The opinion
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
EASTERN DISTRICT OF MICHIGAN
SOUTHERN DIVISION
ROBERT T. BROWN,
#742378,
Plaintiff, Civil Action No. 19-CV-11325
vs. HON. BERNARD A. FRIEDMAN
MICHAEL SNYDER,
Defendant.
__________________/
OPINION AND ORDER ACCEPTING THE MAGISTRATE JUDGE’S REPORT AND
RECOMMENDATION, GRANTING DEFENDANT’S MOTION FOR SUMMARY
JUDGMENT, AND DISMISSING PLAINTIFF’S PENDING MOTIONS AS MOOT
This matter is presently before the Court on defendant’s motion for summary
judgment. (ECF No. 49). Magistrate Judge Curtis Ivy, Jr. has submitted a Report and
Recommendation (“R&R”) in which he recommends that this motion be granted and that plaintiff’s
remaining motions be terminated as moot. (ECF No. 68). Plaintiff has filed a “response” to the
R&R, in which he states that he has not been able to access relevant evidence because he is presently
serving a parole violation and his “legal materials” are at his house. (ECF No. 71, PageID.483-85).
Plaintiff contends that the Court should therefore reject defendant’s motion. (Id., PageID.485).
Pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 72(b)(2), a party may file “specific written objections to
the proposed findings and recommendations” of a magistrate judge. Such an objection “must: (A)
specify the part of the order, proposed findings, recommendations, or report to which a person
objects; and (B) state the basis for the objection.” E.D. Mich. LR 72.1(d)(1). As Magistrate Judge
Ivy explained in his R&R: “Any objections must be labeled as ‘Objection No. 1,’ ‘Objection No.
2,’ etc. Any objection must recite precisely the provision of this Report and Recommendation to
which it pertains.” (ECF No. 68, PageID.475).
A district court reviews de novo the portions of a R&R to which proper objections
have been filed. See 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1); Fed. R. Civ. P. 72(b). “Only those objections that are
specific are entitled to a de novo review.” Lee v. Money Gram Corp. Off., No. 15-CV-13474, 2017
WL 4161108, at *1 (E.D. Mich. Sept. 20, 2017). “However, the district court need not provide de
novo review where the objections are [f]rivolous, conclusive or general. The parties have the duty
to pinpoint those portions of the magistrate’s report that the district court must specially consider.”
Mira v. Marshall, 806 F.2d 636, 637 (6th Cir. 1986) (internal quotation marks and citations omitted).
“[A] general objection to the entirety of a magistrate’s report, without specifying a single issue of
contention,” is not a proper objection. Howard v. Sec. of Health and Hum. Servs., 932 F.2d 505, 509
(6th Cir. 1991).
Here, plaintiff’s response merely raises general arguments about his access to legal
resources and objects to the entirety of the R&R. It does not specify any part of the order, proposed
findings, recommendations, or report to which plaintiff objects, nor does it state a legal basis for his
objections. Plaintiff’s response therefore does not constitute a proper objection as defined by the
Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, this Court’s local rules, or relevant precedent. The Court need not
review de novo any part of the magistrate judge’s disposition.
Having reviewed the second amended complaint, motion for summary judgment, and
plaintiff’s pending motions, the Court agrees with the magistrate judge’s analysis and
recommendation. Accordingly,
IT IS ORDERED that Magistrate Judge Ivy’s R&R (ECF No. 68) is hereby accepted
2
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that defendant’s motion for summary judgment (ECF
No. 49) is granted.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that all pending motions (ECF Nos. 61, 63, 66, 69, 70)
are dismissed as moot.
s/Bernard A. Friedman
Dated: July 5, 2022 BERNARD A. FRIEDMAN
Detroit, Michigan SENIOR UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
The undersigned certifies that a copy of the foregoing order was served upon each attorney or party of
record herein by electronic means or first class U.S. mail on July 5, 2022.
Robert T. Brown #742378 s/Johnetta M. Curry-Williams
OAKS CORRECTIONAL FACILITY Case Manager
1500 CABERFAE HIGHWAY
MANISTEE, MI 49660