Davis v. Sutherland

Filing 9

MEMORANDUM ORDER ADOPTING REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION OF U. S. MAGISTRATE JUDGE AND ENTERING FINAL JUDGMENT. It is ordered that this civil action is dismissed with prejudice as frivolous and for failure to state a claim upon which relief may be granted. Signed by Judge Ron Clark on 5/31/17. (mrp, )

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS
TYLER DIVISION
MICHAEL WAYNE DAVIS

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v.

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J. J. SUTHERLAND

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CIVIL ACTION NO. 6:16cv296

MEMORANDUM ADOPTING REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION
OF THE UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE
AND ENTERING FINAL JUDGMENT
The Plaintiff Michael Wayne Davis, a prisoner of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice,
Correctional Institutions Division proceeding pro se, filed this civil rights lawsuit under 42 U.S.C.
§1983 complaining of alleged violations of his constitutional rights. This Court ordered that the case
be referred to the United States Magistrate Judge pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §636(b)(1) and (3) and the
Amended Order for the Adoption of Local Rules for the Assignment of Duties to United States
Magistrate Judges. The sole named Defendant is an individual identified as J.J. Sutherland.
Davis asserts that Wayland Mills told him that Sutherland broke into Davis’ shed and stole
his drills, tools, car audio, and electronics. Willie Jones told Davis that Sutherland tried to sell
Davis’ possessions to Jones. Davis describes Sutherland as 29 years old and states he drives a Ford
truck. He is from Whitehouse, Texas and his grandmother still has a house there, although Davis
indicates Sutherland is currently in jail.
After review of the pleadings, the Magistrate Judge issued a Report recommending that the
lawsuit be dismissed. The Magistrate Judge observed that claims under 42 U.S.C. §1983 require
a showing that the alleged deprivation be committed by a person acting under color of state law, and
Davis did not allege, much less show, that Sutherland was acting under color of state law in stealing
his property. Whitley v. Hanna, 726 F.3d 631, 638 (5th Cir. 2013).

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Even if Sutherland were acting under color of state law, the Magistrate Judge stated that a
random and unauthorized deprivation of property did not result in a violation of procedural due
process if the state provides an adequate post-deprivation remedy. Alexander v. Ieyoub, 62 F.3d
709, 712 (5th Cir. 1995). The Texas state courts provide an adequate post-deprivation remedy
through the tort of conversion. Murphy v. Collins, 26 F.3d 541, 543 (5th Cir. 1994). The Magistrate
Judge therefore recommended that the lawsuit be dismissed as frivolous and for failure to state a
claim upon which relief may be granted.
Davis received a copy of the Magistrate Judge’s Report but filed no objections thereto;
accordingly, he is barred from de novo review by the District Judge of those findings, conclusions,
and recommendations and, except upon grounds of plain error, from appellate review of the
unobjected-to factual findings and legal conclusions accepted and adopted by the District Court.
Douglass v. United Services Automobile Association, 79 F.3d 1415, 1430 (5th Cir. 1996) (en banc).
The Court has reviewed the pleadings in this cause and the Report of the Magistrate Judge.
Upon such review, the Court has determined that the Report of the Magistrate Judge is correct. See
United States v. Wilson, 864 F.2d 1219, 1221 (5th Cir.), cert. denied, 492 U.S. 918, 109 S.Ct. 3243
(1989) (where no objections to a Magistrate Judge’s Report are filed, the standard of review is
“clearly erroneous, abuse of discretion and contrary to law.”) It is accordingly
ORDERED that the Report of the Magistrate Judge (docket no. 6) is ADOPTED as the
opinion of the District Court. It is further
ORDERED that the above-styled civil action is DISMISSED WITH PREJUDICE as
frivolous and for failure to state a claim upon which relief may be granted. This dismissal is without
prejudice to the Plaintiff’s right to seek such relief as he may be entitled in the courts of the State
of Texas. It is further
ORDERED that any and all motions which may be pending in this civil action are hereby
DENIED.

So Ordered and Signed
May 31, 2017

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