Williams v. Hayden et al

Filing 22

ORDER granting 20 Motion to Dismiss Case (CASE DISMISSED WITHOUT PREJUDICE). Signed by Honorable Susan O. Hickey on August 16, 2017. (cnn)(A copy of the NEF and document, if attached, will be furnished to any non-ECF Case Participant.)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
WESTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS
EL DORADO DIVISION
JAMEKIO J. WILLIAMS
v.

PLAINTIFF
No. 1:17-cv-1009

MEREDITH HAYDEN, Jailer, Ashley
County Detention Center (“ACDC”);
SETH ABERNATHY, Jailer ACDC;
ADELLA BURR, Jailer ACDC; and
ASHLEY COUNTY, ARKANSAS,
Jailers ACDC

DEFENDANTS
ORDER

Before the Court is Defendants’ Motion to Dismiss. (ECF No. 20). Plaintiff Jamekio J.
Williams has not responded, and the time to do so has passed. The Court finds this matter ripe for
consideration.
On January 17, 2017, Plaintiff filed this 42 U.S.C. § 1983 action pro se in the Eastern
District of Arkansas. (ECF No. 2). On January 27, 2017, the case was transferred from the Eastern
District of Arkansas to the Western District of Arkansas, El Dorado Division. (ECF No. 4). On
June 29, 2017, Defendants filed a motion to compel answers to discovery requests. (ECF No. 18).
The Court granted the motion and ordered Plaintiff to respond to Defendants’ discovery requests
by July 28, 2017. (ECF No. 19). The Court advised Plaintiff that failure to comply with the
Court’s order could result in dismissal of this case.
On August 1, 2017, Defendants filed a motion to dismiss, stating that Plaintiff never
responded to Defendants’ discovery requests despite this Court’s order to do so, and that Plaintiff
has failed to prosecute this matter. (ECF No. 20). Plaintiff’s last communication with the Court
was February 22, 2017, when he filed a supplement to his Complaint. (ECF No. 10).

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). Local Rule 5.5 states in pertinent part:
It is the duty of any party not represented by counsel to promptly notify the Clerk
and the other parties to the proceedings of any change in his or her address, to
monitor the progress of the case, and to prosecute or defend the action diligently
. . . If any communication from the Court to a pro se plaintiff is not responded to
within thirty (30) days, the case may be dismissed without prejudice. Any party
proceeding pro se shall be expected to be familiar with and follow the Federal
Rules of Civil Procedure.
Local Rule 5.5(c)(2).
Additionally, 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 that
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).
In this case, Plaintiff has failed to prosecute this matter and has failed to obey a court
order. Therefore, the Court finds that this case should be dismissed pursuant to Federal Rule of
Civil Procedure 41(b) and Local Rule 5.5(c)(2). Accordingly, Defendants’ Motion to Dismiss
(ECF No. 20) is hereby GRANTED. Plaintiff’s claims as to all Defendants are DISMISSED
WITHOUT PREJUDICE.
IT IS SO ORDERED, this 16th day of August, 2017.

/s/ Susan O. Hickey
Susan O. Hickey
United States District Judge

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