Baker v. Crawford et al (INMATE2)

Filing 13

MEMORANDUM OPINION. Signed by Honorable Terry F. Moorer on 5/5/09. (djy, )

Download PDF
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FO R THE MIDDLE DISTRICT OF ALABAMA SOUTHERN DIVISION ________________________________ T E R R A N C E BAKER, #255 634 56975 P l a in tif f , v. J O H N CRAWFORD, DETECTIVE, e t al., D e f e n d a n ts . ______________________________ * * * * * 1:09-CV-68-TFM (WO) M EM O RA ND UM OPINION Plaintiff, an inmate incarcerated at the Houston County Jail in Dothan, Alabama, filed this complaint on January 27, 2009. On January 28, 2009 the court directed Defendants to file a special report addressing Plaintiff's claims for relief. In compliance with the court's order, Defendants submitted a special report on March 9, 2009 which contained relevant evidentiary materials refuting the allegations presented in the instant complaint. The court then issued an order directing Plaintiff to file a response to Defendants' written report. (See Doc. No. 11.) Plaintiff was advised that his failure to respond to Defendants' written report would be treated by the court "as an abandonment of the claims set forth in the complaint and as a failure to prosecute this action." Id. (emphasis in original). Additionally, Plaintiff was "specifically cau tioned that [his failure] to file a response in compliance with the directives of this order" would result in the dismissal of this case. Id. The time allotted Plaintiff for the filing of a response expired on April 1, 2009. As of the present date, Plaintiff has filed nothing in opposition to Defendants' written report as required by order filed March 11, 2009. In light of the foregoing, the court concludes that this case should be dismissed. The court has reviewed the file in this case to determine whether less drastic sanctions than dismissal are appropriate. After such review, it is clear that dismissal of this case is the proper sanction. Plaintiff is an indigent state inmate. Thus, the imposition of monetary or other punitive sanctions against him would be ineffectual. Additionally, Plaintiff has exhibited a lack of respect for this court and its authority as he has failed to comply with the directives of the orders entered in this case. It is, therefore, apparent that any additional effort by this court to secure Plaintiff's compliance would be unavailing. Consequently, the court concludes that Plaintiff's abandonment of his claims, his failure to comply with the orders of this court, and his failure to properly prosecute this cause of action warrant dismissal of this case. For the foregoing reasons, the undersigned concludes that this case shall be dismissed w ith o u t prejudice. A separate order follows. Done, this 5th day of May 2009. /s/Terry F. Moorer T E RRY F. MOORER U N IT E D STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE 2

Disclaimer: Justia Dockets & Filings provides public litigation records from the federal appellate and district courts. These filings and docket sheets should not be considered findings of fact or liability, nor do they necessarily reflect the view of Justia.


Why Is My Information Online?