Mitchell v. Sullenger
Filing
6
MEMORANDUM AND OPINION by Senior Judge Thomas B. Russell on 10/8/2019. A separate order of dismissal shall enter.cc: plaintiff pro se (KJA)
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
WESTERN DISTRICT OF KENTUCKY
AT PADUCAH
CINDY MITCHELL
v.
PLAINTIFF
CIVIL ACTION NO. 5:18-CV-P152-TBR
LORI SULLENGER
DEFENDANT
MEMORANDUM OPINION
Plaintiff Cindy Mitchell initiated this pro se 42 U.S.C. § 1983 civil-rights action. Upon
filing the instant action, she assumed the responsibility of keeping this Court advised of her
current address and to actively litigate her claims. See LR 5.2(e) (“All pro se litigants must
provide written notice of a change of residential address . . . to the Clerk and to the opposing
party or the opposing party’s counsel. Failure to notify the Clerk of an address change may
result in the dismissal of the litigant’s case or other appropriate sanctions.”).
On August 21, 2019, an Order sent to Plaintiff at the McCracken County Jail was
returned to the Court by the United States Postal Service with the envelope marked “Return to
Sender” (DN 5). Plaintiff apparently is no longer housed at her address of record, and she has
not advised the Court of a subsequent change of address. Therefore, neither notices from this
Court nor filings by Defendant can be served on Plaintiff.
Rule 41(b) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure authorizes the involuntary dismissal
of an action if a plaintiff fails to prosecute or to comply with an order of the court. See Jourdan
v. Jabe, 951 F.2d 108, 109 (6th Cir. 1991) (“Fed. R. Civ. P. 41(b) recognizes the power of the
district court to enter a sua sponte order of dismissal.”). Although federal courts afford pro se
litigants some leniency on matters that require legal sophistication, such as formal pleading rules,
the same policy does not support leniency from court deadlines and other procedures readily
understood by laypersons, particularly where there is a pattern of delay or failure to pursue a
case. Id. at 110. “Further, the United States Supreme Court has recognized that courts have an
inherent power to manage their own affairs and may dismiss a case sua sponte for lack of
prosecution.” Lyons-Bey v. Pennell, 93 F. App’x 732, 733 (6th Cir. 2004) (citing Link v.
Wabash R.R. Co., 370 U.S. 626, 630-31 (1962)).
Because Plaintiff has failed to comply with this Court’s Local Rules by failing to provide
written notice of a change of address, the Court concludes that this case must be dismissed for
lack of prosecution. See, e.g., White v. City of Grand Rapids, 34 F. App’x 210, 211 (6th Cir.
2002) (“[Plaintiff’s] complaint was subject to dismissal for want of prosecution because he failed
to keep the district court apprised of his current address.”).
The Court will enter a separate Order of dismissal consistent with this Memorandum
Opinion.
Date:
October 8, 2019
cc:
Plaintiff, pro se
4413.011
Disclaimer: Justia Dockets & Filings provides public litigation records from the federal appellate and district courts. These filings and docket sheets should not be considered findings of fact or liability, nor do they necessarily reflect the view of Justia.
Why Is My Information Online?