Opinion
Case #12-CV-6211-FPG
12-08-2014
MARLO BLOCKER, Plaintiff, v. SOUTHPORT CORRECTIONAL FACILITY, CORRECTIONAL OFFICER PETER MASTRANTONIO, AND CORRECTIONAL OFFICER ROBERT MURPHY, Defendants.
ORDER DISMISSING CASE
On October 23, 2014, Plaintiff was ordered to show cause, in writing and before November 7, 2014, why this case should not be dismissed for failure to prosecute this action and/or for failure to comply with the Court's directives. Although the October 23, 2014 Order warned Plaintiff that the failure to respond to the Order to Show Cause would result in the dismissal of this action with prejudice pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 41(b), the Plaintiff has failed to respond to the Order in any fashion.
Fed. R. Civ. P. 41(b) authorizes a district court to "dismiss a complaint for failure to comply with a court order, treating the noncompliance as a failure to prosecute." Simmons v. Abruzzo, 49 F.3d 83, 87 (2d Cir. 1995) (citing Link v. Wabash R.R. Co., 370 U.S. 626, 633 (1962). While a harsh remedy, the rule is "intended to serve as a rarely employed, but useful, tool of judicial administration available to district courts in managing their specific cases and general caseload." Wynder v. McMahon, 360 F.3d 73, 79 (2d Cir. 2004).
A district court considering a Rule 41(b) dismissal must weigh five factors: "(1) the duration of the plaintiff's failure to comply with the court order, (2) whether plaintiff was on notice that failure to comply would result in dismissal, (3) whether the defendants are likely to be prejudiced by further delay in the proceedings, (4) a balancing of the court's interest in managing its docket with the plaintiff's interest in receiving a fair chance to be heard, and (5) whether the judge has adequately considered a sanction less drastic than dismissal." Baptiste v. Sommers, 768 F.3d 212, 216 (2d Cir. 2014), quoting Lucas v. Miles, 84 F.3d 532, 535 (2d Cir. 1996). No single factor is generally dispositive. Nita v. Connecticut Dep't of Envtl. Prot.,16 F.3d 482, 485 (2d Cir. 1994).
In this case, the Court gave Plaintiff ample time to comply with the Court's previous order - which granted his Motion to File an Amended Complaint, and directed that such amended complaint be filed within 30 days - as well to comply with the Order to Show Cause. Those orders were issued on August 8, 2014 and October 23, 2014, respectively, yet the Court has not received any response at all from the Plaintiff. The Order to Show Cause plainly placed Plaintiff on notice that his failure to comply would result in the dismissal of this case, but despite that warning, the Plaintiff has ignored the Order. The Court has given the Plaintiff opportunities to comply with the Court's directives and to move this case forward, but again, the Plaintiff has refused to respond, and has not taken any action to prosecute this case despite the issuance of orders from this Court. Since the Plaintiff refuses to respond, there is no sanction less drastic than dismissal that would be effective.
Due to the Plaintiff's failure to comply with the Court's prior orders, and because the Plaintiff has not communicated with the Court in any fashion to explain or correct the noncompliance despite being warned of the consequences of failing to respond, I find that dismissal is appropriate under the facts of this case, and this action is hereby dismissed, with prejudice. The Clerk is directed to close this case.
IT IS SO ORDERED. DATED: Rochester, New York
December 8, 2014
/s/_________
HON. FRANK P. GERACI, JR.
United States District Judge