Hamby v. Morgan County Correctional Institution et al, No. 3:2017cv00150 - Document 65 (E.D. Tenn. 2019)

Court Description: MEMORANDUM AND OPINION as set forth in following order. Signed by District Judge Pamela L Reeves on 9/24/19. (c/m to William D. Hamby, Jr. #135146, MORGAN COUNTY CORRECTIONAL COMPLEX, PO BOX 2000, WARTBURG, TN 37887)(ABF)

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Hamby v. Morgan County Correctional Institution et al Doc. 65 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT EASTERN DISTRICT OF TENNESSEE AT KNOXVILLE WILLIAM D. HAMBY, JR., Plaintiff, v. MORGAN COUNTY CORRECTIONAL COMPLEX, et al., Defendants. ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) No.: 3:17-CV-00150 REEVES/POPLIN MEMORANDUM OPINION This is a pro se prisoner’s complaint under 42 U.S.C. § 1983. On August 9, 2019, the Court entered an order providing that Plaintiff would have fourteen days from the date of entry of the order to show cause as to why this matter should not be dismissed for failure to prosecute [Doc. 64]. The Court also warned Plaintiff that if he failed to timely comply with that order, the Court would dismiss this action [Id. at 1]. Approximately thirty days have passed, and Plaintiff has not complied with this order or otherwise communicated with the Court. 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 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). The Court examines four factors when considering dismissal under Fed. R. Civ. P. 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. Dockets.Justia.com Wu v. T.W. Wang, Inc., 420 F.3d 641, 643 (6th Cir. 2005); see Reg’l Refuse Sys., Inc. v. Inland Reclamation Co., 842 F.2d 150, 155 (6th Cir. 1988). As to the first factor, the Court finds that Plaintiff’s failure to respond to or comply with the Court’s previous order is due to Plaintiff’s willfulness and/or fault. Specifically, it appears that Plaintiff received the order and chose not to respond. As such, the first factor weighs in favor of dismissal. As to the second factor, the Court finds that Plaintiff’s failure to comply with the Court’s order has not prejudiced Defendants. As to the third factor, the Court warned Plaintiff that the Court would dismiss this case if he failed to comply with the Court’s order [Doc. 64]. Finally, as to the fourth factor, the Court finds that alternative sanctions would not be effective. Plaintiff is a prisoner proceeding proceed in forma pauperis [Doc. 14], and he has not pursued this case since filing a motion in this matter approximately three years ago [See Doc. 60]. For the reasons set forth above, the Court concludes that the relevant factors weigh in favor of dismissal of Plaintiff’s action pursuant to Rule 41(b). The Court CERTIFIES that any appeal from this order would not be taken in good faith. AN APPROPRIATE ORDER WILL ENTER. ___________________________________________ CHIEF UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE 2

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