Jackson v. Flowers et al

Filing 20

ORDER adopting 15 Report and Recommendation of Magistrate Judge Mary Gordon Baker. Plaintiff's complaint is summarily dismissed without prejudice and without issuance and service of process. Signed by Honorable Margaret B Seymour on 1/18/2017.(ssam, )

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF SOUTH CAROLINA
Justin Martin Jackson,

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) C/A No. 4:16-3305-MBS
Plaintiff,
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vs.
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ORDER
Neal Flowers, Darlington County Sheriff; )
Ben Weatherford, Darlington County
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Sheriff, Individual and Official
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Capacities; Darlington County Sheriff’s
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Department,
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Defendants.
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____________________________________)
Plaintiff Justin Martin Jackson is a detainee at the Florence County Detention Center in
Florence, South Carolina. Plaintiff, proceeding pro se and in forma pauperis, filed a complaint on
October 3, 2016, alleging that Defendants Neal Flowers and Ben Weatherford of the Darlington
County, South Carolina, Sheriff’s Department violated his constitutional rights by (1) conducting
a traffic stop without a warrant or probable cause, arresting Plaintiff, and confiscating his vehicle;
and (2) on another occasion, entering Plaintiff’s residence without a warrant, arresting Plaintiff, and
seizing funds. Plaintiff alleges any criminal charges against him were dismissed but that Defendants
have refused to release his property. Plaintiff seeks return of his property and damages in the amount
of $100,000 for each constitutional violation. See 42.U.S.C. § 1983. In accordance with 28 U.S.C.
§ 636(b) and Local Rule 73.02, D.S.C., this matter was referred to United States Magistrate Judge
Mary Gordon Baker for pretrial handling.
The Magistrate Judge reviewed Plaintiff’s complaint pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915 and
applicable precedents. The Magistrate Judge determined that, contrary to Plaintiff’s contention,

Plaintiff’s criminal charges remain pending,1 and recovery for damages under § 1983 is prohibited
pursuant to Heck v. Humphrey, 512 U.S. 477, 486-87 (1994). The Magistrate Judge therefore issued
a Report and Recommendation on November 16, 2016, recommending that Plaintiff’s complaint be
summarily dismissed without prejudice and without issuance and service of process. On December
7, 2016, Plaintiff was granted an extension of time until December 27, 2016, to file objections to the
Report and Recommendation. Plaintiff filed no response to the Report and Recommendation.
The Magistrate Judge makes only a recommendation to this court. The recommendation has
no presumptive weight. The responsibility for making a final determination remains with this court.
Mathews v. Weber, 423 U.S. 261, 270 (1976). This 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. 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.” Diamond v. Colonial Life & Acc. Ins. Co., 416 F.3d 310,
315 (4th Cir. 2005).
The court has thoroughly reviewed the record. The court concurs in the Report and
Recommendation and incorporates it herein by reference. Plaintiff’s complaint is summarily

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See United States v. Jackson, 4:15-cr-0-867-BHH-5.
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dismissed without prejudice and without issuance and service of process.
IT IS SO ORDERED.

/s/ Margaret B. Seymour
Senior United States District Judge
Columbia, South Carolina
January 18, 2017

NOTICE OF RIGHT TO APPEAL
Plaintiff is hereby notified of the right to appeal this order
pursuant to Rules 3 and 4 of the Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure.

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