Opinion
CIVIL ACTION NO. 5:08-cv-183-DCB-MTP.
August 27, 2008
MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER DISMISSING THE PETITIONER'S COMPLAINT
On June 2, 2008, an order was entered directing petitioner to file a written response regarding the exhaustion of petitioner's administrative remedies on or before June 23, 2008. Petitioner was warned in the June 2, 2008 order that his failure to timely comply with the requirements of the order may result in the dismissal of his case. Petitioner failed to comply with this order. On June 9, 2008, this court's June 2, 2008, order was returned by the postal service with the notation "return to sender". Upon review of the Bureau of Prison's website, it appears that this petitioner was released on May 19, 2008.
This court has the authority to dismiss an action for petitioner's failure to prosecute under Federal Rules of Civil Procedure 41(b) and under its inherent authority to dismiss the action sua sponte. See Link v. Wabash R.R., 370 U.S. 626, 629 (1962); Larson v. Scott, 157 F.3d 1030, 1031 (5th Cir. 1998); McCullough v. Lynaugh, 835 F.2d 1126 (5th Cir. 1988). The court must be able to clear its calendars of cases that remain dormant because of the inaction or dilatoriness of the parties seeking relief, so as to achieve the orderly and expeditious disposition of cases. Link, 370 U.S. at 630. Such a "sanction is necessary in order to prevent undue delays in the disposition of pending cases and to avoid congestion in the calendars" of the Court. Id. at 629-30.
Petitioner has not complied with this court's order and has not communicated with this court since April 16, 2008. The court concludes that dismissal of this action for petitioner's failure to prosecute under Federal Rules of Civil Procedure 41(b) is proper. Since the respondent has never been called upon to respond to petitioner's pleading, and has never appeared in this action, and since the court has never considered the merits of petitioner's claims, the court's order of dismissal will provide that dismissal is without prejudice. See Munday/Elkins Auto. Partners, LTD. v. Smith, No. 05-31009, 2006 WL 2852389, at *2 (5th Cir. Oct. 2, 2006).
A final judgment in accordance with this memorandum opinion and order will be entered.
SO ORDERED.