2007 Decisions

Opinions of the United

States Court of Appeals

for the Third Circuit

8-1-2007

Azubuko v. Bell Natl Org

Precedential or Non-Precedential: Non-Precedential

Docket No. 07-1687

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Recommended Citation

"Azubuko v. Bell Natl Org" (2007). 2007 Decisions. Paper 639.

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DLD-305 NOT PRECEDENTIAL

UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS

FOR THE THIRD CIRCUIT

________________

NO. 07-1687

________________

CHUKWUMA E. AZUBUKO,

 Appellant

 v.

BELL NATIONAL ORGANIZATION;

JAQUELINE SEDGERICK, IN INDIVIDUAL AND OFFICIAL CAPACITY;

MAURICE NOBLES, IN INDIVIDUAL AND OFFICIAL CAPACITY

____________________________________

On Appeal From the United States District Court

For the District of New Jersey

(D.C. Civ. No. 05-cv-05647)

District Judge: Honorable Robert B. Kugler

____________________________________

Submitted For Possible Dismissal Under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B)

or Summary Action Under Third Circuit LAR 27.4 and I.O.P. 10.6

July 19, 2007

BEFORE: BARRY, AMBRO and FISHER, CIRCUIT JUDGES.

(Filed: August 1, 2007 )

_______________________

OPINION

_______________________

PER CURIAM
2

This is an appeal from the District Court’s dismissal of Chukwuma Azubuko’s

complaint. For the following reasons, we will dismiss this appeal. See 28 U.S.C.

§ 1915(e)(2)(B)(i).

On December 1, 2005, Azubuko initiated this action by filing a complaint. On

January 10, the District Court issued an order finding the complaint deficient, inter alia,

for failure to comply with Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 8(a). The court directed

Azubuko to file an amended complaint by January 24 or the matter would be dismissed. 

On January 18, Azubuko filed a motion for reconsideration of the court’s order; he failed,

however, to file an amended complaint. On February 9, well after the imposed deadline,

the court dismissed the complaint. Azubuko filed a motion for reconsideration which the

court denied on July 5, 2006. On January 8, 2007, Azubuko filed a motion to reopen his

case under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 60(b). On February 13, the District Court

denied the motion. Azubuko filed a timely notice of appeal from that order.

We review the denial of a Rule 60(b) motion for an abuse of discretion. See

Coltec Indus. v. Hobgood, 280 F.3d 262, 269 (3d Cir. 2002). Rule 60(b) “provides for

extraordinary relief and may only be invoked upon a showing of exceptional

circumstances.” Mayberry v. Maroney, 529 F.2d 332, 335 (3d Cir. 1976). The District

Court’s dismissal of Azubuko’s suit was entirely appropriate. A district court has the

authority to dismiss a suit sua sponte for failure to prosecute by virtue of its inherent

powers and under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 41(b). See Link v. Wabash R.R. Co.,
3

370 U.S. 626, 630-31 (1962). Such a dismissal is deemed to be an adjudication on the

merits, barring any further action between the parties. See Landon v. Hunt, 977 F.2d 829,

833 (3d Cir. 1992). Ordinarily a district court is required to consider and balance six

factors enumerated in Poulis v. State Farm Fire & Casualty Co., 747 F.2d 863 (3d Cir.

1984), when deciding, sua sponte, to use dismissal as a sanction. When a litigant’s

conduct makes adjudication of the case impossible, however, such balancing under Poulis

is unnecessary. See Guyer v. Beard, 907 F.2d 1424, 1429-30 (3d Cir. 1990); see also

Spain v. Gallegos, 26 F.3d 439, 454-55 (3d Cir. 1994). We find that this is such a case, as

Azubuko’s initial filing provided no basis for the district court to proceed with his case

nor for an opposing party to respond to his allegations. Azubuko then failed to comply

with an explicit order to make his allegations plain by filing an amended complaint. Such

facts warranted the sanction of the District Court’s dismissal.

In sum, because Azubuko’s appeal lacks arguable legal merit, we will dismiss it

pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B)(i).