Latrice Salvador v. Officer Hurtado, et al.

FINO RT HTEH EU NNIOTRETDH SETRANT EDSI SDTIRSTICRTIC OTF C TOEUXRATS FORT WORTH DIVISION LATRICE SALVADOR, § § Plaintiff, § § v. § Civil Action No. 4:26-cv-0028-O-BP § OFFICER HURTADO, et al., § § Defendants. § FINDINGS, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATION OF THE UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE On January 9, 2026, pro se Plaintiff Latrice Salvador filed a civil complaint, and this case was referred to the undersigned for judicial screening pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(b) and Special Order 3. ECF Nos. 1, 4.

The findings, conclusions and recommendation of the United States Magistrate Judge are as follows: FINDINGS AND CONCLUSIONS: A. NATURE OF THE CASE This case is a new civil action.

B. PARTIES Latrice Salvador is the plaintiff. She names eight defendants.

C. LEGAL ANALYSIS To proceed with a civil action in this Court, a plaintiff must either pay the $405.00 filing and administrative fees or be granted permission to proceed in forma pauperis (“IFP”). See 28 U.S.C. §§ 1914, 1915. On January 13, after reviewing Plaintiff’s IFP application, the Court determined that it was deficient because Plaintiff did file the required long-form IFP application, which elicits information that is necessary for the Court to review when assessing her pauper status.

ECF No. 6. The Court ordered Plaintiff to either pay the $405.00 filing and administrative fees to the clerk of Court or file a complete long-form IFP application by January 27. Id. The Court provided Plaintiff the form necessary to comply and warned her that failure to do so could result in dismissal of this case without further notice for failure to prosecute. Id. Rule 41(b) permits a court to dismiss an action sua sponte for failure to prosecute or follow orders of the court. McCullough v. Lynaugh, 835 F.2d 1126, 1127 (5th Cir. 1988). This authority flows from a court’s inherent power to control its docket, prevent undue delays in the disposition of pending cases, and avoid congested court calendars. Link v. Wabash R.R. Co., 370 U.S. 626, 629–31 (1962).

The deadline for Plaintiff to comply with the Court’s January 13 order expired. To date, Plaintiff has not complied with the Court’s order, sought an extension of time to do so, or otherwise attempted to cure her filing deficiency or communicate with the Court about her case. Because Plaintiff has not paid the requisite fees or obtained permission to proceed IFP, this case is subject to dismissal for failure to comply with Court orders and for lack of prosecution under Rule 41(b).

RECOMMENDATION The undersigned therefore RECOMMENDS that the Court DISMISS Plaintiff’s complaint for lack of prosecution, without prejudice to being refiled. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 41(b).

A copy of these findings, conclusions, and recommendation shall be served on all parties in the manner provided by law. Under 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1), each party to this action has the right to serve and file specific written objections in the United States District Court to the United States Magistrate Judge’s proposed findings, conclusions, and recommendation within fourteen (14) days after the party has been served with a copy of this document. The United States District Judge need only make a de novo determination of those portions of the United States Magistrate Judge’s proposed findings, conclusions, and recommendation to which specific objection is timely made. proposed factual finding or legal conclusion will bar a party, except upon grounds of plain error or manifest injustice, from attacking on appeal any such proposed factual findings and legal conclusions accepted by the United States District Judge. See Douglass v. United Servs. Auto Ass'n, 79 F.3d 1415, 1428-29 (Sth Cir. 1996) (en banc), superseded by statute 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1) (extending the deadline to file objections from ten to fourteen days).

SIGNED on February 6, 2026.

Hal R. Ray, Jr. ] UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE