Case Name: Roswitha Ann SAVOIE, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Ric BRADSHAW, Sheriff, Jerome Golden Center, et al., Defendants-Appellants
Court: United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 2015-09-17
Citations: 615 F. App'x 942
Docket Number: No. 14-10370
Parties: Roswitha Ann SAVOIE, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Ric BRADSHAW, Sheriff, Jerome Golden Center, et al., Defendants-Appellants.
Judges: Before JORDAN, JILL PRYOR, and ANDERSON, Circuit Judges.
Reporter: West's Federal Appendix
Volume: 615
Pages: 942–943

Head Matter:
Roswitha Ann SAVOIE, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Ric BRADSHAW, Sheriff, Jerome Golden Center, et al., Defendants-Appellants.
No. 14-10370
Non-Argument Calendar.
United States Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit.
Sept. 17, 2015.
Roswitha Ann Savoie, Lake Worth, FL, pro se.
Before JORDAN, JILL PRYOR, and ANDERSON, Circuit Judges.

Opinion:
PER CURIAM:
Roswitha Savoie appeals the dismissal of her suit on her own behalf against various defendants in the Palm Beach Sheriffs Office and the Jerome Golden Center for violations of her constitutional rights.
The district court dismissed Savoie's case after she sought to proceed in forma pauperis on behalf of her minor son. The magistrate judge, having previously granted Savoie's motion to proceed in forma pauperis on her own behalf, had recommended that her motion on behalf of her son be denied. However, the district court, stating that it was approving, adopting, and ratifying the Report and Recommendation, denied the motion to proceed in forma pauperis on behalf of her son and also dismissed the entire case. The court did not explain its decision; and the Report and Recommendation had not addressed the merits of Savoie's claims on her own behalf. In fact, as mentioned earlier, the magistrate judge had granted Savoie's motion to proceed in forma pau-peris on her own behalf.
A district court is free to "accept, reject, or modify, in whole or in part" the magistrate judge's findings or recommendations. 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)(C). In other words, the court is not bound to the decision of the magistrate judge. But when a district court fails to sufficiently explain its rulings, we will remand the case. Danley v. Allen, 480 F.3d 1090, 1091-92 (11th Cir.2007). Here, there is no explanation of the dismissal, which deprives this court of the ability to review. And, because the magistrate judge had previously granted in for-ma pauperis status to Savoie on her own, deeming the amendments she made to her complaint satisfactory, the decision to dismiss needs explanation. Therefore, we vacate the district court's decision dismissing this case and remand to the district court for further proceedings.
VACATED and REMANDED.
. Savoie had also filed related claims on behalf of her minor son, Savoie-Elston. Her ' appeal- of the district court's order dismissing the claims on behalf of her son was dismissed by order of this Court dated August 5, 2014.