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
ANDRAE RHODES, )
)
Plaintiff, )
)
v. ) Case No. 1:22-CV-164 SNLJ
)
AMY WILLIAMS, et al., )
)
Defendants. )
MEMORANDUM AND ORDER
This matter is before the Court upon review of the file. Self-represented plaintiff Andrae
Rhodes initiated this case on December 5, 2022 pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983 against the Cape
Girardeau County Sheriff’s Office Jail, a correctional officer in her individual capacity, and the
Jail Administrator in his official and individual capacities. ECF No. 1. Submitted with the
complaint was a motion for leave to proceed in forma pauperis. ECF No. 2. Plaintiff alleged he
was inappropriately tazed multiple times on March 10, 2022, and was not provided with
subsequent medical care.
On January 12, 2023, the Court reviewed plaintiff’s complaint pursuant to 28 U.S.C.
§ 1915 and granted his motion to proceed in forma pauperis. ECF No. 6. The Court determined
his claim against the Cape Girardeau County Sheriff’s Office Jail and official capacity claim
against the Jail Administrator were subject to dismissal because the Jail was not an entity that
could be sued under § 1983. Even if Cape Girardeau County was substituted for the Jail, plaintiff
did not assert municipal liability. As to plaintiff’s individual capacity claims, the Court noted
plaintiff’s failure to allege how the Jail Administrator was personally responsible for the alleged
violations of his constitutional rights, and explained that he did not properly support his allegations
against the correctional officer for inadequate medical care. In consideration of plaintiff’s self-
represented status, the Court directed him to file an amended complaint to cure his pleading
deficiencies. Plaintiff was mailed the appropriate Court-form and provided specific instructions on
how to submit his amendment. He was warned that his failure to timely comply would result in
the dismissal of this action without prejudice and without further notice. Plaintiff had thirty (30)
days, or until February 13, 2023, to file an amended complaint.
As of the date of this Order, plaintiff has not complied with the Court’s directive to amend
his complaint, nor has he 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 the Court’s January 12, 2023
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 self-represented plaintiff failed
to file an amended complaint despite being cautioned that dismissal could result from failure to do
so). This dismissal will not count as a “strike” for purposes of 28 U.S.C. § 1915(g).
Accordingly,
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that this action is DISMISSED without prejudice. A
separate order of dismissal will be entered herewith.
2
IT IS HEREBY CERTIFIED that an appeal from this dismissal would not be taken in
good faith.
Dated this day of March, 2023.
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/ ~PRT ye /
□ Gute Sue Af, 5
STEPHEN N. LIMBAUGH, JR.
SENIOR UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE