Green v. Liggett et al

Filing 11

ORDER re 2 Complaint filed by Michael E Green. Plaintiff's Complaint is DISMISSED WITHOUT PREJUDICE. Judgment will be entered accordingly Signed by Honorable P. K. Holmes, III on September 21, 2017. (hnc)

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT WESTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS HOT SPRINGS DIVISION MICHAEL E. GREEN v. PLAINTIFF Civil No. 6:17-CV-06052 LIGGETT, et. al. DEFENDANTS ORDER Plaintiff, Michael E. Green, submitted this pro se action for filing on November 18, 2016, in the Eastern District of Arkansas. (ECF No. 2). The case was transferred to this District on June 19, 2017. (ECF No. 3). Currently before the Court is Plaintiff’s failure to follow a Court order and failure to prosecute. I. BACKGROUND On August 22, 2017, Plaintiff was directed to file an Amended Complaint by September 12, 2017. In the Order, Plaintiff was advised that failure to affirmatively link the conduct of each named Defendant with the specific injury suffered would result in dismissal of that Defendant from the case for failure to state a claim. (ECF No. 10). This Order was not returned as undeliverable. Plaintiff has not responded. Plaintiff has not communicated with the Court since July 7, 2017. (ECF No. 7). II. LEGAL STANDARD While 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 1 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 also specifically contemplate dismissal of a case with prejudice on the grounds 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) (the district Court possess 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,” and such a dismissal may be with prejudice if there has been “‘a clear record of delay or contumacious conduct by the plaintiff.’” 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)) (emphasis added). Dismissal with prejudice is an extreme sanction, and only to be used in cases of “willful disobedience of a Court order” or “where a litigant exhibits a pattern of intentional dely.” Hunt v. City of Minneapolis, 203 F.3d 524, 527 (8th Cir. 2000). The Court does not, however, need to find that Plaintiff acted in bad faith, but “only that he acted intentionally as opposed to accidentally or involuntarily.” Id. (quoting Rodgers v. Univ. of Missouri, 135 F.3d 1216, 1219 (8th Cir. 1998)). III. DISCUSSION Plaintiff has failed to comply with a Court order and has failed to prosecute this matter. Accordingly, pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 41(b) and Local Rule 5.5(c)(2), Plaintiff’s Complaint should be dismissed without prejudice for failure to comply with the Court’s Local Rules 2 and Orders and failure to prosecute this case. IV. CONCLUSION For these reasons, Plaintiff’s complaint is DISMISSED WITHOUT PREJUDICE. Judgment will be entered accordingly. IT IS SO ORDERED this 21st day of September 2017. /s/P.K.Holmes, III HON. P. K. HOLMES, III CHIEF U.S. DISTRICT JUDGE 3

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