stating that the district court possesses the power to dismiss sua sponte under Rule 41(b)
How later courts described this case
- stating that the district court possesses the power to dismiss sua sponte under Rule 41(b)
Written by the judges who cited it.
The opinion
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
WESTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS
TEXARKANA DIVISION
JERMAIN D. LEWIS PLAINTIFF
v. Civil No.4:17-cv-04054
LYNN BAUCUM, Ashdown
Police Department DEFENDANT
ORDER
Plaintiff Jermain D. Lewis filed this 42 U.S.C. § 1983 action pro se and in forma pauperis
on July 6, 2017. (ECF No. 1). Before the Court is a Motion to Dismiss filed by Defendant. (ECF
No. 31). Plaintiff has not responded to the motion and the time to do so has passed. The Court
finds this matter ripe for consideration.
On March 20, 2018, the Court granted Defendants’ Motion to Compel directing Plaintiff
to provide Defendants with discovery responses by Wednesday, April 11, 2018. (ECF No. 27).
In this order Plaintiff was advised that failure to comply with the order would result in the dismissal
of this case. Counsel for Defendants represent that Plaintiff has not provided responses to the
discovery requests. (ECF No. 31, p. 1). In addition, counsel states that they have attempted on
two separate occasions to take Plaintiff’s deposition and Plaintiff has failed to appear. Id. at p. 2.
On May 4, 2018, the Court entered an order directing Plaintiff to respond to Defendants’ Motion
to Dismiss by May 25, 2018. (ECF No. 33). Plaintiff was again advised that failure to timely and
properly comply with the order would result in the dismissal of this action. To date, Plaintiff has
not responded to the Court’s order.
Although 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 specifically contemplate dismissal of a
case on the ground that 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) (stating that the
district court possesses 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.” Brown v. Frey, 806 F.2d 801, 803-04 (8th Cir. 1986) (emphasis added).
Plaintiff has failed to obey two orders of the Court and has failed to prosecute this case.
Therefore, pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 41(b) and Local Rule 5.5(c)(2), the Court
finds that this case should be dismissed. Accordingly, Defendant’s Motion to Dismiss (ECF No.
31) is GRANTED. Plaintiff’s Complaint (ECF No. 1) is DISMISSED WITHOUT
PREJUDICE.
IT IS SO ORDERED, this 1st day of June, 2018.
/s/ Susan O. Hickey
Susan O. Hickey
United States District Judge
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