IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF MISSISSIPPI SOUTHERN DIVISION

DERRICK DEWANYE WARREN PLAINTIFF

v. CIVIL ACTION NO. 1:23-cv-00181-TBM-RPM

COUNTY OF GEORGE, CITY OF LUCEDALE, et al. DEFENDANTS

MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER OF DISMISSAL

This matter is before the Court sua sponte on pro se Plaintiff Derrick Dewanye Warren’s failure to comply with Court Orders. When he filed his Complaint, Plaintiff was an inmate housed at the George/Greene County Correctional Facility in Lucedale, Mississippi. [1], p. 2. His claims arise under

. [1], p. 3. On August 14, 2023, the Court mailed Plaintiff a packet of information, including code provisions relevant to the prosecution of this lawsuit. [5], pp. 1-6. Plaintiff was ordered “that if he . . . wants to continue this case, the plaintiff shall sign the Acknowledgement (Form PSP-3) and return it to the Clerk of Court within thirty (30) days.” [5], p. 1. Alternatively, Plaintiff was ordered “that if he . . . wants to dismiss this case, then the plaintiff shall sign the Notice of Voluntary Dismissal (Form PSP-4) and return it to the Clerk of Court within thirty (30) days.” [5], p. 1. Plaintiff was “warned that his . . . failure to return one or the other of the forms within thirty (30) days and his . . . failure to advise this court of a change of address . . . may result in this case being dismissed sua sponte, without prejudice, without further written notice.” [5], p. 2. That Order [5] was mailed to Plaintiff at his last-known mailing address, and it was not returned to the Court as undeliverable. Plaintiff did not comply with the Court’s Order [5] within 30 days. On September 27, 2023, the Court ordered Plaintiff to show cause why this case should not be dismissed for his failure to comply with a Court Order. [6], p. 1. Plaintiff’s responsive deadline was extended to October 11, 2023, and he was warned again “that his failure to advise this Court

of a change of address or his failure to fully comply with this Order in a timely manner will result in the dismissal of this case, without further notice to Plaintiff.” [6], p. 2. The Order to Show Cause [6] was mailed to Plaintiff at his last-known mailing address, and it was returned to the Court as undeliverable in an envelope marked, “Not at this address.” [7], p. 1. Plaintiff did not comply with the Court’s Order [6] by the October 11 deadline. On October 30, 2023, the Court entered a Second and Final Order to Show Cause [8],

directing Plaintiff to “explain why this case should not be dismissed for failure to comply with the Court’s Orders [5] [6].” [8], p. 2. Plaintiff was ordered to file a written response on or before November 13, 2023. [17], p. 2. Plaintiff was also ordered, on or before the November 13 deadline, to comply with the Court’s August 14 Order [5] “by signing and returning either the Acknowledgement (Form PSP-3) or Notice of Voluntary Dismissal (Form PSP-4).” [8], p. 2. Plaintiff was warned again “[t]hat failure to advise the Court of a change of address or failure to timely comply with any order of the Court . . . will result in this lawsuit being dismissed without

prejudice and without further notice to him.” [8], p. 2 (emphasis in original). Plaintiff was cautioned that this was his “final opportunity to comply with the Court’s Orders [5] [6].” [7], p. 2. The Second and Final Order to Show Cause [8], with a copy of the Court’s August 14 Order [5] and September 27 Order [6], was mailed to Plaintiff at his last-known mailing address, and it was not returned to the Court as undeliverable. Plaintiff did not timely comply with the Second and Final Order to Show Cause [8], and he has not communicated with the Court about his lawsuit since August 9, 2023—despite being warned four times that a failure to comply or to notify the Court about a change in address may

lead to the dismissal of his case. See [3], p. 2; [5], p. 2; [6], p. 2; [8], p. 2. The Court may dismiss an action for Plaintiff’s failure to prosecute under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 41(b) and the Court’s “‘inherent power’ . . . to manage [its] own affairs.” Link v. Wabash R.R. Co.,

, 630–31,

,

(1962); see also McCullough v. Lynaugh,

(5th Cir. 1988). “The Court must be able to clear its calendar of cases that remain dormant because of the inaction or dilatoriness of the party seeking relief, so as

to achieve the orderly and expeditious disposition of cases.” Fauzi v. Royal Hospitality Services, LLC, No. 1:14-cv-83-HSO-RHW,

, at *2 (S.D. Miss. Jun. 6, 2016) (citing Link,

). “Such a ‘sanction is necessary to prevent undue delays in the disposition of pending cases and to avoid congestion in the calendars’ of the Court.”

(quoting Link,

). In this case, lesser sanctions than dismissal have not prompted “diligent prosecution” but have instead “proved to be futile.” See Tello v. Comm’r of Internal Revenue,

(5th Cir. 2005) (quoting Berry v. CIGNA/RSI-CIGNA,

(5th Cir. 1992)).

Since Plaintiff has failed to comply with three Court Orders [5] [6] [8], the Court finds that this case should be dismissed without prejudice under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 41(b) for failure to prosecute and for failing to respond to a Court order. IT IS, THEREFORE, ORDERED AND ADJUDGED that this matter is DISMISSED WITHOUT PREJUDICE. THIS, the 30th day of November, 2023.

_____________________________ TAYLOR B. McNEEL UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE