Williams v. Busto et al

Filing 15

ORDER OF DISMISSAL. It is ORDERED that this action is DISMISSED WITHOUT PREJUDICE for want of prosecution. (Signed by Judge Kenneth M Hoyt) Parties notified.(sanderson, 4)

United States District Court
Southern District of Texas

ENTERED
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS
HOUSTON DIVISION
RONNEY EARL WILLIAMS,
Plaintiff,
VS.
BUSTO, et al,
Defendants.

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March 12, 2018
David J. Bradley, Clerk

CIVIL ACTION NO. 4:16-CV-1777

ORDER OF DISMISSAL
Ronney Earl Williams filed this prisoner civil rights case on June 20, 2016. On January
22, 2018, this Court entered an order to show cause, noting that Williams had not filed anything
in the case since his original complaint and motion for leave to proceed in forma pauperis. The
order specifically noted that “[m]ore than a year and a half has passed with no effort to advance
the case”, and ordered him to show cause within 30 days why the case should not be dismissed
for failure to prosecute. Williams has not responded to the order.
A district court may sua sponte dismiss a lawsuit for failure to prosecute pursuant to
Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 41(b). Berry v. CIGNA/RSI–CIGNA, 975 F.2d 1188, 1190 (5th
Cir.1992). “This authority is based on the ‘courts' power to manage and administer their own
affairs to ensure the orderly and expeditious disposition of cases.’” Id. at 1190–91 (quoting Link
v. Wabash R.R. Co., 370 U.S. 626, 630–31 (1962)).
Plaintiff’s failure to comply with the order to show cause, along with his lack of activity
during the nearly two years that this case has been pending, forces the Court to conclude that he
lacks diligence in prosecuting this action. Therefore, under the Court’s inherent power to
manage its docket, this Court concludes that dismissal for want of prosecution is appropriate.
The plaintiff is advised, however, that relief from this Order may be obtained under Federal Rule

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of Civil Procedure 60(b) upon a proper showing. Accordingly, it is ORDERED that this action is
DISMISSED WITHOUT PREJUDICE for want of prosecution.
The clerk shall provide a copy of this Order to the parties.
It is so ORDERED.
SIGNED on this 12th day of March, 2018.
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Kenneth M. Hoyt
United States District Judge

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