REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION

KATHERINE P. NELSON, Magistrate Judge.

This matter is before the undersigned United States Magistrate Judge sua sponte for entry of a report and recommendation pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)(B). As explained below, it is RECOMMENDED that Plaintiff Nathaniel J. Pelfrey's case be DISMISSED WITHOUT PREJUDICE pursuant to Rule 41(b), Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.

I. Findings of Fact

This matter was removed to this Court on February 14, 2014. (See Doc. 1.) Because it did not appear the state court had jurisdiction to grant Plaintiff's then-counsel's motion to withdraw, because that order was entered post-removal,1 this matter came before the undersigned for a status conference on February 27, 2014. (See Doc. 5.) An attorney for Plaintiff, Desmond V. Tobias, Esq., and counsel for the sole remaining defendant, Otis Elevator Corporation, participated. (See generally Doc. 10.) The Court granted Attorneys Tobias and Jason S. McCormick's motion to withdraw (Doc. 6), after finding—based on the representations of Mr. Tobias—Plaintiff had been notified by counsel that they intended to withdraw and, after their withdrawal, that he would be proceeding pro se in this Court, and cautioned Plaintiff

(Doc. 10 at 2 (emphasis in original).)2

A preliminary scheduling order (Doc. 11) was entered February 28, 2014, and, pursuant to that order, Plaintiff and counsel for Otis were to meet and confer and file, no later than April 14, 2014, a Rule 26(f) report of parties' planning meeting. On that day, however, Plaintiff and counsel for Otis, on a conference call, contacted the undersigned's staff and requested an extension of the deadline to allow Plaintiff additional time to retain counsel. (See generally Doc. 13.) The Rule 26(f) deadline was accordingly extended to May 5, 2014, and Plaintiff was cautioned

(Doc. 13 at 2 (emphasis in original).)3

On May 5, 2014, however, the Court received a report of parties' planning meeting solely from Otis (Doc 15), in which Otis informed the Court it tried, unsuccessfully, "on numerous occasions" to contact Plaintiff, through emails, through certified mail, and by telephone, to schedule their planning meeting. The undersigned, instead of entering a Rule 16(b) scheduling order, entered an order setting this matter for a show cause hearing on May 21, 2014. (See generally Doc. 16.) Therein, Plaintiff was ordered to appear in person and placed on notice that his failure to appear in person for this hearing will result in a recommendation that this action be dismissed for failure to prosecute and obey orders of the Court." (Id. at 2 (emphasis in original).)4 Plaintiff failed to appear.

II. Conclusions of Law

Courts no doubt possesses the power to dismiss an action "for failure to prosecute with reasonable diligence or to comply with [the Court's] orders or rules of procedure," Wahl v. McIver, 773 F.2d 1169, 1174 (11th Cir. 1985); see also Equity Lifestyle Props., Inc. v. Florida Mowing & Landscape Serv., Inc., 556 F.3d 1232, 1240 (11th Cir. 2009) ("The court may dismiss a claim if the plaintiff fails to prosecute it or comply with a court order."); Gratton v. Great Am. Communications, 178 F.3d 1373, 1374 (11th Cir. 1999) (observing that Rule 41(b), Fed. R. Civ. P., expressly "authorizes a district court to dismiss a complaint for . . . failure to comply with a court order"), but the Eleventh Circuit has held that dismissal of an action for failure to prosecute should be undertaken "only in the face of a clear record of delay or contumacious conduct by the plaintiff." McKelvey v. AT & T Techs., Inc., 789 F.2d 1518, 1520 (11th Cir. 1986). Such conduct includes "protracted foot-dragging," "defiance of court orders," "ignoring warnings," and "wasteful expenditure of the court's time." Chamorro v. Puerto Rican Cars, Inc., 304 F.3d 1, 4-5 (1st Cir. 2002); see also Easley v. Kirmsee, 382 F.3d 693, 698 (7th Cir. 2004) (explaining that trial court has obligation to control and manage its own docket, and that consistent disregard of scheduling orders furnishes sufficient reason under Rule 41(b) to dismiss case involuntarily for want of prosecution); Vega-Encarnacion v. Babilonia, 344 F.3d 37, 40 (1st Cir. 2003) (failure to respond to a motion renders a party susceptible to involuntary dismissal for failure to prosecute).

From the factual record set out above, it is clear that Plaintiff has repeatedly defied orders of this Court and ignored its recurrent warnings. Chamorro, 304 F.3d at 4-5. Plaintiff has been cautioned three times that his failure to prosecute this case and obey orders of this Court will result in the dismissal of his lawsuit. By ignoring those warnings, his inaction has made it clear that allowing this case to sit on this Court's docket is a wasteful expenditure of the defendant's and this Court's time and resources.

III. Conclusion

Therefore, after consideration of lesser sanctions, which the undersigned believes will not suffice given the record in this case, it is RECOMMENDED that the Court DISMISS Plaintiff's case WITHOUT PREJUDICE, pursuant to Rule 41(b), for failure to prosecute and for failure to abide by the orders of this Court. The fourteen-day window for the filing of objections, see below, provides Plaintiff ample time to bring to the attention of the District Judge any excuse(s) for his failure to prosecute this matter and obey orders of this Court.

IV. Notice of Right to File Objections

A copy of this report and recommendation shall be served on all parties in the manner provided by law. Any party who objects to this recommendation or anything in it must, within fourteen (14) days of the date of service of this document, file specific written objections with the Clerk of this Court. See 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1); FED. R. CIV. P. 72(b); S.D. ALA. L.R. 72.4. In order to be specific, an objection must identify the specific finding or recommendation to which objection is made, state the basis for the objection, and specify the place in the Magistrate Judge's report and recommendation where the disputed determination is found. An objection that merely incorporates by reference or refers to the briefing before the Magistrate Judge is not specific.

The Clerk is DIRECTED to send a copy of this order to Plaintiff by regular and certified mail, return receipt requested, at 6721 Mighty Oaks Drive, Gulf Shores, Alabama 36542.