Opinion
No. 3:20-cv-o1o63-K (BT)
08-20-2020
AARON HOLT, Plaintiff, v. KAUFMAN COUNTY DETENTION CENTER, Defendant.
FINDINGS , CONCLUSIONS, AND RECOMMENDATION OF THE UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE
Plaintiff Aaron Holt, a state prisoner, filed a pro se civil action alleging violations of his civil rights. For the following reasons, the Court should dismiss the complaint for want of prosecution under Fed. R. Civ. P. 41(b).
I.
Holt did not pay the filing fee or file a motion to proceed in forma pauperis. He also did not file his complaint on the proper form. On April 28, 2020, the Court sent Holt a notice of deficiency, which informed him that he had 30 days to pay the filing fee or file a motion to proceed in forma pauperis and to submit his claims on the court-approved form. The Court warned Holt that failure to cure these deficiencies within 30 days could result in a recommendation that his complaint be dismissed. More than 30 days have passed, and Holt has failed to respond to the Court's order.
II.
Rule 41(b) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure allows a court to dismiss an action sua sponte for failure to prosecute or for failure to comply with the federal rules or any court order. Larson v. Scott, 157 F.3d 1030, 1031 (5th Cir. 1998). "This authority [under Rule 41(b)] flows from the court's inherent power to control its docket and prevent undue delays in the disposition of pending cases." Boudwin v. Graystone Ins. Co., Ltd., 756 F.2d 399, 401 (5th Cir. 1985) (citing Link v. Wabash, R.R. Co., 370 U.S. 626 (1962)). Here, Holt has failed to either pay the filing fee or file a motion to proceed in forma paupers. He has also failed to file his complaint on the proper form. This litigation cannot proceed until he cures these deficiencies. Accordingly, the complaint should be dismissed for want of prosecution.
III.
The Court should dismiss the complaint without prejudice for want of prosecution under Fed. R. Civ. P. 41(b).
Signed August 20, 2020.
/s/_________
REBECCA RUTHERFORD
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE
INSTRUCTIONS FOR SERVICE AND
NOTICE OF RIGHT TO APPEAL/OBJECT
A copy of this report and recommendation shall be served on all parties in the manner provided by law. Any party who objects to any part of this report and recommendation must file specific written objections within 14 days after being served with a copy. See 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1); FED. R. CIV. P. 72(b). In order to be specific, an objection must identify the specific finding or recommendation to which objection is made, state the basis for the objection, and specify the place in the magistrate judge's report and recommendation where the disputed determination is found. An objection that merely incorporates by reference or refers to the briefing before the magistrate judge is not specific. Failure to file specific written objections will bar the aggrieved party from appealing the factual findings and legal conclusions of the magistrate judge that are accepted or adopted by the district court, except upon grounds of plain error. See Douglass v. United Services Automobile Ass'n, 79 F.3d 1415, 1417 (5th Cir. 1996).