a district court has the power to dismiss an action for the plaintiff's failure to comply with any court order
How later courts described this case
- a district court has the power to dismiss an action for the plaintiff's failure to comply with any court order
Written by the judges who cited it.
The opinion
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
EASTERN DISTRICT OF MISSOURI
SOUTHEASTERN DIVISION
ELDON G. OSBORN, )
)
Plaintiff, )
)
v. ) No. 1:19-cv-203-HEA
)
DUNKLIN COUNTY, )
)
Defendant. )
OPINION, MEMORANDUM AND ORDER
This matter is before the Court upon review of the file. Plaintiff initiated this case on
November 18, 2019, and filed a motion for leave to proceed in forma pauperis. The Court granted
the motion and reviewed the complaint pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2), and determined that it
failed to state a claim upon which relief may be granted against the defendant. On April 3, 2020,
the Court entered an order directing plaintiff to file an amended complaint to cure the defects. In
the order, the Court clearly explained why the complaint was subject to dismissal, gave plaintiff
clear instructions about how to prepare the amended complaint, and cautioned him that his failure
to timely comply with the order would result in the dismissal of his case without further notice.
Plaintiff’s response was due to the Court on May 4, 2020. To date, however, he has neither
complied with the Court’s order, nor sought additional time to do so. The Court gave plaintiff
meaningful notice of what was expected, cautioned him that his case would be dismissed if he
failed to timely comply, and gave him significant additional time to comply. Therefore, this action
will be dismissed without prejudice due to plaintiff’s failure to comply with this Court’s April 3,
2020 order and his failure to prosecute his case. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 41(b); see also Brown v. Frey,
806 F.2d 801, 803-04 (8th Cir. 1986) (a district court has the power to dismiss an action for the
plaintiff's failure to comply with any court order); Dudley v. Miles, 597 F. App’x 392 (8th Cir.
2015) (per curiam) (affirming dismissal without prejudice where pro se plaintiff failed to file an
amended complaint despite being cautioned that dismissal could result from failure to do so).
Accordingly,
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that this action is DISMISSED without prejudice. A
separate order of dismissal will be entered herewith.
IT IS HEREBY CERTIFIED than an appeal from this dismissal would not be taken in
good faith.
Dated this 10" day of June, 2020.
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE