Opinion
1:20-cv-8463 (NLH) (SAK)
05-07-2021
RAYMOND LAMAR BROWN, Plaintiff, v. RICHARD SMITH, et al., Defendants.
APPEARANCES: Raymond Lamar Brown 48657 Cumberland County Jail 54 W. Broad St. Bridgeton, NJ 08302 Plaintiff pro se Stephen D. Holtzman, Esq. Jeffrey S. McClain, Esq. Holtzman McClain & Londar, PC 524 Maple Avenue Suite 200 Linwood, NJ 08221 Attorneys for Defendant Dr. Alan Dias
MEMORANDUM OPINION & ORDER
APPEARANCES: Raymond Lamar Brown
48657
Cumberland County Jail
54 W. Broad St.
Bridgeton, NJ 08302
Plaintiff pro se Stephen D. Holtzman, Esq.
Jeffrey S. McClain, Esq.
Holtzman McClain & Londar, PC
524 Maple Avenue
Suite 200
Linwood, NJ 08221
Attorneys for Defendant Dr. Alan Dias HILLMAN , District Judge
WHEREAS, Plaintiff Raymond Lamar Brown is proceeding pro se in this complaint under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, see ECF No. 1; and
Plaintiff is also participating in a related proposed class action, Brown v. Warren, No. 20-7907, and is represented by counsel in that action. That appointment of counsel does not extend to this civil action.
WHEREAS, Defendants moved to dismiss the complaint under Local Civil Rule 10.1 and Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 41(b). ECF Nos. 15 & 18. The Honorable Ann M. Donio denied the motions without prejudice. ECF No. 22. Judge Donio noted that "[i]n the event Plaintiff fails to proceed with discovery or otherwise participate in this litigation, Defendants may file a renewed motion to dismiss pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 41(b)." Id.; and
This matter was subsequently reassigned to the Honorable Sharon A. King. --------
WHEREAS, Defendant Alan Dias filed a second motion to dismiss the complaint on April 17, 2021. ECF No. 24. Defendant asserts Plaintiff failed to participate in discovery and seeks dismissal under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 41(b), Id.; and
WHEREAS, Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 41(b) permits a court to dismiss an action "[i]f the plaintiff fails to prosecute or to comply with these rules or a court order . . . ." Before a Court may dismiss a complaint for failure to prosecute, it must analyze the factors set forth in Poulis v. State Farm Fire & Cas. Co., 747 F.2d 863, 867-68 (3d Cir. 1984); and
WHEREAS, Judge Donio notified Defendant of the requirement to address the Poulis factors in any subsequent motion to dismiss, ECF No. 22 at 7 n.3; and
WHEREAS, Defendant does not address the Poulis factors in his motion,
THEREFORE, IT IS on this 7th day of May, 2021
ORDERED that the Clerk shall adjourn the motion to dismiss, ECF No. 24, to June 7, 2021; and it is further
ORDERED that Defendant shall supplement the motion to dismiss and serve Plaintiff with a brief that addresses the Poulis factors by May 14, 2021; and it is finally
ORDERED that the Clerk of the Court shall serve a copy of this Order on Plaintiff by regular first-class mail.
s/ Noel L. Hillman
NOEL L. HILLMAN, U.S.D.J. At Camden, New Jersey