Brown v. Life Ins. Co. of GA, et al

Filing 18

ORDER DISMISSING CASE without prejudice. Signed by Honorable David C. Bramlette, III on 3/16/09 (MGB)

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF MISSISSIPPI WESTERN DIVISION TRINA BROWN VERSUS LIFE INS. CO. of GA, ET. AL. ORDER OF DISMISSAL This matter comes before the Court, sua sponte, regarding a hearing held on July 30, 2008 wherein the undersigned found that this matter should be dismissed for failure of the plaintiff to secure an attorney or inform the Court in writing that they intend to proceed pro se pursuant to the Court's Orders of June 2, 2008 and the failure of the plaintiff to attend the Case Management /Status Conference set on July 30, 2008 at 10:30 A.M. This matter was removed from state court on February 12, 2004. Plaintiff's counsel filed a Motion to Withdraw on April 30, 2008. Plaintiff's counsel notified Plaintiff of the motion and the hearing by certified mail. The return receipt indicates that notice was received by the Plaintiff on May 3, 2008. A copy of the certified receipt is marked as in globo Exhibit P-1 and filed in the Office of the Clerk of Court. A hearing was held on June 2, 2008 and plaintiff's Counsel's Motion to Withdraw was granted as Plaintiff neither appeared at the hearing or filed any opposition to the motion. In a Order filed by the Court and sent to the Plaintiff by both regular and certified mail, the Court found that the Plaintiff had until June 30, 2008 to inform the Court in writing whether they would retain new counsel or proceed pro se. Plaintiff was also informed that a case management /status conference would be held on July 30 ,2008 at 10:30A.M.. Plaintiff or newly retained counsel was instructed to appear. Plaintiff was warned that failure to comply with any provision of the Court's June 2, 2008 Order may result in the dismissal of this PLAINTIFF CIVIL ACTION NO. 5:08cv51DCB-JMR DEFENDANTS case. The Clerk of Court was instructed to send this Order by certified mail. Plaintiff signed the acknowledgment on June 12, 2008. A hearing was held by the undersigned and Chief Magistrate Judge John M. Roper on July 30,2008. Plaintiff failed to appear or ask for a continuance. It is apparent from the plaintiff's failure to comply with Orders of this Court, failure to appear for the Case Management/Status Conference or to otherwise communicate with this Court, that plaintiff has abandoned these claims. This Court has the authority to dismiss an action for the plaintiff's failure to prosecute under Rule 41(b) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and under its inherent authority to dismiss the action sua sponte. Rule 41(b) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, provides, inter alia , "for failure of the plaintiff to prosecute or to comply with these Rules or any order of the court, defendant may move for dismissal of an action or any claim against him." It is well settled that the court has the inherent authority to dismiss for want of prosecution. Link v. Wabash Railroad, 370 U.S. 626 (1962); Lopez v. Arkansas County Independent School District, 570 F.2d 541, 544 (5th.1978); Larson v. Scott, 157 F.3d 1030,1032 (5th Cir. 1998). The Court must be able to clear its calendar of cases which remain dormant because of the inaction or dilatoriness of the parties seeking relief, so as to achieve the orderly and expeditious disposition of cases. Such a sanction is necessary in order to prevent undue delays in the disposition of pending cases and to avoid congestion in the calendars of the court. Link, supra, 370 U.S. at 630. Based on the foregoing, this Court is of the opinion that the plaintiff has failed to respond in accordance with the Court' Orders, has failed to attend or to contact the Court regarding the s Case Management /Status Conference in question and these failures are indicative of a lack of interest in pursuing this cause and delays the expeditious resolution of other cases. Therefore, 2 this Court finds that this cause be dismissed without prejudice for the plaintiff's failure to prosecute and failure to comply with Rule 41(b) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. THIS the 16th day of March, 2009. s/David C. Bramlette III UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE 3

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