BRADLEY

v.

ST. LUCIE COUNTY

THIS CAUSE came before the Court upon pro se Plaintiff Korin Narada Bradley’s (“Plaintiff”) Complaint pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. (“Compl.”) (ECF No. 1). The Court referred the matter to the Honorable Lisette M. Reid, United States Magistrate Judge, who issued a Report and Recommendation recommending that the Petition be DISMISSED. (“R&R”) (ECF No. 9). Plaintiff filed objections. (“Obj.”) (ECF No. 11). The matter is now ripe for review. As set forth below, the Court ADOPTS the R&R.1 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); Fed. R. Civ. P. 72(b)(3). The Court “must determine de novo any part of the magistrate judge’s disposition that has been properly objected to.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 72(b)(3). A de novo review is therefore required if a party files “a proper, specific objection” to a factual finding contained in the report. Macort v. Prem,

Plaintiff seeks monetary damages for alleged violations of his due process rights. Id. at 3. As set forth in the R&R, Magistrate Judge Reid finds that Plaintiff has failed to state a viable § 1983 claim against Defendants. R&R at 6. Specifically, Magistrate Judge Reid finds that Plaintiff’s only allegation against the public defender involves his traditional function as defense counsel, and a public defender does not act under color of state law as required under § 1983 in that context. Id. at 4. Regarding the prosecutor, Magistrate Judge Reid finds that Plaintiff’s claim against him should be dismissed because the state attorney is immune from suit while acting in his role as an advocate for the state, and Plaintiff failed to identify a cognizable constitutional claim against the state attorney. Id.

Finally, Magistrate Judge Reid finds that Plaintiff’s allegation against Defendant Sheriff Ken Mascara involves state criminal procedural rules rather than a federal constitutional right. Id. at 5–6.

Accordingly, Magistrate Judge Reid recommends dismissal of the Complaint. Id. at 8. This Court agrees. In the Objections, Plaintiff argues that the Court should not dismiss the Complaint and close the case before giving Plaintiff an opportunity to amend his Complaint to resolve the deficiencies. In Plaintiffs separately filed Petition to Amend Complaint, Plaintiff requests leave to amend the Complaint by adding defendants. (ECF No. 10). As an initial matter, the Objections do not challenge any of Magistrate Judge Reid’s factual findings, and therefore are not “proper, specific objection[s].” Thus, the Court is not required to conduct a de novo review. Macort, 208 F. App’x at 784. But, in any event, Plaintiff's argument is inapposite.

On October 30, 2020, Magistrate Judge Reid denied Plaintiffs Petition to Amend because “leave to amend would be futile.” (ECF No. 12). Indeed, the Court agrees that adding new defendants, as Plaintiff requests, would not cure the Complaint’s deficiencies.

Accordingly, because granting leave to amend would be futile, Plaintiffs argument is unpersuasive. UPON CONSIDERATION of the Complaint, the R&R, the Objections, the pertinent portions of the record, and being otherwise fully advised in the premises, it is hereby ORDERED AND ADJUDGED that Magistrate Judge Reid’s R&R (ECF No. 9) is ADOPTED and Plaintiff’ Complaint (ECF No. 1) is DISMISSED. The Clerk of the Court is instructed to CLOSE this case. All pending motions, if any, ace DENIED AS MOOT. DONE AND ORDERED in Chambers at Miami, Florida, this 30th day of October, 2020.

CHIEF UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE c: All counsel of record