Aguilar v. Alford et al

Filing 4

MEMORANDUM OPINION. This case will be dismissed without prejudice for want of prosecution. An appropriate final judgment shall be entered. If plaintiff wishes to have this case reinstated on the court's active docket, he may do so by providing the court with a correct address within 60 days. Signed by Judge Thad Heartfield on 2/17/09. (bjc, )

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS BEAUMONT DIVISION JOSE AGUILAR VS. WARDEN ALFORD § § § MEMORANDUM OPINION Plaintiff Jose Aguilar, proceeding pro se, filed the abovestyled lawsuit pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. Discussion Plaintiff previously filed a motion seeking to join in a lawsuit filed by numerous other plaintiffs which was assigned civil action number 1:08cv561. The court subsequently entered an order CIVIL ACTION NO. 1:09cv36 granting plaintiff's motion and severing his claim into a separate lawsuit. The claim of plaintiff was assigned the civil action number set forth above. A copy of the order granting plaintiff's motion and severing his claim was sent to plaintiff at the LeBlanc Unit, the address provided to the court by plaintiff. The copy of the order sent to plaintiff was returned to the court with a notation indicating plaintiff has been released from confinement. provided the court with a new address. Plaintiff has not Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 41(b) authorizes the district court to dismiss an action for want of prosecution sua sponte whenever necessary to achieve the orderly and expeditious disposition of cases. Anthony v. Marion County General Hospital, See also McCullough v. The orderly and 617 F.2d 1164, 1167 (5th Cir. 1980). Lynaugh, 835 F.2d 1126 (5th Cir. 1988). expeditious disposition of cases requires that if a litigant's address changes, he has a duty to inform the court of the change. The United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit has said It is neither feasible nor legally required that the clerks of the district courts undertake independently to maintain current addresses on all parties to pending actions. It is incumbent upon litigants to inform the court of address changes, for it is manifest that communications between the clerk and the parties or their counsel will be conducted principally by mail. In addition to keeping the clerk informed of any change of address, parties are obliged to make timely status inquiries. Address changes normally would be reflected by those inquiries if made in writing. Shannon v. State of Louisiana, 1988 WL 54768, No. 87-3951 (E.D. La. May 23, 1988) (quoting Perkins v. King, No. 84-3310 (5th Cir. May 19, 1985)); see also Carey v. King, 856 F.2d 1439, 1441 (9th Cir. 1988) (per curiam) (pro se plaintiff's case dismissed for failure to prosecute when he failed to keep the court apprised of his current address). The exercise of the power to dismiss for failure to prosecute is committed to the sound discretion of the court and 2 appellate review is confined solely in whether the court's discretion was abused. Green v. Forney Engineering Co., 589 F.2d 243, 244 (5th Cir. 1979); Lopez v. Aransas County Independent School District, 570 F.2d 541, 544 (5th Cir. 1978). By not providing the court with his correct address, plaintiff has prevented the court from communicating with him and moving this case towards resolution. prosecute this case. want of prosecution. Conclusion For the reasons set forth above, this case will be dismissed without prejudice for want of prosecution. Judgment shall be entered. An appropriate Final He has therefore failed to diligently This case will therefore be dismissed for If plaintiff wishes to have this case reinstated on the court's active docket, he may do so by providing the court with a correct address within 60 days of the date set forth below. SIGNED this the 17 day of February, 2009. ____________________________ Thad Heartfield United States District Judge 3

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