Lott v. Commissioner of Social Security

Filing 4

MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER adopting the 3 Proposed Findings and Recommendation, dismissing this case, and directing the Clerk to remove this action from the Court's docket. Signed by Judge Thomas E. Johnston on 11/9/2012. (cc: counsel of record, Plaintiff, Magistrate Judge Stanley) (jkk)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF WEST VIRGINIA
PARKERSBURG DIVISION

DENNA MARIE LOTT,

Plaintiff,
v.

CIVIL ACTION NO. 6:12-cv-00639

COMMISSIONER OF SOCIAL SECURITY,
Defendant.

MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER
On March 2, 2012, this case was initiated by Plaintiff’s filing of a form Notice of Appeal
that purports to be an appeal of an adverse decision of the Social Security Administration’s Office
of Disability Adjudication and Review. (Docket 1.) The one-page form is styled “Denna Marie
Lott, 1010 14th Ave, Vienna, WV v. Appeals Council.” (Id.) The form states that Plaintiff
“hereby appeals(s) to the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit from the Appeals
Council entered in this action on February 6, 2012.” (Id.) The form further indicates that the
Notice of Appeal was filed by “Jan Dils, Attorney for Appellant(s), 963 Market St., Parkersburg,
WV 26101,” although the envelope containing the Notice of Appeal bears the hand-written
address of the United States District Court in Charleston, West Virginia and Plaintiff’s Vienna,
West Virginia return address. (Id., Attachment #1.)
On March 27, 2012, this Court referred this matter to Magistrate Judge Mary E. Stanley for
submission of proposed findings of fact and a recommendation (“PF&R”) pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §

636(b)(1)(b) and, on that same day, Magistrate Judge Stanley issued a PF&R recommending that
the Court dismiss this matter for failure to prosecute under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 41(b).
[Docket 3.] The PF&R states that Magistrate Judge Stanley contacted Jan Dils. Ms. Dils stated
that, although she had represented Plaintiff in unsuccessful administrative proceedings before the
Social Security Administration (“SSA”), she did not represent Plaintiff in any appeal in federal
court. (Id.) Magistrate Judge Stanley then wrote Plaintiff, advised her that the Notice of Appeal
was not the appropriate filing for instituting an appeal of an adverse decision of the SSA, enclosed
a Complaint and Application to Proceed without Prepayment of Fees and Costs, and encouraged
Plaintiff to return the Complaint and Application at her earliest convenience to the Clerk’s
Officeor risk dismissal of the case. (Id.) Plaintiff has not, to date, responded to Magistrate
Judge Stanley’s communications.
The Court is not required to review, under a de novo or any other standard, the factual or
legal conclusions of the Magistrate Judge as to those portions of the findings or recommendation to
which no objections are addressed. Thomas v. Arn, 474 U.S. 140, 150 (1985). In addition,
failure to file timely objections constitutes a waiver of de novo review and Petitioner’s right to
appeal this Court’s Order. Snyder v. Ridenour, 889 F.2d 1363, 1366 (4th Cir. 1989); United
States v. Schronce, 727 F.2d 91, 94 (4th Cir. 1984). Here, objections to Magistrate Judge
Stanley’s PF&R were due on April 14, 2012, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1) and Fed. R. Civ. P.
72(b). To date, no objections to the PF&R have been filed.
Accordingly, the Court hereby ADOPTS the PF&R [Docket 3], DISMISSES this case,

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and DIRECTS the Clerk to remove this action from the Court’s docket.
The Clerk is further directed to provide a copy of this Order to all counsel of record, the
Plaintiff, and Magistrate Judge Stanley.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
The Court DIRECTS the Clerk to send a copy of this Order to counsel of record and any
unrepresented party.
ENTER:

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NOVEMBER 9, 2012