The opinion
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
WESTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS
TEXARKANA DIVISION
ANTHONY BROWN PLAINTIFF
v. Civil No. 4:21-cv-04072
CORPORAL WHITESIDE; SERGEANT GOLDEN;
And JOHN DOE WARDEN, Miller County
Detention Center DEFENDANTS
ORDER
Anthony Brown filed this 42 U.S.C. § 1983 action pro se on October 25, 2021. (ECF No.
1). That same day, the Court ordered Plaintiff to submit a completed in forma pauperis (“IFP”)
application by November 15, 2021. (ECF No. 3). On November 8, 2021, mail sent to Plaintiff at
his address of record—including the order to submit a completed IFP application—was returned
to the Court as undeliverable. Presently before the Court is Plaintiff’s failure to keep the Court
informed of his address.
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). The Local Rules state 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 grounds 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 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 keep the Court informed of his address 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, Plaintiff’s Complaint (ECF No.
1) is DISMISSED WITHOUT PREJUDICE.
IT IS SO ORDERED, this 21st day of December, 2021.
/s/ Susan O. Hickey
Susan O. Hickey
Chief United States District Judge