Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-arwd-1_23-cv-01058/USCOURTS-arwd-1_23-cv-01058-1/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 555
Nature of Suit: Prisoner - Prison Condition
Cause of Action: 42:1983 Prisoner Civil Rights

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

WESTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS

EL DORADO DIVISION

DALE EVAN MILEY PLAINTIFF

v. Case No. 1:23-cv-01058

LEROY MARTIN DEFENDANT

ORDER

Currently before the Court is Plaintiff’s failure to comply with orders of the Court and to 

prosecute this matter. Plaintiff, Dale Evan Miley, originally submitted this 42 U.S.C. § 1983 action 

pro se, on June 9, 2023, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas. 

ECF No. 2. The Eastern District transferred the case to this Court on June 14, 2023. ECF No. 4. 

On June 20, 2023, the Court entered an Order directing Plaintiff to file a completed

application to proceed in forma paupris (“IFP”), as he failed to do so with his Complaint. ECF 

No. 7. The Court directed Plaintiff to respond with the completed IFP Application or pay the full 

filing fee by July 11, 2023. Id. On June 20, 2023, the Court also entered an Order directing 

Plaintiff to file an amended complaint by July 11, 2023. ECF No. 8. These Orders were not 

returned as undeliverable mail. Plaintiff failed to respond to either Order. ECF Nos. 7, 8. 

On August 17, 2023, the Court entered an Order to Show Cause why Plaintiff failed to 

respond to the Court’s June 20, 2023 Orders. ECF No. 9. This Order to Show Cause was mailed 

to Plaintiff’s address of record at the Columbia County Detention Center and was not returned as 

undeliverable mail. To date, Plaintiff has not responded to the Court’s Orders or communicated 

with the Court in any way since the transfer of this case.

Although pro se pleadings are to be construed liberally, a pro se litigant is not excused 

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from complying with substantive and procedural law. Burgs v. Sissel, 745 F.2d 526, 528 (8th Cir. 

1984). The Local Rules state in pertinent part:

It is the duty of any party not represented by counsel to promptly notify the Clerk 

and the other parties to the proceedings of any change in his or her address, to 

monitor the progress of the case, and to prosecute or defend the action diligently.

. . . If any communication from the Court to a pro se plaintiff is not responded to 

within thirty (30) days, the case may be dismissed without prejudice. Any party 

proceeding pro se shall be expected to be familiar with and follow the Federal 

Rules of Civil Procedure.

Local Rule 5.5(c)(2). Additionally, the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure specifically contemplate 

dismissal of a case on the grounds that the plaintiff failed to prosecute or failed to comply with 

orders of the court. Fed. R. Civ. P. 41(b); Link v. Wabash R.R. Co., 370 U.S. 626, 630-31 (1962) 

(stating the district court possesses the power to dismiss sua sponte under Rule 41(b)). Pursuant 

to Rule 41(b), a district court has the power to dismiss an action based on “the plaintiff's failure to 

comply with any court order.” Brown v. Frey, 806 F.2d 801, 803-04 (8th Cir. 1986) (emphasis 

added).

Plaintiff has wholly failed to prosecute this case and comply with the Court’s Orders. 

Therefore, pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 41(b) and Local Rule 5.5(c)(2), the Court 

finds that this case should be dismissed. Accordingly, Plaintiff’s Complaint (ECF No. 2) is

DISMISSED WITHOUT PREJUDICE. 

IT IS SO ORDERED, this 16th day of October, 2023.

/s/ Susan O. Hickey 

Susan O. Hickey

Chief United States District Judge

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