Case Name: Aalon SMITH, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. David ROBINSON, Warden of N.C.C.; T. Johnson, Correctional Officer; J. Marshall, Lieutenant Supervisor, Defendants-Appellees
Court: United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 2004-03-03
Citations: 88 F. App'x 666
Docket Number: No. 03-7751
Parties: Aalon SMITH, Plaintiff—Appellant, v. David ROBINSON, Warden of N.C.C.; T. Johnson, Correctional Officer; J. Marshall, Lieutenant Supervisor, Defendants—Appellees.
Judges: Before WILKINSON, MOTZ, and GREGORY, Circuit Judges.
Reporter: West's Federal Appendix
Volume: 88
Pages: 666–666

Head Matter:
Aalon SMITH, Plaintiff—Appellant, v. David ROBINSON, Warden of N.C.C.; T. Johnson, Correctional Officer; J. Marshall, Lieutenant Supervisor, Defendants—Appellees.
No. 03-7751.
United States Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit.
Submitted Jan. 30, 2004.
Decided March 3, 2004.
Aalon Smith, Appellant pro se.
Before WILKINSON, MOTZ, and GREGORY, Circuit Judges.
Dismissed by unpublished PER CURIAM opinion.
Unpublished opinions are not binding precedent in this circuit. See Local Rule 36(c).

Opinion:
PER CURIAM.
Aalon Smith appeals the district court's order dismissing without prejudice his 42 U.S.C. § 1983 (2000) action. The district court dismissed the complaint pursuant to Fed.R.Civ.P. 41(b) for failure to immediately notify the court of his change in address. Because of that failure, correspondence from the court addressed to Smith was returned as undeliverable.
The district court's dismissal without prejudice is not appealable. See Domino Sugar Corp. v. Sugar Workers Local Union 392, 10 F.3d 1064, 1066-67 (4th Cir.1993). A dismissal without prejudice is a final order only if " 'no amendment [in the complaint] could cure the defects in the plaintiffs case.' " Id. at 1067 (quoting Coniston Corp. v. Village of Hoffman Estates, 844 F.2d 461, 463 (7th Cir.1988)). In ascertaining whether a dismissal without prejudice is reviewable in this court, we must determine "whether the plaintiff could save his action by merely amending his complaint." Domino Sugar, 10 F.3d at 1066-67. In this case, Smith may move in the district court to reopen his case and to file a signed complaint giving his present address. Therefore, the dismissal order is not appealable.
Accordingly, we dismiss the appeal for lack of jurisdiction. We dispense with oral argument because the facts and legal contentions are adequately presented in the materials before the court and argument would not aid the decisional process.
DISMISSED