IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 

FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF OHIO 

EASTERN DIVISION 

ERIC R. WESTERFIELD, 

 Case No. 2:17-cv-970 

 Petitioner, Judge Michael H. Watson 

 Magistrate Judge Elizabeth P. Deavers 

 v. 

WARDEN, CHILLICOTHE 

CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION, 

 Respondent. 

REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION 

 Petitioner, a state prisoner, brings this Petition for a writ of habeas corpus pursuant to 28 

U.S.C. § 2254. For the reasons that follow, the Undersigned RECOMMENDS that the Court 

DISMISS this action pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 41(b) for failure to prosecute. 

I. 

 On November 3, 2017, Petitioner filed this pro se § 2254 Petition challenging his 

November 30, 2007, conviction after a jury trial in the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas 

on rape. Petitioner indicates that he is serving a sentence of life incarceration. He asserts that he 

was denied the effective assistance of counsel, because his attorney advised him to reject the plea 

offer of three to six years (claim one); and that he was denied due process because the State 

suppressed evidence regarding prior allegations made by the alleged victim against her former 

boyfriend (claim two). However, Petitioner has neither submitted the $5.00 filing fee, nor has 

he submitted any request to proceed in forma pauperis. On November 6, 2017, the Court issued 

an Order directing Petitioner to submit the filing fee or a request to proceed in forma pauperis

within thirty days, advising him that the failure to do so would result in the dismissal of this case. 

(ECF No. 2.) To date, Petitioner has failed to do so. 
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II. 

 The Federal Rules of Civil Procedure may be used in habeas corpus “to the extent that 

they are not inconsistent with any statutory provisions or these rules. . . .” Rule 12, Rules 

Governing Section 2254 Proceedings. The Court’s inherent authority to dismiss a plaintiff’s 

action or particular claims within an action with prejudice because of his failure to prosecute is 

expressly recognized in Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 41(b), which provides in pertinent part: 

“If the plaintiff fails to prosecute or to comply with these rules or a court order, a defendant may 

move to dismiss the action or any claim against it. Unless the dismissal order states otherwise, a 

dismissal under this subdivision (b) . . . operates as an adjudication on the merits.” Fed. R. Civ. 

P. 41(b); Link v. Walbash R. Co., 370 U.S. 626, 629-31 (1962). “This measure is available to the 

district court as a tool to effect management of its docket and avoidance of unnecessary burdens 

on the tax-supported courts and opposing parties.” Knoll v. AT & T, 176 F.3d 359, 63 (6th Cir. 

1999). “Rule 41(b) recognizes the power of the district court to enter a sua sponte order of 

dismissal.” Steward v. City of Jackson, Tenn., 9 F. App’x 294, 296 (6th Cir. 2001) (citing Link, 

370 U.S. 626 at 630). 

 To date, Petitioner has failed to respond to the Court’s November 6, 2017, Order. 

Further, the Order cautioned Petitioner that, if he failed to comply, the Court would assume that 

he had decided not to pursue the case, and that he is not a pauper, and would assess the full 

amount of the filing fee and dismiss the case for want of prosecution. See Stough v. Mayville

Cmty. Schs., 138 F.3d 612, 615 (6th Cir. 1998) (noting that “[p]rior notice, or lack thereof, is . . . 

a key consideration” in whether dismissal under Rule 41(b) is appropriate); see also Steward v.

City of Jackson, 9 F. App’x 294, 296 (6th Cir. 2001). 
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 It is therefore RECOMMENDED that the Court DISMISS this action WITH 

PREJUDICE under Rule 41(b). 

Procedure on Objections 

If any party seeks review by the District Judge of this Report and Recommendation, that 

party may, within fourteen (14) days, file and serve on all parties objections to the Report and 

Recommendation, specifically designating this Report and Recommendation, and the part in 

question, as well as the basis for objection. 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1); Fed. R. Civ. P. 72(b). 

Response to objections must be filed within fourteen (14) days after being served with a copy. 

Fed. R. Civ. P. 72(b). 

The parties are specifically advised that failure to object to the Report and 

Recommendation will result in a waiver of the right to de novo review by the District Judge and 

waiver of the right to appeal the judgment of the District Court. See, e.g., Pfahler v. Nat’l Latex

Prod. Co., 517 F.3d 816, 829 (6th Cir. 2007) (holding that “failure to object to the magistrate 

judge’s recommendations constituted a waiver of [the defendant’s] ability to appeal the district 

court’s ruling”); United States v. Sullivan, 431 F.3d 976, 984 (6th Cir. 2005) (holding that 

defendant waived appeal of district court’s denial of pretrial motion by failing to timely object to 

magistrate judge’s report and recommendation). Even when timely objections are filed, 

appellate review of issues not raised in those objections is waived. Robert v. Tesson, 507 F.3d 

981, 994 (6th Cir. 2007) (“[A] general objection to a magistrate judge’s report, which fails to 

specify the issues of contention, does not suffice to preserve an issue for appeal . . . .”) (citation 

omitted)). 

 _s/Elizabeth A. Preston Deavers

 Elizabeth A. Preston Deavers 

 United States Magistrate Judge