Opinion
No. 1:17-cv-00212-JRG-SKL
04-20-2018
MATTHEW ALLEN THOMPSON, Petitioner, v. STATE OF TENNESSEE DEPARTMENT OF PAROLE and HERBERT H. SLATERY, III, Attorney General for the State of Tennessee, Respondents.
MEMORANDUM OPINION
This pro se petition for a writ of habeas corpus under 28 U.S.C. § 2254 was filed on August 2, 2017 [Doc. 1]. On August 18, 2017, Respondent filed a motion to compel the filing of a corrected § 2254 petition, stating that the petition failed to follow the form required by Rule 2(d) of the Rules Governing Section 2254 cases, as several pages of the form were not included in the petition [Doc. 4]. On November 29, 2017, the Court granted Respondent's motion to compel, and ordered Petitioner to file a complete form petition, in compliance with Rule 2 of the Rules Governing Section 2254 cases, within thirty (30) days [Doc. 6 at 2]. The Court advised Petitioner that failure to comply with the Order within thirty days could result in dismissal under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 41(b) [Id.]. After Petitioner failed to comply, the Court entered an Order on March 27, 2018 directing Petitioner to show cause within fifteen (15) days as to why his case should not be dismissed for his failure to prosecute [Doc. 7].
More than fifteen days have passed, and Petitioner has failed to submit a completed petition, or otherwise respond to the Court's Orders. Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 41(b) gives this Court the authority to dismiss a case for "failure of the plaintiff to prosecute or to comply with these rules or any order of the court." See, e.g., Nye Capital Appreciation Partners, L.L.C. v. Nemchik, 483 F. App'x 1, 9 (6th Cir. 2012); Knoll v. Am. Tel. & Tel. Co., 176 F.3d 359, 362-63 (6th Cir. 1999). Involuntary dismissal under Rule 41(b) "operates as an adjudication on the merits." Fed. R. Civ. P. 41(b); see Link v. Wabash R.R. Co., 370 U.S. 626, 629 (1962) ("The authority of a federal trial court to dismiss a plaintiff's action with prejudice because of his failure to prosecute cannot seriously be doubted."). The Court examines four factors when considering dismissal under Rule 41(b):
(1) whether the party's failure is due to willfulness, bad faith or fault; (2) whether the adversary was prejudiced by the dismissed party's conduct; (3) whether the dismissed party was warned that failure to cooperate could lead to dismissal; and (4) whether less drastic sanctions were imposed or considered before dismissal was ordered.Wu v. T.W. Wang, Inc., 420 F.3d 641, 643 (6th Cir. 2005).
As to the first factor, the Court finds that Petitioner's failure to respond or comply can be attributed to his own willfulness or fault. Petitioner failed to file a completed § 2254 petition, despite being instructed by the Court to do so and being sent a preprinted form. Pursuant to Local Rule 83.13, it is the duty of a pro se party to monitor the progress of their case, and to prosecute or defend the action diligently. E.D. Tenn. L.R. 83.13. "Pro se status does not exempt a plaintiff from the requirement that he comply with relevant rules of procedural and substantive law." Thorpe v. Ragozzine, No. 1:07-cv-155, 2008 WL 1859878, at *1 (E.D. Tenn. Apr. 23, 2008) (citing Hulsey v. Texas, 929 F.2d 168, 171 (5th Cir. 1991)). Accordingly, the Court finds that the first factor weighs in favor of dismissal.
The second factor does not weigh in favor of dismissal, as Respondent has not been prejudiced by the delay. However, the third factor clearly weighs in favor of dismissal, as Petitioner has failed to comply with the Court's Orders, despite being expressly warned of the possible consequences of such a failure. Finally, the Court finds that alternative sanctions would not be effective. Petitioner is currently incarcerated, and has failed to remain in contact with the Court. Additionally, despite offering Petitioner another opportunity to show cause, Petitioner has failed to respond to the Court's Orders. The Court thus concludes that, in total, the factors weigh in favor of dismissal of Petitioner's action with prejudice pursuant to Rule 41(b).
Accordingly, this action will be DISMISSED WITH PREJUDICE, sua sponte, for want of prosecution. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 41(b); see also Link v. Wabash R.R. Co., 370 U.S. 626, 630-31 (1962) (recognizing the court's authority to dismiss a case sua sponte for lack of prosecution); White v. City of Grand Rapids, 34 F. App'x 210, 211 (6th Cir. 2002) (finding that a pro se prisoner's complaint "was subject to dismissal for want of prosecution because he failed to keep the district court apprised of his current address"); Jourdan v. Jabe, 951 F.2d 108, 110 (6th Cir. 1991). The Court CERTIFIES that any appeal from this action would not be taken in good faith and would be totally frivolous. See Fed. R. App. P. 24. Therefore, should Petitioner file a notice of appeal, he will be DENIED leave to appeal in forma pauperis. See 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a)(3); Fed. R. App. P. 24.
AN APPROPRIATE ORDER WILL ENTER.
ENTER:
s/ J. RONNIE GREER
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE