Opinion
7:07-CV-0089 [TJM] [GJD].
September 26, 2007
DECISION AND ORDER
I. Background
This action was transferred to this District from the Western District of Arkansas on January 24, 2007.
On February 8, 2007, this Court issued an Order which directed Plaintiff to either effect service on the defendants and file proof of service with the Court or submit a summons and USM 285 form for the U.S. Marshals Service to serve defendants. Dkt. No. 9. Plaintiff failed to comply with the February Order, so on April 11, 2007 Magistrate Judge Gustave J. DiBianco issued an order that gave Plaintiff sixty (60) days to complete and return the necessary paperwork to effect service on the defendants. Plaintiff was also advised of his obligation to promptly notify the Clerk's Office and all parties of any change in his address. Dkt. No. 10. On June 1, 2007 the Clerk's Office received a letter from Plaintiff indicating that his address had changed and requesting the status of his action. Dkt. No. 12. In response to his letter the Clerk sent Plaintiff a courtesy copy of the docket sheet, the Court's two (2) previous Orders and a copy of the Pro Se Handbook. Thereafter, on June 19, 2007, Magistrate Judge DiBianco issued an Order, granting Plaintiff an extension of time until July 30, 2007 to submit the necessary paperwork for the U.S. Marshals Service to effect service of process on the defendants. Dkt. No. 13. On July 16, 2007, the Pro Se Handbook and copies that were sent to Plaintiff on June 1, 1007 were returned to the Court as undeliverable. Dkt. No. 14. Furthermore, on September 17, 2007, Magistrate Judge DiBianco's June 19, 2007 Order was also returned as undeliverable. Dkt. No. 15.
II. Discussion
Rule 41(b) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure provides that a court may, in its discretion, dismiss an action based upon the failure of a Plaintiff to prosecute an action or comply with any order of the court. Link v. Wabash Railroad County Independent School District, 370 U.S. 626 (1962). This power to dismiss may be exercised when necessary to achieve orderly and expeditious disposition of cases. See Freeman v. Lundrigan, No. 95-CV-1190, 1996 WL 481534, *1 (N.D.N.Y. Aug. 22, 1996) (Pooler, J.) (citing Rodriguez v. Walsh, No. 92-Civ-3398, 1994 WL 9688, *1 (S.D.N.Y. Jan. 14, 1994) (other citations omitted)).
Moreover, a Plaintiff has the duty to inform the court of any address changes. As then-District Judge Pooler has stated:
It is neither feasible nor legally required that the clerks of the district courts undertake independently to maintain current addresses on all parties to pending actions. It is incumbent upon litigants to inform the clerk of address changes, for it is manifest that communications between the clerk and the parties or their counsel will be conducted principally by mail. In addition to keeping the clerk informed of any change of address, parties are obliged to make timely status inquiries. Address changes normally would be reflected by those inquiries if made in writing.Dansby v. Albany Cty. Corr. Facility, No. 95-CV-1525, 1996 WL 172699, *1 (N.D.N.Y Apr. 10, 1996) (quoting Perkins v. King, No. 84-3310, slip op. at 4 (5th Cir. May 19, 1985) (other citations omitted)); see generally Rule 41.2(b) of the Local Rules of Practice for the Northern District of New York.
Additionally, Plaintiff was previously advised by the Court that he was required to promptly notify the Clerk's Office of any change in his address, and that his failure to keep such office apprised of his current address would result in the dismissal of the instant action. Dkt. No. 10 at 4; Dkt. No. 13 at 4.
This matter cannot proceed without notification to the Court by the Plaintiff of his current address. Since Plaintiff has failed to inform the Court of same, it is hereby
ORDERED, that this action is dismissed, unless Plaintiff notifies the Court within thirty (30) days of his current address. See Local Rule 41.2(b) (dismissal of action appropriate where plaintiff fails to notify Court of change of address), and it is further
ORDERED, that the Clerk serve a copy of this Order on the Plaintiff hereto, by regular mail.
IT IS SO ORDERED.