Summary
The United States District Court for the District of South Carolina reviews a magistrate judge’s Report and Recommendation concerning Defendants’ motion to enforce a settlement agreement. Finding no clear error in the absence of objections, the Court grants the motion and dismisses the action with prejudice.
Topics
Practice areas
Questions Presented
- Whether the district court should review the magistrate judge's Report and Recommendation for clear error because Plaintiff filed no timely objections.
- Whether Defendants' motion to enforce the settlement agreement or obtain involuntary dismissal should be granted.
- Whether the action should be dismissed with prejudice.
Holdings
- When no timely objection is filed to a magistrate judge's Report and Recommendation, the district court need not conduct de novo review and instead reviews the record for clear error before accepting the recommendation.
- Defendants' motion to enforce judgment was granted, and the action was dismissed with prejudice.
Key quotations
“The Court will review the Report only for clear error in the absence of an objection.”
“Defendant’s motion to enforce judgment [46] is GRANTED. This action is dismissed with prejudice.”
Factual background
The underlying action involved Plaintiff Patrick L. Booker and Defendants Officer A. DeLaura, Officer M. Madden, and the Greenwood Police Department. Defendants sought enforcement of a settlement agreement or involuntary dismissal. The magistrate judge recommended granting the motion, and Plaintiff did not file objections.
Procedural history
Defendants filed a motion on February 5, 2026, which was docketed as a motion to enforce judgment. Magistrate Judge Mary Gordon Baker issued a Report and Recommendation on March 19, 2026, recommending that the motion be granted. Plaintiff did not object within the applicable period. The district court found no clear error, adopted the recommendation, granted the motion, and dismissed the action with prejudice.