Bright v. US Dept of Justice Drug Enforcement Admin et al

Filing 57

ORDER RULING ON REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION: Court accepts 49 Report and Recommendation. This case is dismissed without prejudice. Signed by Honorable Terry L Wooten on 9/15/08. (swel, )

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF SOUTH CAROLINA FLORENCE DIVISION Sherrod V. Bright, Plaintiff, vs. U.S. Department of Justice Drug Enforcement Administration and Florence County Sheriff's Department, Defendants. ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

Civil Action No.:4:07-3002-TLW-TER

ORDER Plaintiff, proceeding pro se, brings this action pursuant to Bivens v. Six Unknown Named Agents of Federal Narcotics Agents, 403 U.S. 388 (1971), alleging that defendants violated his constitutional rights by seizing his vehicle and $36,110.00 following a traffic stop. The U.S. Department of Justice Drug Enforcement Administration ("DEA") filed a motion to dismiss the action. (Doc. #20). Because the plaintiff is proceeding pro se, he was advised pursuant to Roseboro v. Garrison, 528 F.2d 309 (4th Cir. 1975), that a failure to respond to the motion to dismiss could result in dismissal of his complaint. (Doc. #22). The plaintiff responded to the motion to dismiss. (Doc. #25). All pretrial proceedings in this case were referred to Magistrate Judge, Thomas E. Rogers, III, pursuant to the provisions of 28 U.S.C. § 363(b)(1)(A) and (B) and Local Rule 73.02(B)(2)(e), DSC. This matter comes before the Court by way of review of the Report and Recommendation filed by the magistrate judge to whom this case had previously been assigned. (Doc. #49). The plaintiff filed objections to the Report. (Doc. #54). The Report recommends that the DEA's motion to dismiss be granted without prejudice. The Report explains that the plaintiff should pursue his

claim for return of the seized property through the forfeiture case (4:07-cv-0029). (Doc. #49). In conducting this review, the Court applies the following standard: The magistrate judge makes only a recommendation to the Court, to which any party may file written objections...The Court is not bound by the recommendation of the magistrate judge but, instead, retains responsibility for the final determination. The Court is required to make a de novo determination of those portions of the report or specified findings or recommendation as to which an objection is made. However, the Court is not required to review, under a de novo or any other standard, the factual or legal conclusions of the magistrate judge as to those portions of the Report and Recommendation to which no objections are addressed. While the level of scrutiny entailed by the Court's review of the Report thus depends on whether or not objections have been filed, in either case, the Court is free, after review, to accept, reject, or modify any of the magistrate judge's findings or recommendations. Wallace v. Housing Auth. of the City of Columbia, 791 F. Supp. 137, 138 (D.S.C. 1992) (citations omitted). In light of this standard, the Court has carefully reviewed the Report and the objections thereto. For the reasons articulated by the Magistrate Judge, it is hereby ORDERED that the Magistrate Judge's Report and Recommendation is ACCEPTED (Doc. #49) and the case is dismissed without prejudice.1 IT IS SO ORDERED. S/Terry L. Wooten Terry L. Wooten United States District Judge September 15, 2008 Florence, South Carolina

The Court accepts the Report in full, including the denial of plaintiff's additional filings: Document #26, Document #27, Document #28, Document #29, Document #30, Document #31, Document #32, and Document #33.

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