acknowledging that the authority of courts to impose sanctions for failure to prosecute or obey an order is longstanding and empowers courts “to manage their own affairs so as to achieve the orderly and expeditious disposition of cases.”
How later courts described this case
- acknowledging that the authority of courts to impose sanctions for failure to prosecute or obey an order is longstanding and empowers courts “to manage their own affairs so as to achieve the orderly and expeditious disposition of cases.”
- holding that, as a general rule, where a litigant has been forewarned dismissal for failure to obey a court order is not an abuse of discretion.
- “When the magistrate provides such notice and a party still fails to object to the findings of fact [and law] and those findings are adopted by the district court the party may not challenge them on appeal in the absence of plain error or manifest injustice.”
Written by the judges who cited it.
The opinion
IN THE DISTRICT COURT OF THE UNITED STATES
FOR THE MIDDLE DISTRICT OF ALABAMA
NORTHERN DIVISION
TRAVIS SENTELL RUDOLPH, #312044, )
)
)
Plaintiff, )
)
v. ) CIVIL ACTION NO. 2:20-CV-867-WHA
) (WO)
MONICA McCOY, et al., )
)
Defendants. )
RECOMMENDATION OF THE MAGISTRATE JUDGE
Plaintiff, an inmate confined at the Easterling Correctional Facility, recently
initiated the instant 42 U.S.C. § 1983 action. Doc. 1. Plaintiff did not submit the $350 filing
fee or $50 administrative fee upon the initiation of this case and, instead, filed an
application seeking leave to proceed in forma pauperis before the Court. Doc. 2. Based on
the financial information provided by Plaintiff in support of his application, see Doc. 2 at
3, and pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(b)(1)(A), the court determined Plaintiff owed an initial
partial filing fee of $11.93. Doc. 3 at 1–2. The Court therefore ordered Plaintiff to file the
required initial partial filing fee on or before November 17, 2020. Doc. 3 at 2. The Court
cautioned Plaintiff “if he fails to pay the initial partial filing fee in compliance with this
order the Magistrate Judge will recommend that this case be dismissed and such dismissal
will not be reconsidered unless exceptional circumstances exist.” Doc. 3 at 3.
As of the present date, Plaintiff has not provided the Court with the initial partial
filing fee. The foregoing reflects Plaintiff’s lack of interest in the continued prosecution
of this case. This action cannot properly proceed absent Plaintiff’s participation in the
proceedings. Under the circumstances of this case, the undersigned finds that lesser
sanctions than dismissal are not appropriate. See Abreu-Velez v. Board of Regents of Univ.
System of Georgia, 248 F. App’x 116, 117–18 (11th Cir. 2007). Thus, this case is due to
be dismissed. See Moon v. Newsome, 863 F.2d 835, 837 (11th Cir. 1989) (holding that, as
a general rule, where a litigant has been forewarned dismissal for failure to obey a court
order is not an abuse of discretion.); see also Link v. Wabash R.R. Co., 370 U.S. 626, 629–
31 (1962) (acknowledging that the authority of courts to impose sanctions for failure to
prosecute or obey an order is longstanding and empowers courts “to manage their own
affairs so as to achieve the orderly and expeditious disposition of cases.”); Mingo v. Sugar
Cane Growers Co-Op of Fla., 864 F.2d 101, 102 (11th Cir. 1989) (holding that “[t]he
district court possesses the inherent power to police its docket. . . . . The sanctions imposed
[upon dilatory litigants] can range from a simple reprimand to an order dismissing the
action with or without prejudice.”).
Accordingly, it is the RECOMMENDATION of the Magistrate Judge that this case
be dismissed without prejudice for Plaintiff’s failure to pay the initial partial filing fee in
accordance with the provisions of 28 U.S.C. § 1915(b)(1)(A) as ordered by this court.
On or before December 29, 2020, Plaintiff may file objections to the
Recommendation. Plaintiff must specifically identify the factual findings and legal
conclusions in the Recommendation to which the objection is made. Frivolous, conclusive,
or general objections to the Recommendation will not be considered.
Failure to file written objections to the proposed factual findings and legal
conclusions set forth in the Recommendations of the Magistrate Judge shall bar a party
from a de novo determination by the District Court of these factual findings and legal
conclusions and shall “waive the right to challenge on appeal the District Court’s order
based on unobjected-to factual and legal conclusions” except upon grounds of plain error
if necessary in the interests of justice. 11TH Cir. R. 3-1; see Resolution Trust Co. v.
Hallmark Builders, Inc., 996 F.2d 1144, 1149 (11th Cir. 1993) (“When the magistrate
provides such notice and a party still fails to object to the findings of fact [and law] and
those findings are adopted by the district court the party may not challenge them on appeal
in the absence of plain error or manifest injustice.”); Henley v. Johnson, 885 F.2d 790, 794
(11th Cir. 1989).
Done this 15th day of December, 2020.
/s/ Charles S. Coody
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE