explanation for adopting the recommendation. See Camby v. Davis, 718 F.2d
198, 199 (4th Cir. 1983).
The Magistrate Judge correctly opines that under the United States Supreme Court’s
ruling in Heck v. Humphrey, 512 U.S. 477 (1994), plaintiff’s claim for damages and release
from custody is barred where success of the action would implicitly question the validity of
the conviction or duration of the sentence, unless the prisoner can demonstrate that the
conviction or sentence has been successfully challenged. Moreover, as plaintiff has not
demonstrated that his conviction has been reversed, expunged, or declared invalid by a state
court, and no federal writ has been issued, the action must be dismissed for failure to state
a claim and his claim for monetary damages under § 1983 is barred by Heck.
After carefully reviewing the applicable laws, the record in this case, and the Report
and Recommendation, this court finds the Magistrate Judge’s recommendation fairly and
accurately summarizes the facts and applies the correct principles of law. The Report is
adopted and incorporated herein by reference. Accordingly, this action is dismissed without
prejudice and without issuance and service of process.
IT IS SO ORDERED.

February 14, 2017
Columbia, South Carolina

Joseph F. Anderson, Jr.
United States District Judge

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