The opinion
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
WESTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS
EL DORADO DIVISION
STACY ROBIN WILLIAMS, JR. PLAINTIFF
v. Case No. 1:22-cv-1055
SERGEANT CHARLES ELLIS,
Ouachita County Detention Center DEFENDANT
ORDER
On September 28, 2022, Plaintiff Stacy Robin Williams, Jr. filed this pro se civil rights
action. ECF No. 1. Plaintiff was granted Leave to Proceed in forma pauperis (IFP) on October
18, 2022, (ECF No. 6), one day after the court received his complete IFP application (ECF No. 5).
Before the Court is Plaintiff’s failure to comply with orders of the Court.
In the Court’s order granting Plaintiff’s IFP application, the Court also ordered Plaintiff to
inform the Court of any change in his address within thirty days of any such change. On January
25, 2023, this Court mailed Plaintiff a copy of its Order adopting the Honorable Barry A. Bryant’s
Report and Recommendation to Plaintiff’s last known address. ECF No. 15. On February 6, 2023,
Defendant filed a Motion to Dismiss on the grounds that Plaintiff has failed to comply with Local
Rule 5.5(c)(2), which requires pro se parties to promptly notify the Court and other parties of any
change in address. ECF No. 16. On February 9, 2023, the Court’s Order (ECF No. 15) was
returned as undeliverable and marked “RTS: no longer here” (ECF No. 19). That same day, the
Court issued an order requiring Plaintiff to respond to Defendant’s Motion to Dismiss by no later
than March 3, 2023, and reminding him of the requirement to notify the court and parties of any
change in address within 30 days of such a change. ECF No. 20. That order also stayed the
Defendant’s deadline for filing a motion for summary judgment on the issue of exhaustion until
further order of the Court.
On February 21, 2023, Plaintiff’s copy of the Court’s Order directing the Defendant to file
a motion for summary judgment on the issue of exhaustion was returned as undeliverable and
marked “RTS: unable to forward.” ECF No. 21. On March 1, 2023, the Court’s Order directing
the Plaintiff to respond to Defendant’s Motion to Dismiss was returned as undeliverable and
marked “RTS: unable to forward.” ECF No. 22. On March 6, 2023, the Court ordered Plaintiff to
show cause by March 27, 2023 as to why this matter should not be dismissed for failure to
prosecute because Plaintiff failed to update the Court with his current contact information as
previously ordered. ECF No. 23. On March 20, 2023, the Court’s show cause order was returned
as undeliverable. ECF No. 24. Plaintiff’s deadline to respond to the Court’s show cause order has
now passed and Plaintiff has failed to respond or communicate with this Court since filing the
Amended Complaint (ECF No. 8) on November 1, 2022.
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 obey multiple orders of the Court and has failed to keep the Court
updated of his current address. 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. 16) is GRANTED, and Plaintiff’s Amended Complaint (ECF No. 8)
is hereby DISMISSED WITHOUT PREJUDICE.
IT IS SO ORDERED, this 4th day of April 2023.
/s/ Susan O. Hickey
Susan O. Hickey
Chief United States District Judge