Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-ared-2_24-cv-00054/USCOURTS-ared-2_24-cv-00054-0/pdf.json

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

---

1 

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 

EASTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS 

DELTA DIVISION 

MORRIS B. KOONTZ 

ADC #115260 PLAINTIFF 

v. 2:24-cv-00054-DPM-JJV 

DEXTER PAYNE, Director, ADC; et al. DEFENDANTS

RECOMMENDED DISPOSITION 

 The following Recommended Disposition (“Recommendation”) has been sent to United 

States District Judge D. P. Marshall Jr. Any party may serve and file written objections to this 

Recommendation. Objections should be specific and include the factual or legal basis for the 

objection. If the objection is to a factual finding, specifically identify that finding and the 

evidence that supports your objection. Your objections must be received in the office of the 

United States District Court Clerk no later than fourteen (14) days from the date of this 

Recommendation. Failure to file timely objections may result in a waiver of the right to appeal 

questions of fact. 

I. DISCUSSION 

Morris B. Koontz (“Plaintiff”) has filed a pro se Complaint seeking relief pursuant to 42 

U.S.C. § 1983. (Doc. 1.) On April 1, 2024, I entered an Order directing him to either pay the 

filing fee in full or file an Application to Proceed In Forma Pauperis (“IFP Application”). (Doc. 

2.) I provided the necessary forms and cautioned Plaintiff I would recommend this case be 

dismissed without prejudice if he did not do so within thirty (30) days. (Id.) 

On May 6, 2024, Plaintiff sent the Clerk a letter saying he was paying the filing fee for this 

case. (Doc. 3.) But no payment was included in the envelope. The time to comply with my 

April 1, 2024 Order has expired, and Plaintiff has not done so. Accordingly, I recommend this 

Case 2:24-cv-00054-DPM-JJV Document 4 Filed 05/08/24 Page 1 of 2
2 

case be dismissed without prejudice due to a lack of prosecution. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 41(b); Local 

Rule 5.5(c)(2). If Plaintiff wishes to prevent the dismissal of this lawsuit, he must file an 

Objection to this Recommendation and either pay the $405 filing fee in full or file an IFP 

Application within fourteen days of the entry of this Order. 

II. CONCLUSION 

IT IS, THEREFORE, RECOMMENDED that: 

1. The Complaint (Doc. 1) be DISMISSED without prejudice due to a lack of 

prosecution, and this case be CLOSED. 

2. The Court certify, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a)(3), that an in forma pauperis 

appeal from an Order adopting this Recommendation and the accompanying Judgment would not 

be taken in good faith. 

 DATED this 8th day of May 2024. 

______________________________________ 

JOE J. VOLPE 

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE 

Case 2:24-cv-00054-DPM-JJV Document 4 Filed 05/08/24 Page 2 of 2