The opinion
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
WESTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS
TEXARKANA DIVISION
LARRY DEJUAN HAUPTMANN PLAINTIFF
v. Case No. 4:23-cv-4075
JAIL ADMINISTRATOR RAMI COX DEFENDANTS
ORDER
Before the Court is Plaintiff Johnny Ray Porter’s failure to comply with Orders of the Court
and to prosecute this matter. Plaintiff submitted this 42 U.S.C. § 1983 action pro se, on August
15, 2023. ECF No. 1. Plaintiff submitted an Application to proceed in forma pauperis (“IFP”)
with his Complaint. ECF No. 2. The Court granted Plaintiff’s IFP Application that same day.
ECF No. 3.
On November 2, 2023, Defendants filed a Motion for Summary Judgment on the limited
issue of exhaustion.1 ECF No. 12. The Court then entered an Order directing Plaintiff to file a
0F
response to Defendant’s Motion for Summary Judgment. ECF No. 15. Plaintiff’s response was
due on November 27, 2023. Id. The Court mailed this Order to Plaintiff at his current address of
record—the Arkansas Department of Corrections Ouachita River Unit. This Order was not
returned as undeliverable. Plaintiff did not respond by November 27, 2023, as directed.
The Court entered an Order to Show Cause on November 28, 2023, directing Plaintiff to
show cause why he failed to respond to Defendant’s Motion for Summary Judgment on exhaustion.
ECF No. 16. Plaintiff’s response was due on December 19, 2023. Plaintiff has not responded,
and the Order to Show Cause was not returned as undeliverable mail. Plaintiff has not
1 This Motion was filed pursuant to the Court’s October 2, 2023 Bench Order which stayed all discovery until the
issue of exhaustion was resolved. ECF No. 10. Accordingly, no discovery has been conducted in this matter, and the
pending Motion for Summary Judgment addresses the issue of exhaustion alone.
communicated with the Court since he filed a Notice of Change of Address on September 18,
2023. ECF No. 8.
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).
Furthermore, a dismissal pursuant to Rule 41(b) operates as an adjudication on the merits
unless it is otherwise specified. Fed. R. Civ. P. 41(b); Brown, 806 F.2d at 803. In considering a
Rule 41(b) dismissal, the Court must balance: (1) “the degree of [Plaintiff’s] egregious conduct;”
(2) the adverse impact of the conduct on the Defendants; and (3) the Court’s ability to administer
justice. Rodgers v. Curators of University of Missouri, 135 F.3d 1216, 1219 (8th Cir. 1998)
(internal quotations omitted). In Rodgers, the Eighth Circuit provides the standard the Court must
consider before dismissing with prejudice for failure to prosecute:
Dismissal with prejudice is an extreme sanction and should be used only in cases of willful
disobedience of a court order or . . . persistent failure to prosecute a complaint. [The Court
must consider] . . . whether in the particular circumstances of the case, the needs of the
court in advancing a crowded docket and preserving respect for the integrity of its internal
procedures are sufficient to justify the harsh consequences of forever denying a litigant of
his day in court. However, the [Court] need not [find] that appellant acted in bad faith,
only that he acted intentionally as opposed to accidentally or involuntarily.
Id.
Here, Plaintiff has failed to prosecute this case and comply with the Court’s Orders.
Specifically, Plaintiff has failed to respond to Defendants’ Motion for Summary Judgment as
ordered by the Court. However, the Court does not find dismissal with prejudice is warranted
here. While Defendants have filed a Motion for Summary Judgment, it is one addressing the issue
of exhaustion only. Further, no resources have been expended on lengthy discovery or litigation
at this juncture. Therefore, pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 41(b) and Local Rule
5.5(c)(2), the Court finds Plaintiff’s Complaint (ECF No. 1) should be and is hereby DISMISSED
WITHOUT PREJUDICE.
IT IS SO ORDERED, this 2nd day of February, 2024.
/s/ Susan O. Hickey
Susan O. Hickey
Chief United States District Judge