Cousins v. Young et al

Filing 15

OPINION. Signed by Senior Judge James P. Jones on 5/9/2024. (Opinion mailed to Pro Se Party/Parties via US Mail)(aab)

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE WESTERN DISTRICT OF VIRGINIA
ROANOKE DIVISION
EUGENE ROSS COUSINS,
Plaintiff,
v.
COL. ERIC YOUNG, ET AL.,
Defendants.

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5/9/2024

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Case No. 7:23CV00746
OPINION
JUDGE JAMES P. JONES

Eugene Ross Cousins, Pro Se Plaintiff.
The plaintiff, Eugene Ross Cousins, proceeding pro se, filed this civil rights
action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983, alleging that he suffered injuries when he
slipped in applesauce while performing his duties as a kitchen worker at a local jail.
The court entered an Order conditionally filing the case and directing Cousins to
return specific financial information as needed to arrange for collection of the filing
costs for the case through withholding from his trust account. The Order also warned
Cousins that failure to notify the Court of a change in his mailing address would
result in dismissal of the case without prejudice.1 On November 17, 2023, Cousins
notified the court that he had been released from incarceration and provided a

1

A copy of this Order mailed to Cousins was later returned to the court as
undeliverable.

mailing address. A copy of a subsequent court Order mailed to Cousins at that
address on April 22, 2024, was returned to the court as undeliverable. The returned
envelope indicated that authorities were unable to forward the mailing. It is selfevident that the court must have a viable address by which to communicate reliably
with Cousins about this case.
Based on Cousin’s failure to provide the court with a current mailing address,
I conclude that he is no longer interested in pursuing this civil action. Therefore, I
will dismiss the action without prejudice for failure to prosecute. Ballard v. Carlson,
882 F.2d 93, 96 (4th Cir. 1989) (stating pro se litigants are subject to time
requirements and respect for court orders and dismissal is an appropriate sanction
for non-compliance);
An appropriate Order will issue herewith.
DATED: May 9, 2024
/s/ JAMES P. JONES
Senior United States District Judge

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