Oliver v. Doe et al

Filing 30

ORDER DISMISSING CASE. Signed by Judge J. Phil Gilbert on 6/3/2021. (jsy)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF ILLINOIS
TRAVIS OLIVER, #458664,
Plaintiff,
vs.
DR. MARCOWITZ,
Defendant.

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Case No. 20-cv-00735-JPG

ORDER DISMISSING CASE
GILBERT, District Judge:
On July 29, 2020, Plaintiff Travis Oliver filed this civil rights action pro se pursuant to
42 U.S.C. § 1983 to complain about the denial of proper dental care for a toothache he developed
while on a federal holdover at St. Clair County Jail. (See Docs. 1 and 15). On the same date, the
Court entered a Notice and Order advising Plaintiff of his ongoing obligation to notify the Court
of any address changes within seven (7) days of the change. (Doc. 3). The Order states, “[Y]ou
are advised that if your address changes, you must notify the Court within seven days of the change
by filing a Notice of Change of Address. Failure to do so could result in the dismissal of your
case.” (Id.). Plaintiff was again reminded of his continuing obligation to advise the Court of any
address changes in Orders entered August 18, 2020 (Doc. 7) and April 27, 2021 (Doc. 21).
After the Court screened the First Amended Complaint pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915A (see
Doc. 21), Plaintiff’s mail was returned undeliverable. (See Docs. 21-23, and 25). Therefore, on
May 10, 2021, the Court entered the following show cause order:
ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE: Plaintiff was advised of his continuing obligation to keep
the Clerk of Court informed of any change in his address and that failure to timely update
his address could result in dismissal of this action for want of prosecution. (See Docs. 7
and 2[1]). One or more documents mailed to Plaintiff by the Court has been returned
undeliverable. (See Docs. 21-23, 25). Plaintiff is hereby ORDERED to SHOW CAUSE on
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or before MAY 21, 2021, why this action should not be dismissed based on his failure to
comply with the Court's Orders at Docs. 7 and 2[1] to update his address and for failure to
prosecute his claims. FED. R. CIV. P. 41(b). Plaintiff is WARNED that failure to respond
to this Order will result in dismissal of the action with prejudice. The Clerk is DIRECTED
to transmit a copy of this Order to Show Cause to Plaintiff at the address he most recently
provided to the Court.
(Doc. 26). To comply with the show cause order, Plaintiff was required to update his address
and/or explain why this case should not be dismissed for non-compliance with the Order. (Id.).
The deadline for doing so was May 21, 2021.
That deadline passed, and Plaintiff failed to respond. He also failed to notify the Court of
his address change. Plaintiff did not request an extension of the deadline for doing so.
On May 24, 2021, the Court entered a notice of impending dismissal to warn Plaintiff that
this action would be dismissed with prejudice, if he failed to respond to the show cause order by
the extended deadline of June 2, 2021. (See Doc. 27). Plaintiff did not respond to the show cause
order or the notice of impending dismissal. He also did not seek an extension of the deadline.
Since entry of the Order to Show Cause, the Court has received numerous items addressed
to Plaintiff and returned to the Court undeliverable. (See Docs. 24, 26, 28, and 29). This includes
the Order to Show Cause. (Doc. 26). In fact, Plaintiff has not communicated with the Court since
January 19, 2021. (See Doc. 19).
The Court will not allow this matter to linger indefinitely. This action will be dismissed
with prejudice based on Plaintiff’s failure to comply with the Orders at Documents 3, 7, and 21
and the show cause orders at Documents 26 and 27. See FED. R. CIV. P. 41(b). The dismissal shall
not count as one of Plaintiff’s three allotted “strikes” within the meaning of 28 U.S.C. § 1915(g).
Disposition
IT IS ORDERED that this action is DISMISSED with prejudice, based on Plaintiff’s
failure to comply with the Court’s Orders at Documents 3, 7, and 21 to notify the Court of any
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address changes, to comply with the Court’s Orders to Show Cause at Documents 26 and 27, and
to prosecute his claims in this case. See FED. R. CIV. P. 41(b); Ladien v. Astrachan, 128 F.3d 1051
(7th Cir. 1997); Johnson v. Kamminga, 34 F.3d 466 (7th Cir. 1994). This dismissal does not count
as one of Plaintiff’s three allotted “strikes” within the meaning of Section 1915(g).
IT IS ORDERED that Plaintiff’s obligation to pay the filing fee for this action was
incurred at the time the action was filed, regardless of subsequent developments in the case.
Accordingly, the filing fee of $350.00 remains due and payable. See 28 U.S.C. § 1915(b)(1);
Lucien v. Jockisch, 133 F.3d 464, 467 (7th Cir. 1998).
If Plaintiff wishes to appeal this Order, he may file a notice of appeal with this Court within
thirty days of the entry of judgment. FED. R. APP. 4(A)(4). If Plaintiff does choose to appeal, he
will be liable for the $505.00 appellate filing fee irrespective of the outcome of the appeal. See
FED. R. APP. 3(e); 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2); Ammons v. Gerlinger, 547 F.3d 724, 725-26 (7th Cir.
2008); Sloan v. Lesza, 181 F.3d 857, 858-59 (7th Cir. 1999); Lucien, 133 F.3d at 467. Moreover,
if the appeal is found to be nonmeritorious, Plaintiff may incur a “strike.” A proper and timely
motion filed pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 59(e) may toll the 30-day appeal deadline.
FED. R. APP. P. 4(a)(4). A Rule 59(e) motion must be filed no more than twenty-eight (28) days
after the entry of the judgment, and this 28-day deadline cannot be extended.
The Clerk’s Office is DIRECTED to close this case and enter judgment accordingly.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
DATED: 6/3/2021

s/J. Phil Gilbert
J. PHIL GILBERT
United States District Judge

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