Davis v. Goodwin - Civil Complaint Dismissal

4th Circuit Daily Opinions

Filed March 2nd, 2026

Detected March 3rd, 2026

Summary

The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed a district court's decision to dismiss a civil complaint filed by William Hercules Davis, Jr. The dismissal was based on the complaint's failure to state a claim upon which relief could be granted under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B). This unpublished opinion does not set precedent.

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What changed

The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals has affirmed the district court's dismissal of a civil complaint filed by William Hercules Davis, Jr. The appellate court found no reversible error in the lower court's decision to accept the magistrate judge's recommendation and dismiss the complaint under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B) for failure to state a claim. The case, identified by docket number 4:24-cv-00161-M-RJ, involved an appeal from the Eastern District of North Carolina.

As this is an unpublished opinion, it does not constitute binding precedent within the Fourth Circuit. The affirmation of the dismissal means the plaintiff's case has been concluded at the appellate level based on the pleadings. No further actions are required by regulated entities, as this pertains to a specific litigant's complaint and does not introduce new regulatory requirements or obligations.

Source document (simplified)

UNPUBLISHED UNITED STATES CO URT OF APPEALS FOR THE FOURTH C IRCUIT No. 25-2394 WILLIAM HERCULE S DAVIS, JR., Plaintiff - Appellant, v. WAYNE GOODWIN; K. SHOTWELL; CHIEF OF POLICE TAYLOR; CHRISTOPHER DU NNAGAN; TROO PER D. ENNIS; JUD GE WALTER MILLS; PAUL K RINCHAL; EVE RNS KISTLER; CRYSTAL BECK; MICHAEL D. BROA DWELL; B. ZMUDA; ERIC JONES; BRYAN DIXON; BRINKLY; JUDGE ANDREW WIG MORE; CLERKS; DEPUTY CLER KS; ASSISTANT DISTRI CT ATTORNEYS; UN KNOWN OTHER S, 1 – 100, Defendants - Appell ees. Appeal from the United States Distric t Court for the Eastern Dis trict of North Carolina, at Greenville. Richard E. Myers, II, Chief D istrict Judge. (4:24- cv - 00161-M-RJ) Submitted: February 2 6, 2026 Decided: March 2, 2026 Before NIEMEYER and QUATTLE BAUM, Circuit Judges, and FL OYD, Senior Circuit Judge. Affirmed by unpublish ed per curiam opini on. William Hercules Davi s, Jr., Appellant Pr o Se. Unpublished opinions are not binding prec edent in this circuit.

2 PER CURIAM: William Hercules Da vis, Jr., appeals the district court’s order accepting the recommendation of the magistrate judge and dismissing Davis’s civil complaint under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B) for failure to state a cl aim upon which relief may be gra nted. We have reviewed the record and find no reversible error. Accordingly, we affirm the district court’s order. Davis v. Goodwin, No. 4:24- cv -00161-M-RJ (E.D.N. C. Nov. 7, 2025). We dispense with oral a rgument because the facts and legal contentions are adequately presented in the mater ials before this court and argum ent would no t aid the decisional process. AFFIRMED