Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-ca10-07-01450/USCOURTS-ca10-07-01450-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 555
Nature of Suit: Prisoner - Prison Condition
Cause of Action: 

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*

After examining the briefs and appellate record, this panel has determined

unanimously that oral argument would not materially assist the determination of

this appeal. See Fed. R. App. P. 34(a)(2); 10th Cir. R. 34.1(G). The case is

therefore ordered submitted without oral argument. This order and judgment is

not binding precedent except under the doctrines of law of the case, res judicata,

and collateral estoppel. It may be cited, however, for its persuasive value

consistent with Fed. R. App. P. 32.1 and 10th Cir. R. 32.1. 

FILED

United States Court of Appeals

Tenth Circuit

February 12, 2008

Elisabeth A. Shumaker

Clerk of Court

UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS

TENTH CIRCUIT

DON ALTON HARPER,

Plaintiff - Appellant, No. 07-1450

v. (D. Colorado)

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA;

F.C.I. (Englewood’s Health Admin.);

BUREAU OF PRISONS, (actually

named as Bureau of Prisons); MARK

IPPOLITO, Health Service Admin.,

Defendants - Appellees.

(D.C. No. 1:07-cv-01678-ZLW)

ORDER AND JUDGMENT*

Before LUCERO, HARTZ, and GORSUCH, Circuit Judges.

On July 30, 2007, Don Alton Harper, a federal prisoner, filed in the United

States District Court for the District of Colorado a pro se complaint under the

Federal Torts Claims Act, along with a motion and affidavit for leave to proceed

in forma pauperis under 28 U.S.C. § 1915. On August 27, 2007, a magistrate

Appellate Case: 07-1450 Document: 0101127589 Date Filed: 02/12/2008 Page: 1 
-2-

judge granted his motion to proceed under § 1915 and directed him to pay an

initial $21.00 partial filing fee within 30 days of the order or to show cause why

he was unable to pay the fee. The order warned Mr. Harper that failure to pay the

fee, or to show cause why he could not, would result in the dismissal of his

complaint. On October 4, 2007, 38 days after the order, the district court filed an

order dismissing Mr. Harper’s complaint without prejudice for failure to comply

with the prior order. Mr. Harper appeals.

Under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 41(b), a district court may dismiss

an action for failure to comply with a court order. We review such a dismissal for

abuse of discretion. See Nasious v. Two Unknown B.I.C.E. Agents, 492 F.3d

1158, 1161 (10th Cir. 2007). If the dismissal is without prejudice, the court need

not follow “any particular procedures.” Id. at 1162. 

The record shows no abuse of discretion. The magistrate judge ordered

Mr. Harper to make a partial payment within 30 days, or show cause why he

could not, and Mr. Harper failed to comply. The order clearly informed him that

if he failed to comply with the order, his “Prisoner Complaint will be dismissed

without further notice.” R. Doc. 9 at 2 (emphasis added). The district court did

not dismiss the complaint until more than 30 days had passed. Mr. Harper does

not argue on appeal that he was not informed of the possibility of dismissal or

that he could not respond to the magistrate judge’s order. Indeed, he provides no

reason whatever for his failure to comply. 

Appellate Case: 07-1450 Document: 0101127589 Date Filed: 02/12/2008 Page: 2 
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We AFFIRM the district court’s dismissal of the complaint. Because the

appeal is frivolous, we deny the motion to proceed in forma pauperis on appeal.

ENTERED FOR THE COURT

Harris L Hartz

Circuit Judge

Appellate Case: 07-1450 Document: 0101127589 Date Filed: 02/12/2008 Page: 3