REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION

ANTHONY E. PORCELLI, District Judge.

THIS MATTER comes before the Court on Defendants' Motion to Dismiss Under Rule 41(b) ("Motion") (Dkt. 49). Plaintiff failed to file a timely response thereto.

On November 10, 2014, Plaintiff's counsel filed a Renewed Motion to Withdraw as Counsel for Plaintiff (Dkt. 47). The Court granted Plaintiff's Renewed Motion to Withdraw on November 14, 2014, and directed Plaintiff to retain new counsel, who was to file a notice of appearance within thirty (30) days pursuant to Local Rule 2.03 (Dkt. 48).

Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 41(b) allows dismissal of an action if the Plaintiff fails to prosecute or to comply with procedural rules or an order of the court. Fed.R.Civ.P. 41(b); e.g., Gratton v. Great Am. Commc'ns, 178 F.3d 1373, 1374 (11th Cir. 1999). "The court's power to dismiss is an inherent aspect of its authority to enforce its orders and insure prompt disposition of lawsuits." Goforth v. Owens, 766 F.2d 1533, 1535 (11th Cir.1985). Nevertheless, dismissal with prejudice is a severe sanction that applies appropriately only where there is a clear record of willful contempt and an implicit or explicit finding that lesser sanctions would not suffice. E.g., Gratton, 178 F.3d at 1374; Goforth, 766 F.2d at 1535.

The Court's November 14, 2014 Order explicitly stated that failure to retain new counsel and file a notice of appearance would result in dismissal for failure to prosecute under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 41(b). Plaintiff's former counsel was directed to serve such notice upon Plaintiff. As of the date of this Order, twenty one (21) days have lapsed since the deadline set for Plaintiff to retain and file notice of new counsel in this matter. Nothing has been filed by Plaintiff in this case since the Court's November 14, 2014 Order.

For the foregoing reasons it is RECOMMENDED that:

IT IS SO REPORTED.