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.
How later courts described this case
- 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.
Written by the judges who cited it.
The opinion
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE MIDDLE DISTRICT OF ALABAMA
NORTHERN DIVISION
LARRY HEATH MITCHELL, )
)
Plaintiff, )
)
v. ) CASE NO. 2:21-CV-268-WHA-CSC
) [WO]
DR. BATES, et al., )
)
Defendants. )
RECOMMENDATION OF THE MAGISTRATE JUDGE
Plaintiff, an inmate proceeding pro se, filed this 42 U.S.C. § 1983 action on April
5, 2021. On April 7, 2021, the Court entered an Order of Procedure. Doc. 4. The Order
directed Defendants to file an answer and written report and also directed Plaintiff that he
must immediately inform the Court of any new address and that failure to do so within ten
(10) days following any change of address would result in the dismissal of this action. Doc.
4 at 3, ¶8.
On May 13, 2021, Defendants filed a Notice of Plaintiff’s Non-Compliance with
Order. Doc. 15. In this Notice Defendants state Plaintiff has been released from the Elmore
County Jail—where he was incarcerated when he initiated this action—but failed to notify
the Court of his new address in compliance with the Order of April 7, 2021. Accordingly,
the Court entered an Order on May 13, 2021, requiring that by May 24, 2021, Plaintiff file
with the Court a current address or show cause why this case should not be dismissed for
his failure to adequately prosecute this action. Doc. 16. This Order specifically advised
Plaintiff this case could not proceed if his whereabouts remained unknown and cautioned
him his failure to comply with its directives would result in the dismissal of this case. Id.
Plaintiff’s copy of the May 13, 2021, Order was returned to the Court May 21, 2021,
marked as undeliverable. The Court therefore concludes this case should be dismissed.
The Court has reviewed the file to determine whether a measure less drastic than
dismissal is appropriate. See Abreu-Velez v. Board of Regents of Univ. System of Georgia,
248 F. App’x 116, 117–18 (11th Cir. 2007). After such review, the Court finds dismissal
of this case is the proper course of action. First, the administration of this case cannot
properly proceed in Plaintiff’s absence. Next, it appears Plaintiff is no longer interested in
the prosecution of this case as he has failed to comply with the orders of the Court. Finally,
under the circumstances of this case, any additional effort by this Court to secure Plaintiff’s
compliance would be unavailing and a waste of this Court’s scarce judicial resources.
Consequently, the undersigned concludes 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.). The authority of courts to impose sanctions for failure to prosecute or obey an
order is longstanding and acknowledged by Rule 41(b) of the Federal Rules of Civil
Procedure. See Link v. Wabash R.R. Co., 370 U.S. 626, 629–30 (1962). This authority
empowers the courts “to manage their own affairs so as to achieve the orderly and
expeditious disposition of cases.” Id. at 630–31; Mingo v. Sugar Cane Growers Co-Op of
Fla., 864 F.2d 101, 102 (11th Cir. 1989) (observing that a “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.” Id.
Accordingly, it is the RECOMMENDATION of the Magistrate Judge this case be
DISMISSED without prejudice for Plaintiff’s failures to comply with the orders of the
court and prosecute this action.
The parties may file an objection to the Recommendation on or before June 15,
2021. Any objection filed must specifically identify the factual findings and legal
conclusions in the Magistrate Judge’s Recommendation to which a party objects.
Frivolous, conclusive or general objections will not be considered by the District Court.
This Recommendation is not a final order and, therefore, it is not appealable.
Failure to file a written objection to the proposed findings and recommendations in
the Magistrate Judge’s report shall bar a party from a de novo determination by the District
Court of factual findings and legal issues covered in the report 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); Henley v. Johnson, 885 F.2d 790, 794 (11th Cir. 1989).
Done, this 1st day of June 2021.
/s/ Charles S. Coody
CHARLES S. COODY
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE