James v. Turner et al, No. 3:2022cv00049 - Document 8 (E.D. Tenn. 2022)
Court Description: MEMORANDUM OPINION in support of the following Judgment Order. Signed by District Judge Thomas A. Varlan on 9/19/22. (c/m Ralphelle Antre James, Sr 829 Woodmore Circle Chattanooga, TN 37411) (ADA)
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James v. Turner et al Doc. 8 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT EASTERN DISTRICT OF TENNESSEE RALPHELLE ANTRE JAMES, SR., Plaintiff, v. CAPT. TURNER, CORPORAL HALL, SGT. KIDD, ROGER D. WILSON CORRECTIONAL FACILITY, and ERIC FIGHT, Defendants. ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) No.: 3:22-CV-49-TAV-JEM MEMORANDUM OPINION While he was incarcerated in the Knox County Detention Center, Plaintiff filed a pro se complaint for violation of 42 U.S.C. § 1983 arising out of various incidents during his incarceration [Doc. 2], a motion for leave to proceed in forma pauperis [Doc. 1], and his inmate trust account statement [Doc. 5]. But as Plaintiff subsequently notified the Court of a change in address due to his apparent release from incarceration [Doc. 6], the Court needed to determine whether Plaintiff qualified to proceed in forma pauperis as a released individual. McGore v. Wrigglesworth, 114 F.3d 601, 613 (6th Cir. 1997). Accordingly, on July 14, 2022, the Court entered an order (1) directing the Clerk to send Plaintiff a non-prisoner form motion for leave to proceed in forma pauperis, (2) providing that Plaintiff had thirty (30) days from the date of entry of that order to pay the full filing fee or to submit the necessary document to proceed in forma pauperis, and Case 3:22-cv-00049-TAV-JEM Document 8 Filed 09/19/22 Page 1 of 3 PageID #: 24 Dockets.Justia.com (3) notifying Plaintiff that if he failed to fully timely comply with that order, the Court would presume that Plaintiff is not a pauper and order the case dismissed for want of prosecution without further notice [Doc. 7 p. 1–2]. Plaintiff has not complied with this order, and his time for doing so has passed. Accordingly, for the reasons set forth below, this action will be DISMISSED for want of prosecution pursuant to Rule 41(b) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. Rule 41(b) gives this Court the authority to dismiss a case “[i]f the plaintiff fails to prosecute or to comply with these rules or a court order.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 41(b); see also Rogers v. City of Warren, 302 Fed. Appx. 371, 375 n.4 (6th Cir. 2008) (“Although Rule 41(b) does not expressly provide for a sua sponte dismissal (the rule actually provides for dismissal on defendant’s motion), it is well-settled that the district court can enter a sue sponte order of dismissal under Rule 41(b)” (citing Link v. Wabash R.R., 370 U.S. 626, 630 (1962)). The Court examines four factors when considering dismissal under this Rule: (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, it appears that Plaintiff received the Court’s prior order and has chosen not to comply. As to the second factor, Plaintiff’s conduct has not prejudiced Defendants. As to the third factor, as the Court noted above, the Court’s previous order 2 Case 3:22-cv-00049-TAV-JEM Document 8 Filed 09/19/22 Page 2 of 3 PageID #: 25 warned Plaintiff that it would dismiss this case if Plaintiff failed to timely comply with that order [Id.]. Finally, as to the fourth factor, alternative sanctions are not warranted, as Plaintiff sought to proceed in forma pauperis in this action and has failed to comply with the Court’s clear instructions. On balance, the Court finds that these factors support dismissal of this action under Rule 41(b). Accordingly, this action will be DISMISSED with prejudice. The Court CERTIFIES that any appeal from this dismissal would not be taken in good faith. AN APPROPRIATE JUDGMENT ORDER WILL ENTER. ENTER: s/ Thomas A. Varlan UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE 3 Case 3:22-cv-00049-TAV-JEM Document 8 Filed 09/19/22 Page 3 of 3 PageID #: 26
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