Opinion
CIVIL ACTION NO. 1:15cv136-MHT (WO)
07-13-2015
DANA NICOLE DELANEY, Plaintiff, v. PRIDE INDUSTRIES, Defendant.
RECOMMENDATION OF THE MAGISTRATE JUDGE
The pro se plaintiff, Dana Nicole Delaney ("Delaney"), brings this action against defendant Pride Industries alleging that she was discriminated against because of a disability. She brings her claim pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, 42 U.S.C. § 12101 ("ADA"). This court has jurisdiction of the plaintiff's discrimination claim pursuant to the jurisdictional grant in 42 U.S.C. § 12117.
This case was filed on March 2, 2015. To date, there is no evidence before the court to suggest that the defendant has been served. See FED. R. CIV. P. 4(m). On June 24, 2015, the court issued an order directing the plaintiff to show cause why this case should not be dismissed for want of prosecution (doc. # 4). The time allotted to the plaintiff for filing a response expired on July 8, 2015.
To date, the plaintiff has filed nothing in response to the court's prior order despite being given opportunity to do so. Under FED.R.CIV.P. 4(m), "[i]f service of the summons and complaint is not made upon a defendant within 120 days after the filing of the complaint, the court, upon motion or its own initiative after notice to the plaintiff, shall dismiss the action without prejudice. . . . [I]f the plaintiff shows good cause for the failure, the court shall extend the time for service for an appropriate period." When a plaintiff fails to perfect service of process within the 120-day period, the court may dismiss the action or grant an extension of time to serve process for "good cause" or, in the absence of good cause, if the plaintiff can establish sufficient grounds for an extension of this time period. Horenkamp v. Van Winkle & Co., 402 F.3d 1129, 1132 (11th Cir. 2005).
The time allowed for perfecting service of process expired on June 30, 2015. The plaintiff has filed nothing in response to the court's order. Thus, after being given an opportunity, Delaney has failed to allege the existence of good cause or other sufficient reason warranting an extension of the time for service. Consequently, the complaint is subject to dismissal without prejudice as service has not been perfected on the defendant within the 120-day period required by FED. R. CIV. P. 4(m).
In light of the foregoing, the court concludes that the plaintiff's abandonment of her claims, her failure to comply with the orders of this court and her failure to prosecute this cause of action warrant dismissal of this case.
CONCLUSION
Accordingly, it is the RECOMMENDATION of the Magistrate Judge that this case be dismissed without prejudice for the plaintiff's abandonment of her claims, failure to prosecute this action and failure to comply with the orders of the court. It is further
ORDERED that the parties shall file any objections to the said Recommendation on or before July 27, 2015. Any objections filed must specifically identify the findings in the Magistrate Judge's Recommendation to which the party objects. Frivolous, conclusive or general objections will not be considered by the District Court. The parties are advised that this Recommendation is not a final order of the court and, therefore, it is not appealable.
Failure to file written objections to the proposed findings and recommendations in the Magistrate Judge's report shall bar the party from a de novo determination by the District Court of issues covered in the report and shall bar the party from attacking on appeal factual findings in the report accepted or adopted by the District Court except upon grounds of plain error or manifest injustice. Nettles v. Wainwright, 677 F.2d 404 (5th Cir. 1982). See Stein v. Reynolds Securities, Inc., 667 F.2d 33 (11th Cir. 1982). See also Bonner v. City of Prichard, 661 F.2d 1206 (11th Cir. 1981, en banc), adopting as binding precedent all of the decisions of the former Fifth Circuit handed down prior to the close of business on September 30, 1981.
Done this the 13th day of July, 2015.
/s/Charles S. Coody
CHARLES S. COODY
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE