Gates v. Lee County et al (INMATE2), No. 3:2009cv00480 - Document 22 (M.D. Ala. 2009)
Court Description: MEMORANDUM OPINION. Signed by Honorable Terry F. Moorer on 9/21/2009. (cc, )
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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE MIDDLE DISTRICT OF ALABAMA EASTERN DIVISION _____________________________ REGINALD S. GATES * Plaintiff, * v. * MR. COBB, et al., * Defendants. _____________________________ 3:09-CV-480-TFM (WO) * MEMORANDUM OPINION Plaintiff, a prison inmate, filed this complaint on May 22, 2009. On June 4, 2009 the court directed Defendants to file an answer and written report addressing Plaintiff's claims for relief. In compliance with the court s order, Defendants submitted an answer and written report on August 14, 2009 which contained relevant evidentiary materials refuting the allegations presented in the instant complaint. The court then issued an order directing Plaintiff to file a response to Defendants answer and written report. (Doc. No. 21.) Plaintiff was advised that his failure to respond to Defendants answer and written report would be treated by the court "as an abandonment of the claims set forth in the complaint and as a failure to prosecute this action." ( Id.) (emphasis in original). Additionally, Plaintiff was "specifically cautioned that [his failure] to file a response in compliance with the directives of this order" would result in the dismissal of this case. (Id.) The time allotted Plaintiff for the filing of a response expired on September 8, 2009. As of the present date, Plaintiff has filed nothing in opposition to Defendants answer and written report as required by order filed August 17, 2009. In light of the foregoing, the court concludes that this case should be dismissed. The court has reviewed the file in this case to determine whether less drastic sanctions than dismissal are appropriate. After such review, it is clear that dismissal of this case is the proper sanction. Plaintiff is an indigent state inmate. Thus, the imposition of monetary or other punitive sanctions against him would be ineffectual. Additionally, Plaintiff has exhibited a lack of respect for this court and its authority as he has failed to comply with the directives of the orders entered in this case. It is, therefore, apparent that any additional effort by this court to secure Plaintiff s compliance would be unavailing. Consequently, the court concludes that Plaintiff s abandonment of his claims and his failures to comply with the orders of this court and properly prosecute this cause of action warrant dismissal of this case. For the foregoing reasons, the undersigned concludes that this case shall be dismissed. A separate order follows. Done, this 21 st day of September 2009. /s/Terry F. Moorer . TERRY F. MOORER UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE 2
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