Walton v. Garland County Detention Center et al

Filing 23

ORDER re TEXT ONLY ENTRY: MEMORANDUM OF MAGISTRATE JUDGE re 1 Complaint Referred (42:1983) filed by Robert J. Walton, III that case should be and hereby is dismissed without prejudice for failure to comply with the court's local rules and Orders and failure to prosecute this case. Signed by Honorable Susan O. Hickey on February 18, 2016. (rw)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
WESTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS
HOT SPRINGS DIVISION

ROBERT J. WALTON, III
v.

PLAINTIFF
Case No. 6:14-cv-06035

JOHN SCHRODER, et al.

DEFENDANTS

ORDER
Plaintiff, Robert J. Walton, III, submitted this pro se action for filing on March 13, 2014.
ECF No. 1. Currently before the Court are Plaintiff’s failure to follow a Court Order and failure to
prosecute.
On March 13, 2014, Plaintiff filed his complaint (ECF No. 1), and the Court granted him
in forma pauperis status (“IFP”). ECF No. 3. The IFP Order advised Plaintiff to keep the Court
apprised of any address changes. On April 9, 2014, Plaintiff filed a Motion for Counsel. ECF No.
10. Plaintiff has not communicated with the Court since April 9, 2014.
On two different occasions, mail sent to Plaintiff at the Garland County Detention Center
was returned as undeliverable because Plaintiff was no longer there.1 On February 11, 2015, the
Court entered an Order changing Plaintiff’s address to the home address he provided to the
detention center when he was booked.2 The Order was returned as undeliverable on February 20,
2015.
On June 10, 2015, Defendants filed a Motion to Dismiss. ECF No. 19. Defendants stated
that they were unable to effect service of correspondence on Plaintiff because Plaintiff had failed

1

Mail was returned as undeliverable on May 8, 2014, and again on February 10, 2015.

2

The order was mailed to 288 Couchwood Road, Hot Springs, Arkansas 71901.

to keep the Court and Defendants apprised of his current address. ECF No. 19. In light of the
Motion to Dismiss, the Court entered a Show Cause Order on January 12, 2016, directing Plaintiff
to show cause why his case should not be dismissed for failure to follow the rules of the Court.
ECF No. 22. Plaintiff did not respond to the Show Cause Order, and the Order was returned as
undeliverable.
While pro se pleadings are to be construed liberally, a pro se litigant is not excused from
complying with substantive and procedural law. See 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) (emphasis added).
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.
See Fed. R. Civ. P. 41(b); see also Link v. Wabash R.R. Co., 370 U.S. 626, 630–31 (1962) (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) (quoting Haley v. Kansas City
Star, 761 F.2d 489, 491 (8th Cir. 1985)).
Plaintiff has failed to keep the Court apprised of his current address as required by Local Rule
5.5(c)(2). Plaintiff has failed to comply with the Court’s Order to Show Cause. Plaintiff has also
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failed to prosecute this matter. Accordingly, pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 41(b) and
Local Rule 5.5(c)(2), the Court finds that this case should be and hereby is DISMISSED
WITHOUT PREJUDICE for failure to comply with the Court’s Local Rules and Orders and
failure to prosecute this case. See Local Rule 5.5(c)(2); Fed. R. Civ. P. 41(b).
IT IS SO ORDERED this 18th day of February, 2016.

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

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