JANE TRICHE MILAZZO, District Judge.
Before the Court are Defendant's Motion to Dismiss for Failure to Comply with Court Orders (Doc. 17) and Motion to Strike Class Allegations (Doc. 16). For the following reasons, Defendant's Motions are GRANTED.
This civil action for declaratory and injunctive relief involves the enforcement of child support orders in civil contempt proceedings. Plaintiff Donald A. Sauviac, a licensed Louisiana attorney proceeding pro se, filed this civil action against Defendant Orleans Parish District Attorney Leon Cannizaro under 42 U.S.C. § 1983. Plaintiff's claim is a constitutional attack on certain civil contempt hearings for the enforcement of child support payments that were brought against him. Plaintiff alleges that the U.S. Constitution and the Supreme Court's holding in Turner v. Rodgers require the appointment of counsel or other procedural safeguards that were absent at those hearings.
Shortly after the filing of this action, Defendant filed a Motion to Dismiss pursuant to Federal Rules of Civil Procedure Rule 12(b)(6), alleging that Plaintiff's Complaint failed to state a claim upon which relief could be granted. Despite the fact that Plaintiff failed to oppose that motion, this Court denied it on the grounds that Plaintiff had stated a claim to which Defendant was the proper party. Defendant now moves to strike Plaintiff's class allegations and dismiss his complaint for failure to comply with court orders. Plaintiff has once again failed to oppose these Motions. This does not, however, mean that the Court may grant the Motions as unopposed. Rather, the Fifth Circuit approaches the automatic grant of dispositive motions with considerable aversion.
First, Defendant asks this Court to dismiss Plaintiff's claim in light of his failure to comply with the Court's prior orders. Specifically, Defendant contends that he served Plaintiff with a set of interrogatories and requests for production on April 24, 2015 to which he never received a response. After an unsuccessful conference with Plaintiff, Defendant filed a Motion to Compel, which Plaintiff did not oppose. This Court issued an order on July 28, 2015, ordering Plaintiff to respond to discovery. He has yet to do so. In addition to failing to engage in any discovery, Plaintiff has never opposed any motion filed by Defendant. In fact, Plaintiff has not taken any action in furtherance of his claim since he filed it in May of 2014, save attending one preliminary status conference in May of 2015. This matter is set for trial in less than two months.
Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 37 permits dismissal of an action as a sanction for failure to obey a discovery order. In addition Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 41(b) states that "[i]f the plaintiff fails to prosecute or to comply with these rules or a court order, a defendant may move to dismiss the action or any claim against it." The Supreme Court has stated that "when circumstances make such action appropriate, a District Court may dismiss a complaint for failure to prosecute even without affording notice of its intention to do so or providing an adversary hearing before acting."
Here, Plaintiff has delayed the resolution of this issue by his refusal to participate in discovery, he has shown little interest in the result of this suit in his failure to oppose any of Defendant's motions, and he has directly ignored orders of this Court. Further, because Plaintiff is an attorney representing himself pro se, he is fully responsible for all of his dilatory conduct in this action. Even if this Court were to allow Plaintiff additional time to respond to Defendant's discovery requests, it would be insufficient to allow Defendant time to prepare for the trial set for next month. Accordingly, this Court believes it is justified in dismissing Plaintiff's claims with prejudice for failure to prosecute and as a sanction for failure to comply with the Court's orders. Plaintiff's claims are dismissed with prejudice.
Defendant next asks this Court to strike Plaintiff's class allegations in light of his failure to move for class certification. Because this Court has dismissed Plaintiff's claims with prejudice, this issue is mooted. However, out of an abundance of caution, it will consider Defendant's Motion. Defendant correctly notes that under Local Rule 23(c)(1), "[w]ithin 91 days after filing of a complaint in a class action ..., plaintiff must move for class certification under FRCP 23(c)(1), unless this period is extended upon motion for good cause and order by the court." In the year and a half since Plaintiff filed his Complaint, he has neither moved for class certification nor sought an extension of time.
Several courts in this district have found striking a class action allegation to be a suitable remedy for the failure to timely move for class certification.
For the foregoing reasons, Defendant's Motions are GRANTED, and Plaintiff's actions are DISMISSED WITH PREJUDICE.