Brown v. South Carolina, State of

Filing 14

ORDER AND OPINION ADOPTING REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION re 10 Report and Recommendation. The complaint is summarily dismissed without prejudice and without service of process. Signed by Honorable Margaret B Seymour on 5/18/2015. (mdea )

IN THE DISTRICT COURT OF THE UNITED STATES
FOR THE DISTRICT OF SOUTH CAROLINA
COLUMBIA DIVISION
Orlando Ira Brown,
Plaintiff,
vs.
State of South Carolina,
Defendant.

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Civil Action No. 3:15-1023-MBS

ORDER AND OPINION

Plaintiff Orlando Ira Brown (“Plaintiff”) brings this action alleging discrimination in
violation of Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) against the State of South
Carolina (“Defendant”). Plaintiff asks the court to issue an injunction to reverse state court orders
barring Plaintiff from purchasing alcohol and to award Plaintiff money damages. ECF No. 1. In
accordance with 28 U.S.C. § 636(b) (2012) and Local Civil Rule 73.02, D.S.C., the matter was
referred to United States Magistrate Judge Paige J. Gossett for a Report and Recommendation. The
Magistrate Judge filed a Report and Recommendation on April 16, 2015, recommending that the
court summarily dismiss the complaint on the grounds that the Rooker-Feldman doctrine precludes
the court from exercising jurisdiction. ECF No. 10. Plaintiff filed objections to the Report and
Recommendation on May 4, 2015. ECF No. 13.
The Magistrate Judge makes only a recommendation to this court. The recommendation has
no presumptive weight and the responsibility for making a final determination remains with this
court. Mathews v. Weber, 423 U.S. 261, 270 (1976). The court is charged with making a de novo
review of any portions of the Report and Recommendation to which a specific objection is made.
Id. The district court need not conduct a de novo review when a party makes only general and
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conclusory objections that do not direct the court to a specific error in the Magistrate Judge’s
proposed findings and recommendations. Orpiano v. Johnson, 687 F.2d 44, 47-48 (4th Cir. 1982).
The court may accept, reject, or modify, in whole or in part, the recommendation made by the
Magistrate Judge. 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1).
Plaintiff’s objections do not direct the court to a specific error in the Magistrate Judge’s
Report and Recommendation. Orpiano, 687 F.2d at 47-48. Nevertheless, the court has conducted
a de novo review of the issues in this case and concludes that the Magistrate Judge has properly
applied the applicable law. The Magistrate Judge properly found that Plaintiff is an unsuccessful
state court litigant attempting to challenge a state court decision in federal court by alleging that it
caused him injury. Invoking the provisions of the ADA does not permit Plaintiff to overcome the
jurisdictional bar of the Rooker-Feldman doctrine. Dale v. Moore, 121 F.3d 624, 628 (11th Cir.
1997) (“[T]he ADA does not provide an independent source of federal court jurisdiction that
overrides the application of the Rooker-Feldman doctrine.”).
Based upon the foregoing, the court adopts and incorporates herein by reference the Report
and Recommendation of the Magistrate Judge. The court summarily dismisses the complaint
without prejudice and without service of process.
IT IS SO ORDERED.

s/ Margaret B. Seymour
Margaret B. Seymour
Senior United States District Court Judge
May 18, 2015
Columbia, South Carolina

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