Smalls v. Wilson et al

Filing 27

ORDER adopting 23 Report and Recommendation of Magistrate Judge Mary Gordon Baker. The Court SUMMARILY DISMISSES this action as frivolous and failing to state a claim upon which relief may be granted. Signed by Honorable Richard M Gergel on 10/14/2015.(ssam, )

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT CO~IVEO Cl.ERK'S OFFICE
DISTRICT OF SOUTH CAROLINA
Demetrius Jarod Smalls,
Plaintiff,
vs.
Alan Wilson, et al.
Defendants.

1015 OCT III P 12: 00
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No. 2: 15-cv-251O-RMO'c- L
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ORDER

This matter comes before the Court on the Report and Recommendation (R & R) of the
Magistrate Judge (Dkt. No. 23), recommending that this action be summarily dismissed as
frivolous and failing to state a claim. Plaintiff filed objections to the R & R. (Dkt. No. 25).
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. 261,270-71 (1976). The 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)(1). This Court is charged with making a de novo determination of those
portions of the R & R or specified proposed findings or recommendations to which objection is
made. Diamond v. Colonial Life & Ace. Ins. Co., 416 F.3d 310, 315 (4th Cir. 2005) (quoting 28
U.S.C. § 636(b)(1»; accord Fed. R. Civ. P. 72(b). However, as to portions ofthe R & R to
which no objection is made, this Court "must 'only satisfy itself that there is no clear error on the
face of the record in order to accept the recommendation. '" Diamond v. Colonial Life & Ace.
Ins. Co., 416 F.3d 310, 315 (4th Cir. 2005) (quoting Fed. R. Civ. P 72 advisory committee note).

Additionally, the Court need not give any explanation for adopting the R & R in the absence of
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specific objections by the parties. See Camby v. Davis, 718 F.2d 198, 200 (4th Cir. 1983)
("Absent objection, we do not believe that any explanation need be given for adopting the
report.").

Pro se complaints are construed liberally to allow the development of meritorious claims.
See, e.g, Gordon v. Leeke, 574 F.2d 1147, 1151 (4th Cir. 1978) ("[A] complaint, especially a
pro se complaint, should not be dismissed summarily unless it appears beyond doubt that the
plaintiff can prove no set of facts in support of his claim which would entitle him to relief .... ")
(internal quotations omitted). However, the requirement of a liberal construction does not mean
that the Court can ignore a plaintiffs clear failure to allege facts that set forth a cognizable claim.

See Well v. Dep't ofSoc. Servs.for City of Baltimore, 901 F.2d 387, 391 (4th Cir. 1990) ("The
special judicial solicitude with which a district court should view pro se complaints does not
transform the court into an advocate."). Furthermore, the Court must dismiss an in forma

pauperis action sua sponte if the claim is "frivolous or malicious," "fails to state a claim on
which relief may be granted," or "seeks monetary relief against a defendant who is immune from
such relief." 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B); Neitzke v. Williams, 490 U.S. 319, 324-25 (1989).
Plaintiff has brought this civil action alleging malfeasance by Defendants in their state
criminal prosecution of Plaintiff. The Magistrate Judge ably and thoroughly addressed each of
Plaintiff s claims and found them to be frivolous and fail to state a claim. Plaintiff s objections
simply reargue the very same points already presented to and rejected by the Magistrate Judge.
The Court ADOPTS the R & R of the Magistrate Judge (Dkt. No. 23) as the order of the Court
and SUMMARILY DISMISSES this action as frivolous and failing to state a claim upon which
relief may be granted.

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AND IT IS SO ORDERED.

Richard Mark Gergel
United States District Judge

rJ.,

October
2015
Charleston, South Carolina

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