Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-ared-3_19-cv-00068/USCOURTS-ared-3_19-cv-00068-5/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 

EASTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS 

JONESBORO DIVISION 

JOSEPH COSSEY PLAINTIFF 

v. No: 3:19-cv-00068 KGB-PSH 

CRAIGHEAD COUNTY JAIL, et al. DEFENDANTS 

PROPOSED FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATION

INSTRUCTIONS

 The following Recommendation has been sent to United States District Judge Kristine G. 

Baker. You may file written objections to all or part of this Recommendation. If you do so, those 

objections must: (1) specifically explain the factual and/or legal basis for your objection; and (2) 

be received by the Clerk of this Court within fourteen (14) days of this Recommendation. By not 

objecting, you may waive the right to appeal questions of fact.

DISPOSITION

 Plaintiff Joseph Cossey filed a pro se complaint pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983 on March 

26, 2019 (Doc. No. 2).1 On June 17, 2019, Cossey filed a notice of change of address indicating 

that he had been transferred from the Craighead County Detention Center to the Fulton County 

jail.2

 Doc. No. 26. Mail sent to Cossey at his new address was returned as undeliverable, and the 

envelope was entered on the docket. Doc. No. 27. On July 3, 2019, the Court entered a text order 

                                                             1 In its initial order to Cossey, the Court notified him of his duty to promptly notify the Clerk and 

the parties of any change in his address. The Court also notified Cossey that if any communication from 

the Court to him is not responded to within 30 days, his case may be dismissed without prejudice. Doc. 

No. 3. 2 He also stated that he had been accepted to Jump Start Ministries in Walnut Ridge, 

Arkansas, indicating that he would be transferring there at some unknown future date. Doc. No. 

26. 

Case 3:19-cv-00068-KGB Document 37 Filed 08/28/19 Page 1 of 3
notifying Cossey that the mail could not be delivered to him because he was no longer at the 

address he provided. Doc. No. 28. Cossey was directed to provide notice of his current mailing 

address by no later than thirty days from the entry of the July 3, 2019 text order. He was warned 

that his failure to provide a current mailing address would cause the undersigned to recommend 

his complaint be dismissed. A printed version of the text order was sent to him at his last known 

address. The envelope containing the Court’s July 3 order could not be delivered to Cossey 

because he was no longer at the address he provided, and the envelopes were returned to the Clerk 

of the Court and entered on the docket. Doc. No. 29. Defendants then filed a motion to dismiss 

on July 16, 2019 (Doc. No. 30) because mail they sent Cossey was returned to them as 

undeliverable. 

 On August 8, 2019, the Court entered another text order directing Cossey to provide an 

updated address within 14 days. Doc. No. 33. The Court had the August 8 text order sent to 

Cossey at his address of record (the Fulton County jail) as well as to the alternative address he 

provided on his last change of address notice (Jump Start Ministries). Id. Mail sent to both 

addresses has now been returned as undeliverable. See Doc. Nos. 34-36. 

 More than 14 days have passed, and Cossey has not complied or otherwise responded to 

the August 8 order. Cossey failed to notify the Clerk and the other parties to the proceedings of a 

change in his address as required by Local Rule 5.5(c)(2). Accordingly, the Court finds that this 

action should be dismissed without prejudice for failure to comply with Local Rule 5.5(c)(2) and 

failure to respond to the Court’s orders. See Miller v. Benson, 51 F.3d 166, 168 (8th Cir. 1995) 

(District courts have inherent power to dismiss sua sponte a case for failure to prosecute, and 

exercise of that power is reviewed for abuse of discretion). 

Case 3:19-cv-00068-KGB Document 37 Filed 08/28/19 Page 2 of 3
 IT IS THEREFORE RECOMMENDED THAT Defendants’ motion to dismiss (Doc. No. 

30) be granted and that Cossey’s complaint (Doc. No. 2) be DISMISSED WITHOUT 

PREJUDICE. 

 DATED this 28th day of August, 2019. 

 

 UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

Case 3:19-cv-00068-KGB Document 37 Filed 08/28/19 Page 3 of 3