Ruffin v. Byram (JTS), No. 3:2015cv00064 - Document 8 (E.D. Tenn. 2017)
Court Description: MEMORANDUM OPINION. Signed by Chief District Judge Thomas A Varlan on 12/21/17. (copy mailed to Rodney Ruffin at Sevier County Jail) (JBR)
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Ruffin v. Byram (JTS) Doc. 8 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT EASTERN DISTRICT OF TENNESSEE RODNEY J. RUFFIN, Plaintiff, v. TRAVIS BYRAM, Defendant. ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) No.: 3:15-cv-64-TAV-HBG MEMORANDUM OPINION This is a pro se prisoner’s complaint for violation of 42 U.S.C. § 1983. Plaintiff Rodney J. Ruffin filed a complaint against Defendants Travis Byram and the Sevier County Jail on February 10, 2015 [Doc. 1]. On November 7, 2017, the Court screened Plaintiff’s complaint, allowing Plaintiff’s Eighth Amendment excessive force claim and racial discrimination claim under the Fourteenth Amendment to proceed against Defendant Byram in his official capacity [Doc. 3]. The Court ordered Plaintiff to complete a service packet for Defendant Byram and return it to the Clerk’s office within twenty (20) days of the date of the order [Id. at 17]. The Court’s screening order sent to Plaintiff was returned as undeliverable [Doc. 6]. After Plaintiff failed to return the service packet, on December 4, 2017, the Court ordered Plaintiff to show cause within fifteen (15) days of entry as to why his case should not be dismissed for failure to comply with the Court’s orders and for want of prosecution [Doc. 5]. However, the show cause order sent to Plaintiff was returned as undeliverable [Doc. 7]. More than fifteen days have passed, and Plaintiff has failed to return the service packet or otherwise respond to the Court’s order. Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 41(b) gives this Court the authority to dismiss a case for “failure of the plaintiff to prosecute or to comply with these rules Dockets.Justia.com 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). Involuntary dismissal under Rule 41(b) “operates as an adjudication on the merits.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 41(b); see Link v. Wabash R.R. Co., 370 U.S. 626, 629 (1962) (“The authority of a federal trial court to dismiss a plaintiff’s action with prejudice because of his failure to prosecute cannot seriously be doubted.”). The Court examines four factors when considering dismissal under Rule 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). As to the first factor, the Court finds that Plaintiff’s failure to respond or comply can be attributed to his own willfulness or fault. Plaintiff failed to return the service packet or respond to the Court’s previous show cause order, despite being instructed by the Court to do so. Pursuant to Local Rule 83.13, it is the duty of a pro se party to promptly notify the Clerk and the other parties to the proceedings of any change in his or her address, to monitor the progress of the case, and to prosecute or defend the action diligently. E.D. Tenn. L.R. 83.13. It is clear that Plaintiff has failed to provide the Court with notice of his correct address. Without his correct and current address, the Court cannot communicate with Plaintiff regarding his case. The Court previously ordered Plaintiff to inform the Court of any address changes immediately, and warned Plaintiff that failure to provide a correct address within fourteen days may result in the dismissal of this action [Doc. 3 p. 17]. The failure of a pro se party to timely respond to an order or pleading addressed to the last 2 address provided to the Clerk may result in dismissal of the case or other appropriate action. E.D. Tenn. L.R. 83.13. Accordingly, the Court finds that the first factor weighs in favor of dismissal. The second factor does not weigh in favor of dismissal; as the Defendants have not been served, they have not been prejudiced by the delay. However, the third factor clearly weighs in favor of dismissal, as Plaintiff has failed to comply with the Court’s order, despite being expressly warned of the possible consequences of such a failure. Finally, the Court finds that alternative sanctions would not be effective. Plaintiff filed a motion for leave to proceed in forma pauperis; therefore, the Court has no indication that Plaintiff has the ability to pay a monetary fine. The Court thus concludes that, in total, the factors weigh in favor of dismissal of Plaintiff’s action with prejudice pursuant to Rule 41(b). Accordingly, this action will be DISMISSED WITH PREJUDICE, sua sponte, for want of prosecution. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 41(b); see also Link v. Wabash R.R. Co., 370 U.S. 626, 630– 31 (1962) (recognizing the court’s authority to dismiss a case sua sponte for lack of prosecution); White v. City of Grand Rapids, 34 F. App’x 210, 211 (6th Cir. 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, 110 (6th Cir. 1991). The Court CERTIFIES that any appeal from this action would not be taken in good faith and would be totally frivolous. See Fed. R. App. P. 24. Therefore, should Plaintiff file a notice of appeal, he will be DENIED leave to appeal in forma pauperis. See 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a)(3); Fed. R. App. P. 24. AN APPROPRIATE ORDER WILL ENTER. s/ Thomas A. Varlan CHIEF UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE 3
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