The opinion
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
WESTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS
HARRISON DIVISION
CHRISTOPHER REGINALD REYNOLDS PLAINTIFF
v. Civil No. 3:22-cv-03034-TLB-MEF
APRN TAMMY GLENN, Staff Nurse DEFENDANT
REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION OF THE MAGISTRATE JUDGE
This is a civil rights action filed by the Plaintiff pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. Plaintiff
proceeds pro se and in forma pauperis. Pursuant to the provisions of 28 U.S.C. §§ 636(b)(1) and
(3), the Honorable Timothy L. Brooks, United States District Judge, referred this case to the
undersigned for the purpose of making a Report and Recommendation. The case is before the
Court on Plaintiff’s failure to obey the Court’s Orders.
I. DISCUSSION
Plaintiff filed his Complaint to initiate this action on June 23, 2022. (ECF No. 1). An
Initial Scheduling Order was issued on September 29, 2022. (ECF No. 21). On January 26,
2023, an Order was entered extending the discovery deadline and the summary judgment filing
deadline. (ECF No. 27). On March 29, 2023, an Order was entered extending the discovery
deadline. (ECF No. 34).
On May 30, 2023, Defendant timely filed a Motion for Summary Judgment. (ECF Nos.
41-43). The same day, an Order was entered directing Plaintiff to respond to the summary
judgment motion by June 20, 2023. (ECF No. 44). Plaintiff was given explicit instructions
regarding what was required by him to file a response in accordance with Rule 56 of the Federal
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Rules of Civil Procedure. In the same Order, Plaintiff was advised that failure to respond to the
Order would result in: (a) all the facts set forth by the Defendants in the summary judgment papers
being deemed admitted, and/or (b) the case would be subject to dismissal.
On June 8, 2023, Plaintiff filed a Motion stating, in part, that he had not received the
summary judgment motion. (ECF No. 49). Defense counsel was ordered to immediately
provide Plaintiff with a copy of the documents. (ECF No. 50). Plaintiff’s response time was
extended to July 5, 2023. Id. On June 13, 2023, Plaintiff filed a Motion for an extension of time
to respond. (ECF No. 53). Plaintiff requested a 90-day extension of time to respond. Id. The
Court granted Plaintiff an extension of time until July 31, 2023. (ECF No. 56).
On June 26, 2023, Plaintiff filed a Motion asking the Court to order Defendant to send a
copy of the summary judgment materials to the correct address. (ECF No. 57). Defendant
responded by indicating that while the certificate of service did inadvertently contain the wrong
address the certified mail receipt showed the documents were delivered to the correct address on
June 22, 2023. (ECF No. 58). Because Plaintiff signed his Motion on June 22, 2023, the same
day the documents were delivered, the Court denied the Motion as moot. (ECF No. 59).
Plaintiff did not file a response to the Motion for Summary Judgment. On August 8, 2023,
a Show Cause Order was entered. (ECF No. 60). As a matter of procedural fairness and to give
Plaintiff yet another opportunity to comply with the Court’s Order, Plaintiff was given until August
29, 2023, to show cause why he failed to obey the Orders of the Court. Plaintiff was advised that
if he failed to respond to the Show Cause Order, the case shall be subject to dismissal.
In apparent response to the Show Cause Order, Plaintiff filed a combined Motion for an
extension of time and for copies of the Summary Judgment Motion. (ECF No. 61). Plaintiff
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indicated he had not received the copies of the Summary Judgment Motion sent to the detention
center and signed for on June 22, 2023. Id. The Court directed the Clerk to forward copies of
the Summary Judgment Motion to the Plaintiff as well as a copy of the docket sheet. (ECF No.
62). Plaintiff was given an extension of time until September 15, 2023, to respond to the
Summary Judgment Motion. Id.
Plaintiff again failed to file a summary judgment response. Another Show Cause Order
was entered on September 22, 2023. (ECF No. 63). Plaintiff was given until October 13, 2023,
to show cause why he failed to obey the Court Orders.
To date, Plaintiff has not filed a response to the Defendant’s pending Motion for Summary
Judgment or a response to the Show Cause Order. He has not requested any further extension of
time to file his responses. No mail has been returned as undeliverable. Plaintiff has failed to
comply with the Court’s Orders (ECF Nos. 62 & 63). Plaintiff was advised in each of the above-
mentioned Orders that failure to comply would subject the case to dismissal.
Although pro se pleadings are to be construed liberally, a pro se litigant is not excused
from complying with substantive and procedural law. Burgs v. Sissel, 745 F.2d 526, 528 (8th Cir.
1984). The Federal Rules of Civil Procedure specifically contemplate dismissal of a case on the
grounds that the plaintiff failed to prosecute or failed to comply with orders of the court. Fed. R.
Civ. P. 41(b); Link v. Wabash R.R. Co., 370 U.S. 626, 630-31 (1962) (stating the district court
possesses the power to dismiss sua sponte under Rule 41(b)). Pursuant to Rule 41(b), a district
court has the power to dismiss an action based on “the plaintiff's failure to comply with any court
order.” Brown v. Frey, 806 F.2d 801, 803-04 (8th Cir. 1986) (emphasis added). Additionally,
Rule 5.5(c)(2) of the Local Rules for the Eastern and Western Districts of Arkansas requires parties
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appearing pro se to monitor the case, and to prosecute or defend the action diligently.
Further, a dismissal pursuant to Rule 41(b) operates as an adjudication on the merits unless
it is otherwise specified. Fed. R. Civ. P. 41(b); Brown, 806 F.2d at 803. When considering a
Rule 41(b) dismissal, the Court must balance: (1) “the degree of [Plaintiff’s] egregious conduct”;
(2) the adverse impact of the conduct on the Defendants; and (3), the Court’s ability to administer
justice. Rodgers v. Curators of University of Missouri, 135 F.3d 1216, 1219 (8th Cir. 1998)
(internal quotations omitted). In Rodgers, the Eighth Circuit provides the standard the Court must
consider before dismissing with prejudice for failure to prosecute:
Dismissal with prejudice is an extreme sanction and should be used only in cases
of willful disobedience of a court order or . . . persistent failure to prosecute a
complaint. [The Court must consider] . . . whether in the particular circumstances
of the case, the needs of the court in advancing a crowded docket and preserving
respect for the integrity of its internal procedures are sufficient to justify the harsh
consequences of forever denying a litigant of his day in court. However, the
[Court] need not [find] that appellant acted in bad faith, only that he acted
intentionally as opposed to accidentally or involuntarily. Id.
Here, Defendant expended resources conducting discovery and preparing the Motion for
Summary Judgment. Plaintiff then intentionally chose not to respond to this Motion even after
being directed to do so by the Court. Plaintiff was repeatedly advised that failure to comply with
the Court’s Orders would result in dismissal of his case. Plaintiff has not communicated with the
Court in any way after the Court granted him an extension of time to respond to Defendant’s
Motion for Summary Judgment.
II. CONCLUSION
For these reasons, it is recommended that, pursuant to Rule 41(b) of the Federal Rules of
Civil Procedure, this case be DISMISSED WITH PREJUDICE based on Plaintiff’s intentional
failure to prosecute this case; his failure to obey the orders of the Court; and his failure to comply
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with Local Rule 5.5(c)(2).
The parties have fourteen (14) days from receipt of the Report and Recommendation
in which to file written objections pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1). The failure to file
timely objections may result in waiver of the right to appeal questions of fact. The parties
are reminded that objections must be both timely and specific to trigger de novo review by
the district court.
DATED this 18th day of October 2023.
/s/
HON. MARK E. FORD
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE
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