Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-alsd-1_04-cv-00128/USCOURTS-alsd-1_04-cv-00128-4/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 340
Nature of Suit: Marine Personal Injury
Cause of Action: 28:1333 Marine-Exoneration from/or Limitation of Liability

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Allstate’s response was due on January 25, 2006. A full week later, Allstate has filed no

response.

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF ALABAMA

SOUTHERN DIVISION

IN THE COMPLAINT OF ARDEN A. )

JOHNSON, etc., )

 ) CIVIL ACTION 04-0128-WS-B

Petitioner. )

ORDER

The Federal Rules of Civil Procedure provide that “[t]he [final pretrial] conference shall

be attended by at least one of the attorneys who will conduct the trial for each of the parties.” 

Fed. R. Civ. P. 16(d). The Court’s standing order governing final pretrial conference specifies

that “[f]ailure ... to attend the Pretrial Conference may result in ... dismissal of the action for

failure to prosecute.” (Doc. 146, Attachment at 4). On January 5, 2006, the Court entered an

order rescheduling the final pretrial conference to January 19, 2006 at 10:00 a.m. (Doc. 183). 

Counsel for claimant Allstate Insurance Co. (“Allstate”), without notice, request or permission, 

failed to attend the conference. Accordingly, on January 20, 2006 the Court ordered Allstate to

show cause why its claims should not be dismissed with prejudice. (Doc. 198). Allstate

declined to do so.1

“If a party ... fails to obey a scheduling or pretrial order, or if no appearance is made on

behalf of a party at a ... pretrial conference,... the judge, upon motion or the judge’s own

initiative, may make such orders with regard thereto as are just, and among others any of the

orders provided in Rule 37(b)(2)(B), (C), (D).” Fed. R. Civ. P. 16(f). Pursuant to Rule

37(b)(2)(C), a court may enter an order “dismissing the action or proceeding or any part

thereof.” These provisions grant the Court the authority to dismiss the claim of a party that fails

to attend the pretrial conference, and they are the source of the standing order’s express warning. 

“[T]he decision to enter a default judgment [pursuant to Rule 37(b)(2)C)] ought to be the

last resort — ordered only if noncompliance is due to willful or bad faith disregard of court

orders.” Adolph Coors Co. v. Movement Against Racism and the Klan, 777 F.2d 1538, 1542

Case 1:04-cv-00128-WS-B Document 200 Filed 02/02/06 Page 1 of 2
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For the same reasons, Allstate’s conduct also justifies dismissal under Rule 41(b). See

Gratton v. Great American Communications, 178 F.3d 1373, 1374 (11th Cir. 1999); Morewitz v.

West of England Ship Owners Mutual Protection and Indemnity Association, 62 F.3d 1356, 1366

(11th Cir. 1995); Goforth v. Owens, 766 F.2d 1533, 1535 (11th Cir. 1985). 

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(11th Cir. 1985). Thus, the sanction should not issue “if less draconian but equally effective

sanctions were available.” Id. at 1543; accord Malautea v. Suzuki Motor Co., 987 F.2d 1536,

1542 (11th Cir. 1993). The Court’s order to show cause provided Allstate an opportunity to show

that its failure to attend the pretrial conference was not the result of willful or bad faith disregard

of the attendance requirement imposed by Rule 16(d) and the Court’s standing order. Instead,

Allstate ignored that order as well, confirming that it has elected to willfully disregard the

Court’s orders, and the Court is satisfied that no sanction short of dismissal would be effective.2

For the reasons set forth above, all claims of Allstate Insurance Company are dismissed

with prejudice.

 DONE and ORDERED this 2nd day of February, 2006.

s/ WILLIAM H. STEELE

UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

Case 1:04-cv-00128-WS-B Document 200 Filed 02/02/06 Page 2 of 2