“The statute of limitations for a claim seeking unpaid overtime wages under the FLSA is generally two years. But if the claim is one ‘arising out of a willful violation,’ the statute of limitations is extended to three years.’”
How later courts described this case
- “The statute of limitations for a claim seeking unpaid overtime wages under the FLSA is generally two years. But if the claim is one ‘arising out of a willful violation,’ the statute of limitations is extended to three years.’”
Written by the judges who cited it.
The opinion
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
MIDDLE DISTRICT OF FLORIDA
FORT MYERS DIVISION
EVAN BARAN,
Plaintiff,
v. Case No.: 2:21-cv-492-SPC-MRM
WATERSONG REALTY SERIES I
LLC,
Defendant.
/
REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION
This matter comes before the Court sua sponte. Upon review of the docket and
for the reasons herein, the Undersigned recommends that the Complaint and
Demand for Jury Trial (“Complaint”) (Doc. 1) be DISMISSED without prejudice.
BACKGROUND
A brief procedural history of this case is instructive. On July 1, 2021, Plaintiff
filed a one-count Complaint, alleging that Defendant violated the Fair Labor
Standards Act. (Doc. 1). On July 26, 2021, Defendants filed an Answer and
Affirmative Defenses, denying Plaintiff’s allegations and asserting five affirmative
defenses. (Doc. 8).
On August 30, 2021, Plaintiff’s former counsel, Mr. Bill B. Berke, sought to
withdraw as the attorney of record for Plaintiff. (Doc. 16). That same day, the
Court granted the motion, permitted Mr. Berke to withdraw, and directed Plaintiff to
either (1) retain new counsel and have counsel file a notice of appearance in this case
or (2) file an appropriate notice with the Court stating that he intends to proceed pro
se no later than September 13, 2021. (Doc. 18). The Court warned Plaintiff that
“[a]ny failure to comply with this Order may subject the offending party(ies) to
dismissal, default, or other sanctions, as appropriate.” (Id. at 3 (emphasis omitted)).
A copy of the Order was mailed to Plaintiff at his service address. (See id.).
When Plaintiff failed to comply with the August 30, 2021 Order, the Court
entered an Order to show cause on September 14, 2021, requiring Plaintiff to show
good cause as to why this action should not be dismissed for failure to comply with
the Court’s August 30, 2021 Order. (Doc. 19). The Court ordered Plaintiff to
respond to the Order and either (1) retain new counsel and have counsel file a notice
of appearance in this case or (2) file an appropriate notice with the Court stating that
he intends to proceed pro se no later than September 28, 2021. (Id. at 2). The Court
warned that “[f]ailure to respond to or otherwise comply with this Order may result
in the Undersigned recommending to the presiding United States District Judge that
the action be dismissed.” (Id. (emphasis omitted)). Plaintiff failed to comply with
the Order. A copy of the Order was mailed to Plaintiff at his service address. (See
id.).
Plaintiff failed to comply with the Court’s September 14, 2021 Order to show
cause.
LEGAL STANDARD
The decision to dismiss for want of prosecution is within the Court’s
discretion. See McKelvey v. AT & T Techs., Inc., 789 F.2d 1518, 1520 (11th Cir. 1986)
(citing Martin-Trigona v. Morris, 627 F.2d 680, 682 (5th Cir. 1980)).1 The Eleventh
Circuit has held, however, that “the severe sanction of dismissal – with prejudice or
the equivalent thereof – should be imposed ‘only in the face of a clear record of delay
or contumacious conduct by the plaintiff.’” Id. (citing Martin-Trigona, 627 F.2d at
682). The Eleventh Circuit observed that “such dismissal is a sanction of last resort,
applicable only in extreme circumstances, and generally proper only where less
drastic sanctions are unavailable.” Id. (citing Searock v. Stripling, 736 F.2d 650, 653
(11th Cir. 1984); E.E.O.C. v. Troy State Univ., 693 F.2d 1353, 1354, 1358 (11th Cir.
1982)). The Eleventh Circuit further held that “[a] finding of such extreme
circumstances necessary to support the sanction of dismissal must, at a minimum, be
based on evidence of willful delay; simple negligence does not warrant dismissal.”
Id. (citing Searock, 736 F.2d at 653; Troy State, 693 F.2d at 1354, 1357). Nevertheless,
if the Court dismisses the action without prejudice, the standard is less stringent
“because the plaintiff would be able to file [the] suit again.” Brown v. Blackwater River
1 In Bonner v. City of Prichard, 661 F.2d 1206, 1209 (11th Cir. 1981) (en banc), the
Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals adopted as binding precedent all the decisions of
the former Fifth Circuit handed down prior to the close of business on September 30,
1981.
Corr. Facility, 762 F. App’x 982, 985 (11th Cir. 2019) (alteration in original) (quoting
Boazman v. Econ. Lab., Inc., 537 F.2d 210, 212-13 (5th Cir. 1976)).
A dismissal without prejudice, however, amounts to a dismissal with prejudice
if the statute of limitation bars the plaintiff from refiling the complaint. See Perry v.
Zinn Petroleum Cos., LLC, 495 F. App’x 981, 984 (11th Cir. 2012) (citing Burden v.
Yates, 644 F.2d 503, 505 (5th Cir. 1981); Boazman v. Econ. Lab., Inc., 537 F.2d 210,
213 (5th Cir.1976)).
Additionally, Local Rule 3.10 states that “[a] plaintiff’s failure to prosecute
diligently can result in dismissal if the plaintiff in response to an order to show cause
fails to demonstrate due diligence and just cause for delay.”
ANALYSIS
While dismissal for failure to prosecute is a harsh sanction, the Undersigned
can only conclude that Plaintiff’s failure here to comply timely with the Court’s
Orders and to heed the Court’s instructions is willful. See McKelvey, 789 F.2d at
1520. Specifically, when the Court permitted Plaintiff’s counsel to withdraw, the
Court ordered Plaintiff to either (1) retain new counsel and have counsel file a notice
of appearance in this case or (2) file an appropriate notice with the Court stating that
he intends to proceed pro se, which is without the benefit of counsel. (Doc. 18 at 2).
The Court warned Plaintiff that “[a]ny failure to comply with this Order may subject
the offending party(ies) to dismissal, default, or other sanctions, as appropriate.” (Id.
at 3 (emphasis omitted)). A copy of the Order was mailed to Plaintiff at his service
address. (See id.).
Plaintiff, however, failed to comply with the Order despite the Court’s
warning. Accordingly, the Court ordered Plaintiff to show good cause as to why this
action should not be dismissed for Plaintiff’s failure to comply with the August 30,
2021 Order. (Doc. 19 at 1-2). The Court warned that “[f]ailure to respond to or
otherwise comply with this Order may result in the Undersigned recommending to
the presiding United States District Judge that the action be dismissed.” (Id. at 2
(emphasis omitted)). A copy of the Order was again mailed to Plaintiff at his service
address. (See id.). Again, Plaintiff failed to comply with or otherwise respond to that
Order despite the Court’s explicit warning.
Because the Undersigned cannot find Plaintiff’s failure to comply with the
Court’s Orders – especially in light of the Court’s express warnings, including that
“[f]ailure to respond to or otherwise comply with [the show cause] Order may result
in the Undersigned recommending to the presiding United States District Judge that
the action be dismissed,” (Doc. 19 at 2; see also Doc. 18 at 3) – is anything but willful,
dismissal is warranted.
Additionally, by failing to respond whatsoever to the Order to show cause,
Plaintiff has also failed to demonstrate due diligence and just cause for his delay as
required by Local Rule 3.10. See M.D. Fla. R. 3.10. Thus, dismissal is appropriate.
See id.
Finally, the Undersigned notes that Plaintiff failed to file his Answers to the
Court’s Interrogatories by the date specified in the FLSA Fast-Track Scheduling
Order. (Doc. 9 at 2). Although no show cause Order has been entered regarding this
failure, the Undersigned highlights the initial failure to further evince Plaintiff’s
continued failure to comply with the Court’s Orders.
The Undersigned notes that based on the facts alleged in the Second Amended
Complaint, the statute of limitations has not yet lapsed on Plaintiff’s claims. Morgan
v. Fam. Dollar Stores, Inc., 551 F.3d 1233, 1280 (11th Cir. 2008) (“The statute of
limitations for a claim seeking unpaid overtime wages under the FLSA is generally
two years. But if the claim is one ‘arising out of a willful violation,’ the statute of
limitations is extended to three years.’”) (internal citations omitted) (citing and
quoting 29 U.S.C. § 255(a)). Thus, the Undersigned recommends the less drastic
sanction of dismissing the Complaint without prejudice, allowing Plaintiff to refile
the action as to any claim not barred by the statute of limitations.2
Alternatively, if the presiding United States District Judge finds that justice
would best be served by giving Plaintiff a final opportunity to comply with the Court
Orders before dismissing the action, the Undersigned recommends that the District
2 Even if the statute of limitations had lapsed such that a dismissal without prejudice
would effectively amount to a dismissal with prejudice as to those claims, see Perry,
495 F. App’x at 984 (citation omitted), the Undersigned nonetheless finds dismissal
appropriate in light of the above finding that Plaintiff’s failure to comply with the
Court’s Orders was willful, see McKelvey, 789 F.2d at 1520.
Judge recommit this matter to the Undersigned for issuance of a further show cause
order and further proceedings, as needed.
CONCLUSION
For the reasons set forth above, the Undersigned RESPECTFULLY
RECOMMENDS that Plaintiff's Complaint and Demand for Jury Trial (Doc. 1) be
DISMISSED without prejudice for failure to comply with the Court’s Orders and
failure to prosecute.
RESPECTFULLY RECOMMENDED in Chambers in Ft. Myers, Florida
on September 30, 2021.
Mac R. MA
United States Magistrate Judge
NOTICE TO PARTIES
A party has fourteen days from the date the party is served a copy of this
Report and Recommendation to file written objections to the Report and
Recommendation’s factual findings and legal conclusions. 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)(C).
A party’s failure to file written objections waives that party’s right to challenge on
appeal any unobjected-to factual finding or legal conclusion the district judge adopts
from the Report and Recommendation. See 11th Cir. R. 3-1. A party wishing to
respond to an objection may do so in writing fourteen days from the date the party is
served a copy of the objection. The parties are warned that the Court will not extend
these deadlines. To expedite resolution, the parties may also file a joint notice
waiving the fourteen-day objection period.
Copies furnished to:
Counsel of Record
Unrepresented Parties