GALTOGBAH v. DOE et al

Filing 4

OPINION & ORDER that this pro se civil rights action is dismissed due toPlaintiffs failure to prosecute. The Clerk is directed to mark this case closed. Signed by Magistrate Judge Susan Paradise Baxter on 6/26/14. (lrw)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE WESTERN DISTRICT OF PENNSYLVANIA
TOYLAWUO GALTOGBAH,
Plaintiff
v.
JOHN/JANE DOE, et al.,
Defendants.

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C.A. No. 14-126 Erie
Magistrate Judge Baxter

OPINION AND ORDER
United States Magistrate Judge Susan Paradise Baxter

I.

INTRODUCTION
On April 25, 2014, the Clerk of Courts received from Plaintiff a motion for leave to

proceed in forma pauperis, along with an attached pro se civil rights complaint; however, the
motion was not accompanied by Plaintiff’s institutional account statement, as required by 28
U.S.C. '1915(a)(2). Thus, by Order of this Court dated April 29, 2014, Plaintiff was ordered to
submit a certified copy of his institutional account statement showing the status of his account
for the previous six months, or suffer dismissal of this case for failure to prosecute. To date,
Plaintiff has failed to comply with this Order.

II.

DISCUSSION
The United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit has set out a six-factor

balancing test to guide a court in determining whether dismissal of a case is appropriate. Poulis
v. State Farm Fire and Casualty Co., 747 F.2d 863 (3d Cir. 1984). The court must consider:
1) the extent of the party=s personal responsibility; 2) the prejudice to the adversary caused by
the failure to meet scheduling orders and respond to discovery; 3) a history of dilatoriness; 4)
whether the conduct of the party or attorney was willful or in bad faith; 5) the effectiveness of
sanctions other than dismissal, which entails an analysis of alternative sanctions; and 6) the

meritoriousness of the claim or defense. Id. at 868. Not all of the six factors need to weigh in
favor of dismissal before dismissal is warranted. Hicks v. Feeney, 850 F.2d 152 (3d Cir. 1988).
Applying the Poulis factors to the present matter, this Court finds that dismissal of this
matter is warranted. Since the filing of this matter, Plaintiff has taken none of the necessary first
steps to prosecute this case. Further, Plaintiff has failed to comply with an order of this Court.
Plaintiff is proceeding pro se and therefore bears all of the responsibility for any failure in the
prosecution of his claims. Alternative sanctions, such as monetary penalties, are inappropriate
with indigent parties. Although Plaintiff=s allegations may state a claim upon which relief could
be ultimately be granted, the merits of the claim are impossible to determine at this early stage
of the proceedings.
An appropriate Order follows.

/s/ Susan Paradise Baxter
SUSAN PARADISE BAXTER
United States Magistrate Judge

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE WESTERN DISTRICT OF PENNSYLVANIA
TOYLAWUO GALTOGBAH,
Plaintiff
v.
JANE/JOHN DOE, et al.,
Defendants.

)
)
)
)
)
)
)

C.A. No. 14-126 Erie
Magistrate Judge Baxter

ORDER
AND NOW, this 26th day of June, 2014,
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that this pro se civil rights action is dismissed due to
Plaintiff’s failure to prosecute.
The Clerk is directed to mark this case closed.

/s/ Susan Paradise Baxter
SUSAN PARADISE BAXTER
United States Magistrate Judge