LOUISE W. FLANAGAN, District Judge.
This matter comes before the court for review of plaintiff's pro se complaint pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §1915(e). United States Magistrate Judge Robert B. Jones, Jr., entered a memorandum and recommendation ("M&R"), pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §636(b)(1) and Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 72(b), wherein it is recommended that the court dismiss plaintiff's complaint in part for failure to state a complaint upon which relief may be granted. No objections to the M&R have been filed, and the time for objections has expired.
In her complaint filed March 20, 2015, plaintiff asserts claims against defendants under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 arising out of two alleged events. First, plaintiff alleges that defendant Vance County District Court failed to provide her with court-appointed counsel during a small claims action brought against her for a lien against her vehicle. Second, plaintiff alleges that defendants W.B. Lilley ("Lilley") and the Vance County Sheriff's Department violated her rights in authorizing defendant Raymond Earl Dickerson ("Dickerson") to tow, repair, and store plaintiff's vehicle. The magistrate judge interpreted the second allegation as a §1983 claim for deprivation of a property interest requiring due process protection under the 14th Amendment.
Upon careful review of the M&R, the court "may accept, reject, or modify, in whole or in part, the findings or recommendations made by the magistrate judge." 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1). A party may object to the findings or recommendations of the magistrate judge, and "the court shall make a de novo determination of those portions of the report or specified proposed findings or recommendations to which objection is made."
The magistrate judge recommends that plaintiff's complaint be dismissed in part for failure to state a claim. This court agrees, albeit in part on different grounds. Specifically, plaintiff's claim against defendant Vance County District Court challenging the denial of court-appointed counsel must be dismissed because there is no right to court-appointed counsel under either the United States Constitution or North Carolina law in a civil case except in certain limited circumstances not presented here.
Additionally, plaintiff's claims against defendants Vance County Sheriff's Department and Lilley in his official capacity are dismissed for failure to state a claim on which relief may be granted. Under North Carolina law, the Vance County Sheriff Department is not a person that can be sued, and, suit against Lilley in his official capacity is the equivalent of suit against the Vance County Sheriff Department.
By contrast, plaintiff's § 1983 claims against defendants Dickerson and Lilley in his individual capacity, claiming Fourteenth Amendment violations due to the seizure of her vehicle, shall be allowed to proceed.
Based on the foregoing, the court hereby ADOPTS the recommendation of the magistrate judge as its own, albeit in part on different grounds, and plaintiff's complaint is DISMISSED in part for failure to state a claim pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e). Plaintiff's claims against defendants Vance County Sheriff's Department, Vance County District Court, and defendant Lilley in his official capacity are DISMISSED. Plaintiff's § 1983 due process claims against defendants Dickerson and Lilley in his individual capacity REMAIN. Pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 4(b), plaintiff is DIRECTED to present summonses to the clerk within 14 days of the date of this order directed to defendants Dickerson and Lilley.
SO ORDERED.