Texas Cases September 22, 2021: Castro v. The City of Grand Prairie

Case Description

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FINDINGS, CONCLUSIONS, AND RECOMMENDATION OF THE UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

DAVID L. HORAN, UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE.

Plaintiff John Anthony Castro, at the time a candidate in the May 1, 2021 special election in Texas's Sixth Congressional District, filed this pro se case in the Fort Worth Division of this district against the City of Grand Prairie and Ellis County and officials of these municipalities in their official capacities, asserting that the defendants violated his constitutional rights by unlawfully removing his campaign signs placed on private property without notice and an opportunity to be heard. See Dkt. No. 2. After Castro's case was transferred to this division, see Dkt. No. 4, United States District Judge Sam A. Lindsay referred it to the undersigned United States magistrate judge for screening and then for pretrial management, see Dkt. No. 12, under 28 U.S.C. § 636(b).

Judge Lindsay denied Castro's motion for a temporary restraining order. See Dkt. Nos. 1 & 7. But, because Castro neither paid the $402 filing fee nor moved for leave to proceed in forma pauperis , the Court notified him of this deficiency, see Dkt. No. 8. Castro then paid the filing fee.

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By paying the filing fee, Castro assumed the responsibility to properly serve each defendant with a summons and a complaint in accordance with Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 4. But Castro failed to show the Court that proper service was made (or waivers obtained) by the 90th day after his filing of this action (on April 16, 2021) that was not a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday, which was July 15, 2021. This deficiency subjects Castro's lawsuit to dismissal without prejudice unless he shows both (1) good cause for his failure to timely and properly effect service and (2) good cause for the Court to extend the time for service for an appropriate period. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 4(m).

The Court notified Castro of this deficiency on August 20, 2021, specifically that

Rule 4(m) authorizes a district court to, after providing notice, dismiss a case sua sponte without prejudice for a plaintiff's failure to effectuate service on a defendant within 90 days of filing the complaint. See, e.g., Davis v. Bank of Am., NA , No. 3:12-cv-1036-M-BF, 2012 WL 4795591 (N.D. Tex. Oct. 9, 2012); see also Drgac v. Treon , No. H-07-4283, 2008 WL 4746984, at *1 (S.D. Tex. Oct. 27, 2008) (“A pro se plaintiff is entitled to notice before a district court dismisses an action, sua sponte , for failure to timely serve the defendants under Rule 4(m).... [But, a] plaintiff's pro se status and ignorance of the law do not constitute cause for his failure to effect service in compliance with the rules.” (citing Lindsey v. United States R.R. Ret. Bd. , 101 F.3d 444, 446 (5th Cir. 1996); Kersh v. Derozier , 851 F.2d 1509, 1512 (5th Cir. 1988))).

Dkt. No. 13 at 2.

The Court ordered Castro to respond to the August 20 order by September 13, 2020 to establish “both (1) good cause for the failure to timely and properly effect service and (2) good cause for the Court to extend the time for service for an appropriate, specified period.” Id. at 2-3 (citing Fed.R.Civ.P. 4(m)). And the Court

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cautioned Castro that “[f]ailure to do so will result in a recommendation that this case be dismissed without prejudice.” Id. at 3 (citing Fed.R.Civ.P. 4(m); Fed.R.Civ.P. 41(b)).

It is now past the deadline set by the Court's order, and Castro has failed to obey the Court's order or otherwise contact the Court. The Court should therefore dismiss this lawsuit without prejudice under Rule 4(m).

Further, Rule 41(b) “authorizes the district court to dismiss an action sua sponte for failure to prosecute or comply with [a Federal Rule of Civil Procedure or] a court order.” Griggs v. S.G.E. Mgmt., L.L.C. , 905 F.3d 835, 844 (5th Cir. 2018) (citing McCullough v. Lynaugh , 835 F.2d 1126, 1127 (5th Cir. 1988) (per curiam)); accord Nottingham v. Warden, Bill Clements Unit , 837 F.3d 438, 440 (5th Cir. 2016) (failure to comply with a court order); Rosin v. Thaler , 450 Fed.Appx. 383, 383-84 (5th Cir. 2011) (per curiam) (failure to prosecute); see also Campbell v. Wilkinson , 988 F.3d 798, 800-01 (5th Cir. 2021) (holding that the text of Rule 41(b) does not extend to a failure to comply with a court's local rule insofar as that violation does not also qualify as a failure to prosecute (discussing Berry v. CIGNA/RSI-CIGNA , 975 F.2d 1188 (5th Cir. 1992))).

This authority “flows from the court's inherent power to control its docket and prevent undue delays in the disposition of pending cases.” Boudwin v. Graystone Ins. Co., Ltd. , 756 F.2d 399, 401 (5th Cir. 1985) (citing Link v. Wabash R.R. Co. , 370 U.S. 626 (1962)); see also Lopez v. Ark. Cnty. Indep. Sch. Dist. , 570 F.2d 541, 544 (5th Cir. 1978) (“Although [Rule 41(b)] is phrased in terms of dismissal on the motion of the

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defendant, it is clear that the power is inherent in the court and may be exercised sua sponte whenever necessary to ‘achieve the orderly and expeditious disposition of cases.'” (quoting Link , 370 U.S. at 631)); Campbell , 988 F.3d at 800 (“It is well established that Rule 41(b) permits dismissal not only on motion of the defendant, but also on the court's own motion.” (citing Morris v. Ocean Sys., Inc. , 730 F.2d 248, 251 (5th Cir. 1984) (citing, in turn, Link , 370 U.S. at 631))).

And the Court's authority under Rule 41(b) is not diluted by a party proceeding pro se , as “[t]he right of self-representation does not exempt a party from compliance with relevant rules of procedural and substantive law.” Wright v. LBA Hospitality , 754 Fed.Appx. 298, 300 (5th Cir. 2019) (per curiam) (quoting Hulsey v. Texas , 929 F.2d 168, 171 (5th Cir. 1991) (quoting, in turn, Birl v. Estelle , 660 F.2d 592, 593 (5th Cir. Nov. 1981))).

A Rule 41(b) dismissal may be with or without prejudice. See Long v. Simmons , 77 F.3d 878, 879-80 (5th Cir. 1996).

Although “[l]esser sanctions such as fines or dismissal without prejudice are usually appropriate before dismissing with prejudice, ... a Rule 41(b) dismissal is appropriate where there is ‘a clear record of delay or contumacious conduct by the plaintiff and when lesser sanctions would not serve the best interests of justice.'”

Nottingham , 837 F.3d at 441 (quoting Bryson v. United States , 553 F.3d 402, 403 (5th Cir. 2008) (per curiam) (in turn quoting Callip v. Harris Cnty. Child Welfare Dep't , 757 F.2d 1513, 1521 (5th Cir. 1985))); see also Long , 77 F.3d at 880 (a dismissal with prejudice is appropriate only if the failure to comply with the court order was the result of purposeful delay or contumacious conduct and the imposition of lesser sanctions would be futile); cf. Nottingham , 837 F.3d at 442 (noting that “lesser

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sanctions” may “‘include assessments of fines, costs, or damages against the plaintiff, conditional dismissal, dismissal without prejudice, and explicit warnings'” (quoting Thrasher v. City of Amarillo , 709 F.3d 509, 514 (5th Cir. 2013))).

“When a dismissal is without prejudice but ‘the applicable statute of limitations probably bars future litigation, '” that dismissal operates as - i.e., it is reviewed as - “a dismissal with prejudice.” Griggs , 905 F.3d at 844 (quoting Nottingham , 837 F.3d at 441); see, e.g., Wright , 754 Fed.Appx. at 300 (affirming dismissal under Rule 41(b) - potentially effectively with prejudice - where “[t]he district court had warned Wright of the consequences and ‘allowed [her] a second chance at obtaining service'” but she “disregarded that clear and reasonable order”).

By not complying with the August 20 order - in addition to leaving the impression that he no longer wishes to pursue his claims - Castro has prevented this action from proceeding and has thus failed to prosecute his lawsuit. A Rule 41(b) dismissal of this lawsuit without prejudice is also warranted under these circumstances. Because the undersigned concludes that lesser sanctions would be futile, as the Court is not required to delay the disposition of this case until such time as Castro decides to obey the Court's order or contact the Court, the Court should exercise its inherent power to prevent undue delays in the disposition of pending cases and also sua sponte dismiss this action without prejudice under Rule 41(b).

Recommendation

The Court should dismiss this action without prejudice under Federal Rules of Civil Procedure 4(m) and 41(b).

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A copy of these findings, conclusions, and recommendation shall be served on all parties in the manner provided by law. Any party who objects to any part of these findings, conclusions, and recommendation must file specific written objections within 14 days after being served with a copy. See 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1); Fed.R.Civ.P. 72(b). In order to be specific, an objection must identify the specific finding or recommendation to which objection is made, state the basis for the objection, and specify the place in the magistrate judge's findings, conclusions, and recommendation where the disputed determination is found. An objection that merely incorporates by reference or refers to the briefing before the magistrate judge is not specific. Failure to file specific written objections will bar the aggrieved party from appealing the factual findings and legal conclusions of the magistrate judge that are accepted or adopted by the district court, except upon grounds of plain error. See Douglass v. United Servs. Auto. Ass'n, 79 F.3d 1415, 1417 (5th Cir. 1996).