Background
Melvin B. Wells, Jr. filed a civil action in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia (Newport News Division) against defendants Philip Shafer, Marien Wise, Scott Colley, and Tyrell Smith. The case proceeded before Judge Elizabeth W. Hanes under docket number 4:23-cv-00036-EWH-LRL.
On August 18, 2025, the district court granted summary judgment in favor of all defendants. Wells, proceeding pro se (without counsel), appealed this judgment to the Fourth Circuit.
The Court’s Holding
The Fourth Circuit unanimously affirmed the district court’s summary judgment order. The appellate panel found no reversible error in the lower court’s decision or reasoning.
In a brief per curiam opinion, the court noted that Wells’s arguments and the factual record before it did not warrant reversal. The court dispensed with oral argument, determining that the written submissions adequately presented the issues and that oral argument would not aid the decision.
Key Takeaways
- Fourth Circuit affirmed district court’s grant of summary judgment for defendants
- Pro se appellant’s challenge to summary judgment judgment was unsuccessful
- Unpublished opinion (non-binding precedent in the Fourth Circuit)
Why It Matters
This is an unpublished per curiam affirmance, which does not establish binding precedent in the Fourth Circuit. It represents a straightforward affirmation of summary judgment without legal analysis that would guide future litigation.