Viera v. Yong et al

Filing 25

ORDER denying as moot 6 Motion to Appoint Counsel ; denying 6 Motion for Recusal; granting 12 Motion to Dismiss; granting 21 Motion for Joinder; adopting 23 Report and Recommendation. Signed by U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier on 8/10/17. (DJP)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
DISTRICT OF SOUTH DAKOTA
SOUTHERN DIVISION
JOSE MARIA VIERA,
a/k/a Jose Maria Sanchez,
a/k/a Jose Sanchez,
a/k/a Jose Maria Viera Sanchez,
Plaintiff,

4:16-CV-04146-KES
ORDER ADOPTING REPORT
AND RECOMMENDATION AND
DISMISSING CASE

vs.
WARDEN DARIN YOUNG, SDSP
HEALTH SERVICES ADMINISTRATION
STAFF WORKERS,
Defendants.
Plaintiff, Jose Maria Viera, filed this lawsuit under 42 U.S.C. § 1983. The
case was referred to Magistrate Judge Veronica Duffy under 28 U.S.C.
§ 636(b)(1)(B) for the purpose of preparing a report and recommendation
regarding various motions.
On June 28, 2017, the magistrate judge submitted her report and
recommended that Viera’s complaint (Docket 1) be dismissed without prejudice
for failure to exhaust his administrative remedies under 42 U.S.C. § 1997e(a),
that his motions for counsel and recusal (Docket 6) be denied as moot, and
that SDSP Health Services Administration Staff Workers’ motion for joinder
(Docket 21) be granted.
Viera was notified in the report and recommendation that he had 14 days
to file objections to the report. Viera did file an objection to the report and
recommendation that addresses the merits of his claim, but not address his

failure to exhaust administrative remedies. Even though no objections were
filed that would require de novo review under Thompson v. Nix, 897 F.2d 356
(8th Cir. 1990), the court reviewed the matter de novo and finds that the
magistrate judge's report and recommendation is adopted in full. Viera has
provided no evidence to show that he properly exhausted his administrative
remedies as is required before he can bring his claims in federal court. See
Woodford v. Ngo, 548 U.S. 81, 103 (2006). Additionally, Viera seeks this court’s
recusal from this matter. Although Viera disagrees with the court’s rulings in
previous cases, he has not set forth any reasons that would require the court
to recuse in this matter. As a result, his motion to recuse is denied. Therefore,
it is

ORDERED that:
1.

Viera’s motion for this court to recuse (Docket 6) is denied.

2.

SDSP Health Services Administration Staff Workers’ motion to join
in Young’s motion to dismiss (Docket 21) is granted.

3.

Young and SDSP’s motion to dismiss for failure to exhaust
administrative remedies (Docket 12) is granted.

4.

Viera’s motion for appointment of counsel (Docket 6) is denied as
moot.

5.

The report and recommendation of the magistrate judge (Docket
23) is adopted in full.

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6.

Viera’s complaint is dismissed without prejudice for failure to
exhaust his administrative remedies.

Dated August 10, 2017.
BY THE COURT:

/s/ Karen E. Schreier
KAREN E. SCHREIER
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

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