Boyd v. Glen

Filing 11

ORDER dismissing case without prejudice for failure to comply with order of the Court. Signed by Honorable Susan O. Hickey on October 16, 2017. (mll)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
WESTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS
TEXARKANA DIVISION
ALVESTER BOYD
v.

PLAINTIFF
Civil No. 4:17-cv-04076

PEP GLEN, Jail Administrator
Nevada County, Arkansas

DEFENDANT
ORDER

Before the Court is Plaintiff Alvester Boyd’s failure to obey an order of the Court. On July
31, 2017, Plaintiff filed this 42 U.S.C. § 1983 action pro se in the Eastern District of Arkansas.
(ECF No. 1). On September 5, 2017, the case was transferred to the Western District of Arkansas,
Texarkana Division. (ECF No. 8).
Plaintiff failed to submit an in forma pauperis (IFP) application with his complaint. On
September 14, 2017, the Court filed an order directing the Clerk to mail a blank IFP application to
Plaintiff. (ECF No. 10). The order directed Plaintiff to either complete the IFP application and
return the application to this Court for review and filing or pay the $350 filing fee and $50
administrative fee no later than October 5, 2017. The order also directed Plaintiff to submit an
Amended Complaint by October 5, 2017, to clarify his claims. Plaintiff was advised in the order
that failure to respond within the required period of time would result in the dismissal of his case.
To date, Plaintiff has not responded to the Court’s order.
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 local rules state 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 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 the present case, Plaintiff has failed to comply with an order of the Court. Therefore,
pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 41(b) and Local Rule 5.5(c)(2), the Court finds that
this case should be dismissed. Accordingly, Plaintiff’s Complaint (ECF No. 1) is DISMISSED
WITHOUT PREJUDICE.
IT IS SO ORDERED, this 16th day of October, 2017.
/s/ Susan O. Hickey
Susan O. Hickey
United States District Judge

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