Perry v. Corrections Corporation of America et al, No. 3:2018cv00540 - Document 8 (E.D. Tenn. 2019)

Court Description: MEMORANDUM AND OPINION as set forth in following order. Signed by District Judge Pamela L Reeves on 9/25/19. (c/m to Courtney Perry #508157, MORGAN COUNTY CORRECTIONAL COMPLEX, PO BOX 2000, WARTBURG, TN 37887)(ABF)

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Perry v. Corrections Corporation of America et al Doc. 8 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT EASTERN DISTRICT OF TENNESSEE AT KNOXVILLE COURTNEY PERRY, Plaintiff, v. CORRECTIONS CORPORATION OF AMERICA, MORGAN COUNTY CORRECTIONAL COMPLEX, ARAMARK INDESTRY CORPORATION, DAVID SCHOFIELD, BILL HASLAM, and MARK LUTTRELL, Defendants. ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) No.: 3:18-CV-540 REEVES/GUYTON MEMORANDUM OPINION This is a pro se prisoner’s complaint under 42 U.S.C. § 1983. On July 25, 2019, the Court entered an order screening the complaint and providing that Plaintiff had thirty days from the date of entry of the order to file an amended complaint [Doc. 7 p. 6]. The Court also warned Plaintiff that if he failed to timely comply with that order, the Court would dismiss this action [Id. at 6]. More than thirty days have passed, however, and Plaintiff has not filed an amended complaint or otherwise communicated with the Court. Accordingly, for the reasons set forth below, this action will be dismissed pursuant to Rule 41(b) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. Rule 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): Dockets.Justia.com (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); 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, as set forth above, it appears that Plaintiff received the Court’s order, but chose not to comply therewith. 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 [Id.]. Finally, as to the fourth factor, the Court finds that alternative sanctions would not be effective. The Court granted Plaintiff leave to proceed in forma pauperis in this matter [Doc. 5]. Plaintiff has not pursued the case since filing the complaint [Doc. 1] and a motion for leave to proceed in forma pauperis [Doc. 2] more than nine months ago, and Plaintiff has not complied with the Court’s most recent order. For the reasons set forth above, this action will be DISMISSED pursuant to Rule 41(b) and the Court CERTIFIES that any appeal from this order would not be taken in good faith. AN APPROPRIATE ORDER WILL ENTER. SO ORDERED. ___________________________________________ CH IEF U N ITED STATES D ISTRICT JU D GE 2

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