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Hunter v. Short, 6:15-CV-06013-SOH-BAB. (2017)

Court: District Court, W.D. Arkansas Number: infdco20170717553 Visitors: 27
Filed: Jun. 19, 2017
Latest Update: Jun. 19, 2017
Summary: REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION BARRY A. BRYANT , Magistrate Judge . This is a civil rights action filed by Plaintiff pursuant to 42 U.S.C. 1983. Pursuant to the provisions of 28 U.S.C. 636(b)(1) and (3)(2011), the Honorable Susan O. Hickey, United States District Judge, referred this case to the undersigned for the purpose of making a report and recommendation. Currently before the Court is Plaintiff's failure to comply with a Court Order and his failure to prosecute. After careful consider
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REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION

This is a civil rights action filed by Plaintiff pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. Pursuant to the provisions of 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1) and (3)(2011), the Honorable Susan O. Hickey, United States District Judge, referred this case to the undersigned for the purpose of making a report and recommendation.

Currently before the Court is Plaintiff's failure to comply with a Court Order and his failure to prosecute. After careful consideration, the Court makes the following Report and Recommendation.

1. BACKGROUND

Plaintiff filed his Complaint on February 12, 2015, in the Eastern District of Arkansas. ECF No. 1. It was transferred to this District on February 19, 2015. ECF No. 3. Before an IFP order could be entered, mail sent to Plaintiff was returned as undeliverable on February 26, 2015, March 11, 2015, and April 6, 2015. In the Address Change Order, Plaintiff was advised that failure to keep the Court informed of his current address would result in the dismissal of his case. ECF No. 6. This Order was not returned as undeliverable.

On June 5, 2015, mail sent to Plaintiff was returned as undeliverable. In the Address Change Order, Plaintiff was advised that the Court has no obligation to locate Plaintiff, and failure to keep the Court advised of his current address would result in summary dismissal of his case. ECF No. 17. This Order was not returned as undeliverable.

On September 26, 2016, Defendants filed a Motion for Summary Judgment. ECF No. 32. On November 30, 2016, the Court entered an Order directing Plaintiff to respond by completing and returning a Summary Judgment Questionnaire by December 29, 2016. ECF No. 36. This Order was not returned as undeliverable. Plaintiff did not respond. On April 20, 2017, the Court entered a Show Cause Order, directing Plaintiff to respond by May 4, 2017. ECF No. 37. This Order was returned as undeliverable on May 8, 2017.

Plaintiff has not communicated with the Court since November 24, 2015. ECF No. 25.

2. APPLICABLE LAW

While pro se pleadings are to be construed liberally, a pro se litigant is not excused from complying with substantive and procedural law. Burgs v. Sissel, 745 F.2d 526, 528 (8th Cir. 1984). Local Rule 5.5(c)(2) states in pertinent part:

It is the duty of any party not represented by counsel to promptly notify the Clerk and the other parties to the proceedings of any change in his or her address, to monitor the progress of the case, and to prosecute or defend the action diligently. . . If any communication from the Court to a pro se plaintiff is not responded to within thirty (30) days, the case may be dismissed without prejudice. Any party proceeding pro se shall be expected to be familiar with and follow the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.

Local Rule 5.5(c)(2).

Additionally, the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure also specifically contemplate dismissal of a case with prejudice on the grounds the plaintiff failed to prosecute or failed to comply with orders of the court. Fed. R. Civ. P. 41(b); Link v. Wabash R.R. Co., 370 U.S. 626, 630-31 (1962) (the district court possess the power to dismiss sua sponte under Rule 41(b)). Pursuant to Rule 41(b), a district court has the power to dismiss an action based on "the plaintiff's failure to comply with any court order," and such a dismissal may be with prejudice if there has been "`a clear record of delay or contumacious conduct by the plaintiff.'" Brown v. Frey, 806 F.2d 801, 803-04 (8th Cir. 1986) (quoting Haley v. Kansas City Star, 761 F.2d 489, 491 (8th Cir. 1985)) (emphasis added). Dismissal with prejudice is an extreme sanction, and only to be used in cases of "willful disobedience of a court order" or "where a litigant exhibits a pattern of intentional dely." Hunt v. City of Minneapolis, 203 F.3d 524, 527 (8th Cir. 2000). The Court does not, however, need to find that Plaintiff acted in bad faith, but "only that he acted intentionally as opposed to accidentally or involuntarily." Id. (quoting Rodgers v. Univ. of Missouri, 135 F.3d 1216, 1219 (8th Cir. 1998)).

3. DISCUSSION

Plaintiff failed to comply with the Court's Order directing him to complete a Summary Judgment Questionnaire, as well as several Orders directing him to keep the Court apprised of his current address. Plaintiff failed to prosecute this matter. Accordingly, pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 41(b) and Local Rule 5.5(c)(2) the Court recommends Plaintiff's Complaint be dismissed without prejudice for failure to comply with the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and Local Rules, failure to comply with the Court's Order, and failure to prosecute this case. See Local Rule 5.5(c)(2); Fed. R. Civ. P. 41(b).

4. CONCLUSION

For the foregoing reasons, I recommend Plaintiff's Complaint (ECF No. 1) be DISMISSED without prejudice on the grounds that Plaintiff has failed to comply with the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and Local Rules, has failed to comply with the Court's Orders, and has failed to prosecute this matter.

The parties have fourteen days from receipt of the Report and Recommendation in which to file written objections pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1). The failure to file timely objections may result in waiver of the right to appeal questions of fact. The parties are reminded that objections must be both timely and specific to trigger de novo review by the district court.

Source:  Leagle

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