Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-arwd-5_24-cv-05075/USCOURTS-arwd-5_24-cv-05075-3/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 550
Nature of Suit: Prisoner - Civil Rights (U.S. defendant)
Cause of Action: 42:1983 Prisoner Civil Rights

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

WESTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS

FAYETTEVILLE DIVISION

JONATHAN WAYNE RALSTON PLAINTIFF

V. CASE NO. 5:24-CV-5075

PATROL OFFICER REX DEFENDANT

ORDER

Comes on for consideration the Report and Recommendation (“R&R”) (Doc. 23)

filed in this case on January 6, 2025, by the Honorable Mark E. Ford, United States 

Magistrate Judge for the Western District of Arkansas. Plaintiff was ordered to respond 

to Defendant’s Motion for Judgment on the Pleadings on October 28, 2024. He failed to

do so. On November 25, 2024, the Court issued a show cause order directing Plaintiff to 

respond. Again, Plaintiff ignored the Court’s order. Now, nearly two months later, Judge 

Ford recommends that Plaintiff’s case be dismissed for failure to prosecute and failure to 

obey Court orders.

On January 17, 2025, Plaintiff filed an Objection (Doc. 24) to the R&R. In it, he 

apologizes for not responding to the Court’s orders and acknowledges that he understood 

he was obligated to respond but did not do so because he “did not understand . . . what 

[wa]s being asked of [him].” Id.

A de novo review of the docket makes clear that the Plaintiff is literate and was 

able to successfully assert a claim against Defendant that survived preservice screening. 

See Doc. 1. The Court appreciates that Plaintiff is unschooled in the law; nevertheless, a

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pro se litigant is expected to obey Court orders and litigate his case to the best of his 

ability. He cannot simply refuse to litigate. 

In considering the record before it, the Court is not persuaded that Plaintiff made 

an effort to prosecute his case or obey Court orders. IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that 

the R&R is ADOPTED IN ITS ENTIRETY, and the case is DISMISSED WITHOUT

PREJUDICE.

IT IS SO ORDERED on this 21st day of January, 2025.

/s/ Timothy L. Brooks 

TIMOTHY L. BROOKS

UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

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