Hakata v. Wolcott

Filing 22

ORDER OF DISMISSAL WITHOUT PREJUDICE. Signed by Honorable Barry A. Bryant on June 7, 2021. (mll)

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT WESTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS TEXARKANA DIVISION CHRISTOPHER TINASHE HAKATA v. PLAINTIFF Civil No. 4:20-cv-4090 CHRIS WOLCOTT DEFENDANT ORDER Plaintiff Christopher Tinashe Hakata filed this 42 U.S.C. § 1983 action pro se on October 7, 2020. (ECF No. 1). His application to proceed in forma pauperis (“IFP”) was granted on November 2, 2020. (ECF No. 7). On February 25, 2021, the parties consented to the undersigned to conduct all proceedings in this case including the trial, the entry of final judgment, and all posttrial proceedings. (ECF No. 14). Before the Court is Defendant’s Motion to Dismiss based on Plaintiff’s failure to keep the Court and Defendant informed of his address. (ECF No. 17). On May 19, 2021, Defendant filed a Motion to Dismiss stating he was unable to effect service of correspondence requesting to take Plaintiff’s deposition at Plaintiff’s address of record – the Sevier County Jail in DeQueen, Arkansas. (ECF No. 17, p. 1). Defendant attached an “Affidavit of Attempted Service” stating “the Defendant, by his attorneys, have attempted to send the Plaintiff correspondence, but have been unable to make contact with the Plaintiff.” (ECF No. 19, p. 1). That same day, the Court entered an order directing Plaintiff to file a response to Defendant’s motion by June 9, 2021. (ECF No. 20). On June 1, 2021, the order sent to Plaintiff’s address of record was returned as undeliverable noting “DTS RETURN TO SENDER NOT DELIVERABLE AS ADDRESSED UNABLE TO FORWARD”. (ECF No. 21). 1    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(c)(2) 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 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). Plaintiff has failed to keep the Court informed of his address and failed to prosecute this case. 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, Defendant’s Motion to Dismiss (ECF No. 17) is GRANTED and Plaintiff’s Complaint (ECF No. 1) is DISMISSED WITHOUT PREJUDICE. IT IS SO ORDERED, this 7th day of June 2021. /s/ Barry A. Bryant HON. BARRY A. BRYANT UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE 2   

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