Opinion ID: 3036297
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: The effectiveness of sanctions other than

Text: dismissal, which entails an analysis of alternative sanctions. The District Court found that alternative sanctions were not available in this case because “[w]hen a Plaintiff fails to prosecute his action, outside of dismissal of the action, the Court cannot envision a sanction that would be appropriate.” It further found that monetary sanctions, including fines, costs, or payment of attorneys’ fees were unavailable. We agree with the District Court’s conclusion. A District Court must consider the availability of sanctions alternative to dismissal. Poulis, 747 F.2d at 869. Where an attorney has caused the delay and noncompliance in the proceedings, we have noted that “[u]nder the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and the 1983 amendments, the district court is specifically authorized to impose on an attorney those expenses, including attorneys’ fees, caused by unjustified failure to comply with discovery orders or pretrial orders.” Id. 5 We note that, even assuming that Briscoe did not attend the pretrial conference on his own accord, it does not necessarily follow that his purpose was to delay the proceedings. 20 However, where a plaintiff is proceeding pro se, and moreover, is proceeding in forma pauperis, we have upheld the District Court’s conclusion that no alternative sanctions existed because monetary sanctions, including attorney’s fees, “would not be an effective alternative.” Emerson, 296 F.3d at 191. In the present case, Briscoe was proceeding pro se and in forma pauperis. Because he was proceeding pro se, he had no attorney upon whom the District Court could impose the expenses for failing to comply with the court’s orders as in Poulis. Moreover, both the fact that he was proceeding in forma pauperis and that he was currently incarcerated indicated that he would not be able to pay monetary sanctions. See Emerson, 296 F.3d at 191. Therefore, the District Court did not abuse its discretion in finding that there were no alternative sanctions available to it, and the record supported its finding.6