ROBIN J. CAUTHRON, District Judge.
This matter is before the Court on the Reports and Recommendations ("R&Rs") entered by United States Magistrate Judge Bernard M. Jones. (Dkt. Nos. 31, 32.) Pursuant to the provisions of 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)(B), the matter was referred to the Magistrate Judge, who entered two R&Rs
In his objections, Plaintiff largely relies on evidence that was not presented to the Magistrate Judge; in fact, Plaintiff did not even file a response to Defendants' dispositive motion. As a result, Defendants submitted their Motion to Strike, contending that Plaintiff should not be permitted to present this evidence to this Court. So before addressing the merits of his objections, the Court must decide whether it will consider any of this evidence from Plaintiff. Upon review of an objection to a magistrate judge's recommendation, "[t]he [district court] judge may . . . receive further evidence or recommit the matter to the magistrate judge with instructions." 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1) (emphasis added);
The Court finds, however, that it should not consider any additional evidence presented here that was not presented to the Magistrate Judge. As mentioned, Plaintiff failed to present any evidence or argument to the Magistrate Judge in response to Defendants' dispositive motion, and has yet to offer a good reason for not doing so. Plaintiff does mention in his objections that he did not "know or realize that [he] was allowed to argue against the incorrect statements" within the Special Report. (Dkt. No. 34, p. 1.) Plaintiff, however, was expressly advised otherwise by the Magistrate Judge:
(Dkt. No. 6, p. 2) (emphasis added).
Accordingly, (1) the Court will not consider any additional evidence presented by Plaintiff that was not presented to the Magistrate Judge, (2) Plaintiff's Objection and Motion for the Allowance of a Witness will be denied, and (3) Defendants' Motion to Strike will be granted. The Court also finds that, absent this new evidence, Plaintiff's objections fail to call into question any of the Magistrate Judge's findings.
Defendants first take issue with the Magistrate Judge's conclusion that they failed carry their initial burden of demonstrating that no disputed material fact existed regarding their failure-to-exhaust argument. In Defendants' view, because Plaintiff failed to respond to the factual assertion (declaring that Plaintiff failed to exhaust his claims) within their summary judgment motion, this fact should be deemed admitted—thereby creating an undisputed material fact regarding exhaustion. (Dkt. No. 35, p. 3.) But summary judgment motions, even when unrebutted, must still be properly supported.
Defendants further object to the Magistrate Judge's treatment of the claims remaining against Defendants Lawson and Good, taking issue with the judge's application of the summary judgment standard to some of the claims, while applying the 12(b)(6) standard to others. (Dkt. No. 35, p. 5.) Yet, upon review of Defendants' briefing, they failed to clarify which arguments were being offered under any particular theory—leaving the Magistrate Judge in the position of deciphering this. (
For these reasons, (1) the Magistrate Judge's Reports and Recommendations (Dkt. Nos. 31 & 32) are ADOPTED; (2) Defendants' Motion to Dismiss or, in the Alternative, Motion for Summary Judgment (Dkt. No. 26) is GRANTED in part and DENIED in part; (3) Plaintiff's Motion of Objection (Dkt. No. 34) is DENIED; (4) Defendants' Motion to Strike (Dkt. No. 40) is GRANTED; and (5) Plaintiff's Motion for Submission or Allowance of a Witness (Dkt. No. 41) is DENIED. The case is recommitted to Magistrate Judge Jones consistent with the original Order of Referral.
IT IS SO ORDERED.