Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-ared-3_19-cv-00069/USCOURTS-ared-3_19-cv-00069-3/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

BILLIE JO COSSEY PLAINTIFF

v. No: 3:19-cv-00069 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 Billie Jo Cossey, a former inmate at the Craighead County Detention Facility,

filed a pro se complaint pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983 on March 26, 2019 (Doc. No. 1). In an 

initial order filed the following day, the Court notified Cossey of her duty to promptly notify the 

Clerk of any change in her address (Doc. No. 2). The Court also notified Cossey that if any 

communication from the Court to her is not responded to within 30 days, the case may be dismissed 

without prejudice. Id. Subsequently, the Court received information indicating that Cossey was 

no longer in the Craighead County Detention Facility. Therefore, on May 3, 2019, the Court 

entered a text order directing Cossey to provide notice of her current mailing address by no later 

Case 3:19-cv-00069-KGB Document 18 Filed 06/21/19 Page 1 of 2
than thirty days from the entry of that order (Doc. No. 12). She was warned that her failure to 

provide a current mailing address would cause the undersigned to recommend her complaint be 

dismissed. A printed version of the text order was sent to Cossey at her last known address, but 

could not be delivered because she was no longer at the address she provided (Doc. No. 15). Other 

mail sent to Cossey was also returned as undeliverable. See Doc. Nos. 14 & 16-17.

More than 30 days have passed, and Cossey has not complied or otherwise responded to 

the May 3 order. Cossey failed to notify the Clerk and the other parties to the proceedings of a 

change in her 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).

IT IS THEREFORE RECOMMENDED THAT Cossey’s complaint (Doc. No. 1) be 

DISMISSED WITHOUT PREJUDICE.

DATED this 21st day of June, 2019.

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

Case 3:19-cv-00069-KGB Document 18 Filed 06/21/19 Page 2 of 2