Rhyne v. Commissioner of the Social Security Administration

Filing 19

OPINION AND ORDER RULING ON REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION: The court finds the Magistrate Judge's recommendation to be proper. The Report and Recommendation is incorporated herein by reference and this action is DISMISSED without prejudice. Signed by Honorable Bruce Howe Hendricks on 1/9/2015. (gnan )

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF SOUTH CAROLINA
Larry James Rhyne,

) Civil Action No.: 4:14-1566-BHH
)
Plaintiff, )
)
v.
)
)
OPINION AND ORDER
Carolyn W. Colvin, Acting Commissioner of )
Social Security Administration,
)
)
Defendant. )
_________________________________
In this action, the plaintiff Larry James Rhyne (“the plaintiff”) seeks judicial review
of the final decision of the Commissioner of Social Security (“Commissioner”) denying the
plaintiff’s claim for Disability Insurance Benefits (“DIB”) and Supplemental Security Income
(“SSI”). The plaintiff filed his complaint pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 405(g) and § 1383(c)(3),
essentially asserting that the Commissioner’s decision was not supported by substantial
evidence and the Appeals Council erred in declining review. (ECF No. 1.)
The matter is currently before the Court for review of the Report and
Recommendation (“Report”) of Magistrate Judge Thomas E. Rogers made in accordance
with 28 U.S.C. § 636(c) and Local Rules 73.02(B)(2)(a) and 83.VII.02, D.S.C. and filed on
December 5, 2014. (ECF No. 16.) In the Report, Magistrate Judge Rogers recommended
that this action be dismissed for failure to prosecute, and failure to comply with a Court
order pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 41(b).
STANDARD
The Magistrate Judge makes only a recommendation to the district court. The
recommendation has no presumptive weight. The responsibility to make a final
determination remains with the district court. Mathews v. Weber, 423 U.S. 261, 270–71, 96

S.Ct. 549, 46 L.Ed.2d 483 (1976). The court is charged with making a de novo
determination of those portions of the Report 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 with instructions. 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1).
The court is obligated to conduct a de novo review of every portion of the Report to
which specific objections have been filed. Id. However, the court need not conduct a de
novo review when a party makes only “general and conclusory objections that do not direct
the court to a specific error in the magistrate's proposed findings and recommendations.”
Orpiano v. Johnson, 687 F.2d 44, 47 (4th Cir. 1982) ( “[D]e novo review [is] unnecessary
in . . . situations when a party makes general and conclusory objections that do not direct
the court to a specific error in the magistrate's proposed findings and recommendation.”).
The court reviews only for clear error in the absence of a specific objection. Furthermore,
in the absence of a timely filed, specific objection, the Magistrate Judge's conclusions are
reviewed only for clear error. See Diamond v. Colonial Life & Accident Ins. Co., 416 F.3d
310, 315 (4th Cir. 2005). Additionally, the Court may “accept, reject, or modify, in whole or
in part, the findings or recommendations made by the magistrate judge.” 28 U.S.C.
§ 636(b)(1). This Court may also “receive further evidence or recommit the matter to the
magistrate judge with instructions.” Id. Plaintiff has failed to comply with this Court's orders.
As such, the Court finds that this case should be dismissed pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P.
41(b).
After a careful review of the record, the applicable law, and the Report and
Recommendation, the court finds the Magistrate Judge's recommendation to be proper.
Accordingly, the Report and Recommendation is incorporated herein by reference and this
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action is DISMISSED without prejudice.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
/s/Bruce Howe Hendricks
United States District Judge
January 9, 2015
Greenville, South Carolina

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