Stewart v. United States of America, No. 2:2009cv00803 - Document 49 (N.D. Ala. 2012)
Court Description: MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER. Signed by Judge William M Acker, Jr on 8/21/12. (KGE, )
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FILED 2012 Aug-21 PM 03:00 U.S. DISTRICT COURT N.D. OF ALABAMA IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF ALABAMA SOUTHERN DIVISION WILLIAM STEWART, } } } } } } } } } Plaintiff, v. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Defendant. CIVIL ACTION NO. 2:09-CV-00803-WMA MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER The court has before plaintiff, William Stewart States of America ( United it supplemental ( Stewart ), States ) briefs and (Docs. filed defendant, 47 and by United 48), each responding to this court s request that the parties address the question of whether Stewart s objections to the magistrate judge s findings and requirements recommendations of 28 U.S.C. (Doc. ยง 41) 636(b)(1), meet and the specificity Rule 72(b)(3), F.R.Civ.P. What the specificity requirements are under these particular procedural circumstances presents an interesting question. It was raised by the court because the standards and needs for specificity did not seem to fit the situation at hand. Whatever the standard, the court has broad discretion, and, exercising that discretion concludes that whatever specificity requirements there are, they have been met by Stewart. Stewart has not objected to any of the magistrate judge s renditions of the undisputed material facts which led him to what Stewart claims is the erroneous recommendation that summary judgment be granted. The magistrate judge arrived at his recommendation by being forced to predict what the Alabama Supreme Court has never yet held, but would hold, if called upon, namely, that a psychologist who has reasonably determined that a patient poses a significant, imminent threat of death or serious injury to an identifiable person, would not be liable in tort for reporting that threat to law enforcement without first attempting to hospitalize the patient. These questions of Alabama law are entitled to de novo review. This court hopes that the answers will come from the Supreme Court of Alabama. This court is in the process of formulating appropriate questions to certify to the Supreme Court of Alabama, pursuant to Rule 18, Ala. R.Civ.P. DONE this 21st day of August, 2012. _____________________________ WILLIAM M. ACKER, JR. UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
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