IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE MIDDLE DISTRICT OF ALABAMA SOUTHERN DIVISION

MEKHI LAWTON, ) ) Plaintiff, ) ) v. ) Case No. 1:24-cv-458-RAH-CSC ) (WO) HOUSTON COUNTY JAIL, ) ) Defendant. )

RECOMMENDATION OF THE MAGISTRATE JUDGE Plaintiff Mekhi Lawton launched this civil action under

on August 7, 2024, while incarcerated at the Houston County Jail in Dothan, Alabama. See Doc. 1. By order entered on August 15, 2024, the court informed Lawton that, for his action to proceed, he must submit either the $405.00 in required fees or a properly completed application for leave to proceed in forma pauperis. Doc. 3. Although Lawton then moved to proceed in forma pauperis (Doc. 9), he didn’t submit information about the balance in his inmate account from the facility where he is incarcerated. On August 27, 2024 (Doc. 10), the court entered an order directing Lawton to submit his inmate account information by September 10, 2024, to support his motion to proceed in forma pauperis. The court’s order of August 27, 2024, specifically warned Lawton that his failure to comply would result in a recommendation of dismissal. Doc. 10 at 2. To date, Lawton has failed to comply with or respond to the court’s order. Because of Lawton’s failure to comply with the court’s order of August 27, 2024, the court concludes that this case should be dismissed without prejudice. Moon v. Newsome,

(11th Cir. 1989) (stating that dismissal for failure to obey a court order is generally not an abuse of discretion where litigant has been forewarned). The authority

to impose sanctions for failure to prosecute or obey an order is longstanding and acknowledged by Rule 41(b) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. See Link v. Wabash R.R. Co.,

, 629–30 (1962). This authority empowers the courts “to manage their own affairs so as to achieve the orderly and expeditious disposition of cases.”

at 630–31; Mingo v. Sugar Cane Growers Co-Op of Fla.,

, 102 (11th Cir. 1989) (“The district court possesses the inherent power to police its docket.”). “The sanctions

imposed [upon dilatory litigants] can range from a simple reprimand to an order dismissing the action with or without prejudice.” Mingo, 864 F.2d at 102. The court finds that sanctions lesser than dismissal would not suffice here. See Mingo, 864 F.2d at 102. Accordingly, the Magistrate Judge RECOMMENDS that this case be DISMISSED without prejudice based on Lawton’s failure to comply with orders of the

court.. It is also ORDERED that by October 23, 2024, the parties may file objections to this Recommendation. The parties must specifically identify the factual findings and legal conclusions in the Recommendation to which objection is made. Frivolous, conclusive or general objections will not be considered by the court. This Recommendation is not a final

order, and it is therefore not appealable. Failure to file written objections to the proposed findings and recommendations under

(b)(1) will bar a party from a de novo determination by the District Court of legal and factual issues covered in the Recommendation and waive the right of the party to challenge on appeal the District Court’s order based on unobjected-to factual and legal conclusions accepted or adopted by the District Court except upon grounds of plain error or manifest injustice. See 11TH CIR.

R. 3–1. DONE this 9th day of October, 2024.

/s/ Charles S. Coody CHARLES S. COODY UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE