Sims v. Freeman et al

Filing 6

MEMORANDUM OPINION: Accordingly, for the reasons set forth below, this matter will be DISMISSED due to Plaintiff's failure to prosecute and failure to comply with the Court's orders. Signed by District Judge J Ronnie Greer on 06/12/2018. (Copy of Memorandum Opinion mailed to Jewel Sims) (AMP)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
EASTERN DISTRICT OF TENNESSEE
AT CHATTANOOGA
JEWEL SIMS,
Plaintiff,
v.
LEOTIS FREEMAN, STEVEN
JOHNSON, MIKE DOE, and COFFEE
COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT,
Defendants.

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No.

1:17-CV-013-JRG-CHS

MEMORANDUM OPINION
This is a pro se prisoner’s civil rights complaint filed pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. On
January 13, 2017, this Court entered a deficiency order allowing Plaintiff thirty days from the date
of entry of the order to file the documents required to proceed in forma pauperis [Doc. 3]. Plaintiff
did not comply with this order or otherwise communicate with the Court. As such, on May 18,
2018, the Court entered an order requiring Plaintiff to show cause as to why this matter should not
be dismissed for failure to prosecute within fifteen days of entry of this order [Doc. 4]. More than
fifteen days have passed and Plaintiff has not complied with this order or otherwise communicated
with the Court. Accordingly, for the reasons set forth below, this matter will be DISMISSED due
to Plaintiff’s failure to prosecute and failure to comply with the Court’s orders.
Rule 41(b) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure gives this Court the authority to dismiss
a case for “failure of the plaintiff to prosecute or to comply with these rules or any order of the
court.” See, e.g., Nye Capital Appreciation Partners, L.L.C. v. Nemchik, 483 F. App’x 1, 9 (6th
Cir. 2012); Knoll v. Am. Tel. & Tel. Co., 176 F.3d 359, 362–63 (6th Cir. 1999). The Court
considers four factors when considering dismissal under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 41(b):

(1) whether the party’s failure is due to willfulness, bad faith, or
fault; (2) whether the adversary was prejudiced by the dismissed
party’s conduct; (3) whether the dismissed party was warned that
failure to cooperate could lead to dismissal; and (4) whether less
drastic sanctions were imposed or considered before dismissal was
ordered.
Wu v. T.W. Wang, Inc., 420 F.3d 641, 643 (6th Cir. 2005); see Reg’l Refuse Sys., Inc. v. Inland
Reclamation Co., 842 F.2d 150, 155 (6th Cir. 1988).
As to the first factor, the Court finds that Plaintiff’s failure to respond to or comply with
the Court’s previous order is due to Plaintiff’s willfulness and/or fault. Specifically, it appears that
Plaintiff either received the Court’s order and decided not to respond thereto, or failed to update
his address and/or monitor this action as this Court’s Local Rule 83.13 requires.
As to the second factor, the Court finds that Defendants have not been prejudiced by
Plaintiff’s failure to comply with the Court’s order.
As to the third factor, the Court warned Plaintiff that the Court may dismiss the case if
Plaintiff did not timely comply with the Court’s previous orders [Doc. 3 p. 2;. Doc 4 p. 1].
Finally, as to the fourth factor, the Court finds that alternative sanctions would not be
effective. Plaintiff was a prisoner who was seeking leave to proceed in forma pauperis in this
action [Doc. 1] and Plaintiff has not pursued this action since filing his complaint and motion for
leave to proceed in forma pauperis [Docs. 1 and 2] more than a year ago.
For the reasons set forth above, the Court concludes that the relevant factors weigh in favor
of dismissal of Plaintiff’s action pursuant to Rule 41(b). White v. City of Grand Rapids, No. 01229234, 34 F. App’x 210, 211, 2002 WL 926998, at *1 (6th Cir. May 7, 2002) (finding that a pro
se prisoner’s complaint “was subject to dismissal for want of prosecution because he failed to keep
the district court apprised of his current address”); Jourdan v. Jabe, 951 F.2d 108 (6th Cir. 1991).

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The Court CERTIFIES that any appeal from this action would not be taken in good faith
and would be totally frivolous. Fed. R. App. P. 24.
AN APPROPRIATE ORDER WILL ENTER.
ENTER:

s/J. RONNIE GREER
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

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