Robert Lee Harris v. Andrew Riffle

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT EASTERN DISTRICT OF TENNESSEE AT KNOXVILLE ROBERT LEE HARRIS, ) ) Plaintiff, ) Case No. 3:25-cv-95 ) v. ) Judge Atchley ) ANDREW RIFFLE, ) Magistrate Judge Poplin ) Defendant. ) MEMORANDUM OPINION This is a prisoner’s pro se complaint for violation of 42 U.S.C. § 1983 . The record demonstrates that Plaintiff has failed to update the Court as to his current address, despite the Court warning him (1) of the requirement that he do so, and (2) that failure to do so may result in dismissal of this action [Doc. 4 at 1; Doc. 6 at 1; Doc. 9 at 1–2]. Accordingly, for the reasons set forth more fully below, this action will be DISMISSED pursuant to Rule 41(b) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. Rule 41(b) gives this Court the authority to dismiss a case “[i]f the plaintiff fails to prosecute or to comply with these rules or a court order.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 41(b); see also Rogers v. City of Warren, 302 Fed. Appx. 371 , 375 n.4 (6th Cir. 2008) (“Although Rule 41(b) does not expressly provide for a sua sponte dismissal (the rule actually provides for dismissal on defendant’s motion), it is well-settled that the district court can enter a sue sponte order of dismissal under Rule 41(b)” (citing Link v. Wabash R.R., 370 U.S. 626, 630 (1962)). The Court examines four factors when considering dismissal under this Rule: (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 Plaintiff’s failure to prosecute this case is due to his willfulness or fault. Specifically, more than two weeks ago, the United States Postal Service (“USPS”) returned mail the Court sent to Plaintiff with a notation indicating that the USPS was unable to deliver that mail to Plaintiff at the most recent address he provided the Court [Doc. 8 at 1; Doc. 13]. Plaintiff has not communicated with the Court since the USPS returned this mail, and it is apparent that Plaintiff has failed to update the Court as to his most recent address, monitor this case, or diligently prosecute this action, as the Court’s Local Rule requires. See E.D. Tenn. LR83.13 (providing that a pro se party has a duty to notify the Clerk and the other parties to the proceedings of any change in his or her address within fourteen days, “to monitor the case, and to prosecute . . . the action diligently”). As to the second factor, Plaintiff’s failure to update his address with the Court has not prejudiced Defendant. But the Court notes that, like the Court, Defendant cannot communicate with Plaintiff about this case without his current address. As to the third factor, as the Court noted above, the Court warned Plaintiff that failure to timely update the Court regarding any address change may result in this action being dismissed [Doc. 4 at 1; Doc. 6 at 1; Doc. 9 at 1–2]. Finally, as to the fourth factor, the Court finds that alternative sanctions are not appropriate, as the Court cannot communicate with Plaintiff, Plaintiff failed to comply with the Court’s clear instructions, and it does not appear that he seeks to prosecute this action. On balance, the Court finds that these factors support dismissal of this action under Rule 41(b). The Court also notes that, “while pro se litigants may be entitled to some latitude when dealing with sophisticated legal issues, acknowledging their lack of formal training, there is no cause for extending this margin to straightforward procedural requirements that a layperson can comprehend as easily as a lawyer.” Jourdan v. Jabe, 951 F.2d 108, 109 (6th Cir. 1991). Nothing about Plaintiff’s pro se status prevented him from updating the Court as to his current address, and Plaintiff’s pro se status does not mitigate the balancing of factors under Rule 41(b). Accordingly, this action will be DISMISSED. The Court CERTIFIES that any appeal from this dismissal would not be taken in good faith. AN APPROPRIATE JUDGMENT ORDER WILL ENTER. SO ORDERED. /s/ Charles E. Atchley, Jr. c CHARLES E. ATCHLEY, JR. UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE