Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-ared-5_19-cv-00007/USCOURTS-ared-5_19-cv-00007-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 555
Nature of Suit: Prisoner - Prison Condition
Cause of Action: 42:1983 Prisoner Civil Rights

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 

EASTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS 

 PINE BLUFF DIVISION 

ROBERT E. WOODWARD 

ADC #166447 PLAINTIFF 

V. CASE NO. 5:19-CV-7-KGB-BD 

JAMES GIBSON and 

WENDY KELLEY DEFENDANTS 

RECOMMENDED DISPOSITION

I. Procedures for Filing Objections: 

This Recommended Disposition (“Recommendation”) has been sent to Judge 

Kristine G. Baker. Any party may file written objections to this Recommendation. 

Objections should be specific and should include the factual or legal basis for the 

objection. To be considered, all objections must be received in the office of the Court 

Clerk within 14 days of this Recommendation. 

If no objections are filed, Judge Baker can adopt this Recommendation without 

independently reviewing the record. By not objecting, parties may waive the right to 

appeal questions of fact. 

II. Discussion:

Robert E. Woodward was an Arkansas Department of Correction (“ADC”) 

inmate when he filed this civil rights lawsuit on January 4, 2019. (Docket entry #2) On 

March 14, 2019, the parties filed a joint motion to dismiss all claims based on a 

settlement agreement. (#15) On March 26, Mr. Woodward filed a Motion to Withdraw 

Settlement, explaining that he had not been transferred to the North Carolina Department 

Case 5:19-cv-00007-KGB Document 24 Filed 04/10/19 Page 1 of 3
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of Correction (“NCDC”) as required under the terms of the parties’ settlement agreement. 

(#18) 

 Defendants have responded to Mr. Woodward’s motion to withdraw, explaining 

that, on March 15, 2019, the ADC delivered Mr. Woodward to the custody of the U.S. 

Marshal Service to be transported to the West Tennessee Federal Detention Center while 

en route to the Alexander Correctional Institute in Taylorsville, North Carolina. (#20-6 at 

p.1-2) 

 According to the terms of the parties’ agreement, Mr. Woodward was to be taken 

into North Carolina custody prior to midnight on March 21, 2019. Due to unanticipated 

delays, however, Mr. Woodward was not officially transferred from ADC custody to 

NCDC custody until 1:42 a.m. on March 22, 2019. (#20-6 at p.2; #20-5; #20-4 at p.2) 

This delay of less than two hours in delivering Mr. Woodward to the custody of the North 

Carolina Department of Correction is not a material breach of the parties’ settlement 

agreement and is not cause to grant Mr. Woodward’s motion to withdraw from the 

agreement. 

III. Conclusion:

 The Court recommends that the parties’ joint motion to dismiss this lawsuit (#15) 

be GRANTED, and the case DISMISSED, with prejudice. Mr. Woodward’s motion to 

withdraw from the settlement agreement (#18) should be DENIED, as moot. 

 

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 DATED this 10th day of April, 2019. 

 ___________________________________ 

 UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE 

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