Evans v. Tallant

Filing 20

ORDER OF DISMISSAL WITHOUT PREJUDICE. Signed by Honorable Susan O. Hickey on September 15, 2022.(mll)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
WESTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS
TEXARKANA DIVISION
AVANTE J’MARR EVANS

PLAINTIFF
Civil No. 4:22-cv-4003

v.

JANA TALLANT, Jail Administrator,
Howard County Detention Center

DEFENDANT
ORDER

Plaintiff, Avant J’Marr Evans, filed this 42 U.S.C. § 1983 action pro se on January 5, 2022.
ECF No. 1. His application to proceed in forma pauperis was granted that same day. ECF No. 3.
Before the Court is the issue of Plaintiff’s failure to keep the Court informed of his current address.
On July 28, 2022, Defendant Tallant filed a Motion to Compel (ECF No. 15), and the Court
ordered Plaintiff to file a response to the motion by August 18, 2022. ECF No. 17. On August 5,
2022, the Court’s order was returned as undeliverable, indicating “Return to Sender No Longer
Here.” ECF No. 19.
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).
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, Plaintiff’s Complaint (ECF No. 1) is
DISMISSED WITHOUT PREJUDICE.
IT IS SO ORDERED, this 15th day of September 2022.
/s/ Susan O. Hickey
Susan O. Hickey
Chief United States District Judge

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