Smyth v. Stirling

R. Bryan Harwell United States District Judge

This matter is before the Court for review of Plaintiff's objections to the Report and Recommendation ("R & R") of United States Magistrate Judge Paige J. Gossett, who recommends (1) granting in part and denying in part Defendants' motion to dismiss and (2) denying Plaintiff's motion for judgment on the pleadings. See ECF Nos. 55 & 63.

The Magistrate Judge makes only a recommendation to the Court. The Magistrate Judge's recommendation has no presumptive weight, and the responsibility to make a final determination remains with the Court. Mathews v. Weber, 423 U.S. 261, 270-71 (1976). The Court must conduct a de novo review of those portions of the R & R to which specific objections are made, and it 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); Fed. R. Civ. P. 72(b).

The Court must engage in a de novo review of every portion of the Magistrate Judge's report to which 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 [C]ourt to a specific error in the [M]agistrate [Judge]'s proposed findings and recommendations." Orpiano v. Johnson, 687 F.2d 44, 47 (4th Cir. 1982). In the absence of specific objections to the R & R, the Court reviews only for clear error, Diamond v. Colonial Life & Acc. Ins. Co., 416 F.3d 310, 315 (4th Cir. 2005), and the Court need not give any explanation for adopting the Magistrate Judge's recommendation. Camby v. Davis, 718 F.2d 198, 199-200 (4th Cir. 1983).

Plaintiff, a state prisoner proceeding pro se and in forma pauperis, has filed this action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983 alleging another inmate sexually assaulted him while he was housed "in the MLT dorm" at Broad River Correctional Institution. See ECF No. 1 (complaint). Plaintiff seeks monetary damages and injunctive relief, names two defendants—(1) Bryan Stirling, who is the Director of the South Carolina Department of Corrections ("SCDC") and (2) Kennard Dubose, who is apparently an SCDC employee (collectively, "Defendants")—and specifies he is suing Defendants only in their official (not individual) capacity. Id. Both Defendants have filed a motion to dismiss pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(6). See ECF No. 15. The Magistrate Judge recommends granting the motion as to Plaintiff's claim for damages but denying it as to Plaintiff's claim for injunctive relief. See R & R at pp. 3-6. The Magistrate Judge also recommends denying Plaintiff's motion for judgment on the pleadings. Id. at p. 6.

Although Plaintiff has filed a document entitled "Objections," see ECF No. 63, he does not specifically object to the Magistrate Judge's determination that his damages claim should be dismissed based on Eleventh Amendment immunity. Nor does Plaintiff specifically object to the Magistrate Judge's recommendation to deny his motion for judgment on the pleadings. See Diamond & Camby, supra (stating that absent a specific objection, the Court need only review the R & R for clear error and need not give reasons for adopting it).

Regardless, the Court agrees with the Magistrate Judge that Defendants are entitled to Eleventh Amendment immunity for damages sought against them in their official capacities. See Lawson v. Union Cty. Clerk of Court, 828 F.3d 239, 278 (4th Cir. 2016) ("The Eleventh Amendment bars suit against state officials in their official capacity for damages under 42 U.S.C. § 1983."). The Court also agrees that Plaintiff's motion for judgment on the pleadings should be denied. See People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals v. United States Dep't of Agric., 861 F.3d 502, 506 (4th Cir. 2017) ("[A] motion for judgment on the pleadings under Rule 12(c) . . . should only be granted if, after accepting all well-pleaded allegations in the plaintiff's complaint as true and drawing all reasonable factual inferences from those facts in the plaintiff's favor, it appears certain that the plaintiff cannot prove any set of facts in support of his claim entitling him to relief" (internal quotation marks omitted)). Finally, the Court agrees with the Magistrate Judge that Plaintiff's complaint does not allege Defendants had any personal involvement in the alleged deprivations of Plaintiff's rights. See Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 676 (2009) ("Because vicarious liability is inapplicable to . . . § 1983 suits, a plaintiff must plead that each Government-official defendant, through the official's own individual actions, has violated the Constitution."). Accordingly, the Court will adopt the Magistrate Judge's recommendation regarding Plaintiff's claim for damages.

As for Plaintiff's claim for injunctive relief, the Court notes that after the Magistrate Judge entered the R & R Plaintiff filed a Notice of Change of Address indicating he is now confined at Kirkland Correctional Institution (and no longer at Broad River Correctional Institution where the alleged sexual assault occurred and where the alleged offender was housed). See ECF No. 70. Thus, it appears Plaintiff's claim for injunctive relief is moot. See Incumaa v. Ozmint, 507 F.3d 281, 286-87 (4th Cir. 2007) ("[T]he transfer of an inmate from a unit or location where he is subject to the challenged policy, practice, or condition, to a different unit or location where he is no longer subject to the challenged policy, practice, or condition moots his claims for injunctive and declaratory relief . . . ."). The Court will therefore dismiss this action in its entirety without prejudice.

Finally, the Court notes that Plaintiff previously filed a "Motion to bring a third party in a complaint," see ECF No. 36, which the Magistrate Judge denied after explaining Plaintiff must file a motion to amend his complaint if he seeks to name a new defendant. See R & R at p. 5 n.3. Plaintiff has not filed a motion to amend his complaint. Accordingly, the Court is dismissing this case at this time, but out of an abundance of caution will permit Plaintiff to file any amended complaint within fifteen days of the date of this Order.

For the foregoing reasons, the Court ADOPTS IN PART the R & R [ECF No. 55], GRANTS Defendants' motion to dismiss [ECF No. 15], DENIES Plaintiff's motion for judgment on the pleadings [ECF No. 30], and DISMISSES this action without prejudice. Plaintiff may file any amended complaint within fifteen (15) days of the date of this Order. If Plaintiff files an amended complaint , the Court will reopen this case and recommit the matter to the Magistrate Judge.

IT IS SO ORDERED. Florence, South Carolina
December 10, 2018

s/ R. Bryan Harwell

R. Bryan Harwell

United States District Judge