Moxhet v. Telstar Cable Communications Inc et al

Filing 52

ORDER RULING ON REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION: the Court adopts and incorporates the Report and Recommendation (ECF No. 43 ) by reference into this order. It is therefore ORDERED that Default be entered against Telstar. Signed by Honorable Mary G Lewis on 6/16/2014. (mcot, )

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
DISTRICT OF SOUTH CAROLINA
FLORENCE DIVISION
Patrick Moxhet, Anthony Johnson, Danny
Johnson, and James Keitt, On Behalf of
Themselves and All Others Similarly
Situated,
Plaintiff,
v.
Telstar cable Communications, Inc.; Dawn
H. Collins, and James Collins, Individually,,
Defendants.
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OPINION AND ORDER
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Plaintiff Patrick Moxhet, Anthony Johnson, Danny Johnson, and James Keitt, On Behalf of
Themselves and All Others Similarly Situated, (“Plaintiffs”) brought this action pursuant to the Fair
Labor Standards Act (“FLSA”), 29 U.S.C. 201 et seq. on April 4, 2013 against Defendants Telestar
Cable Communications, Inc, Dawn H. Collins, and James Collins, individually (“Defendants”).
Thereafter, on February 25, 2014, Emma Ruth Brittain attorney for Defendants moved to be relieved
as attorney for Defendants. (ECF No. 22.) The court granted Ms. Brittain’s motion to be relieved
on March 4, 2014 and Defendants were given 45 days to obtain new legal counsel. (ECF No. 25.)
Defendants did not obtain new counsel. Because Defendants were now proceeding pro se, this
matter was referred to a United States Magistrate Judge pursuant to Local Rule 73.02(B)(2)(e),
D.S.C. (ECF No. 33.) On April 23, 2014, the Magistrate Judge issued an order advising pro se
Defendants Dawn Collins and James Collins of special pleading rules applicable to pro se litigants
in this District. (ECF No. 36.) The Magistrate Judge specifically advised Defendant Telestar Cable
Communications, Inc. (“Telestar”) that a “corporation cannot appear pro se and must be represented

by counsel in court”and that Telstar must retain counsel licensed to practice in this District no later
than May 14, 2014 or the Magistrate Judge would recommend that default be entered against
Defendant Telstar. (ECF No. 36.)
On May 21, 2014, the Magistrate Judge submitted a Report and Recommendation to the
court recommending that default be entered due to Telstar’s failure to comply with this court’s order
to obtain counsel. (ECF No. 43.) The Magistrate Judge advised Plaintiff of the procedures and
requirements for filing objections to the Report and Recommendation and the serious consequences
if he failed to do so. (ECF No.43-1.) Plaintiff filed no objections and the time for doing so expired
on June 9, 2014.
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.
See Mathews v. Weber, 423 U.S. 261 (1976). The Court is charged with making a de novo
determination of any portion of the Report and Recommendation of the Magistrate Judge to which
a specific objection is made. The Court may accept, reject, or modify, in whole or in part, the
recommendation made by the Magistrate Judge or recommit the matter to the Magistrate Judge with
instructions. See 28 U.S.C. § 636(b). The Court reviews the Report and Recommendation only for
clear error in the absence of an objection. See Diamond v. Colonial Life & Accident Ins. Co., 416
F.3d 310, 315 (4th Cir. 2005) (stating that “in the absence of a timely filed objection, a district court
need not conduct a de novo review, but instead must only satisfy itself that there is no clear error on
the face of the record in order to accept the recommendation.”) (citation omitted).
In light of the above standards and after careful review of the Report and Recommendation
of the Magistrate Judge, the court finds no clear error. Accordingly, the Court adopts and
incorporates the Report and Recommendation (ECF No. 43) by reference into this order. It is
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therefore ORDERED that Default be entered against Telstar.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
s/Mary G. Lewis
United States District Judge
Florence, South Carolina
June 16, 2014

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