Opinion
C/A No.: 5:20-cv-02269-TMC-KDW
04-06-2021
Daryl L. Quarles, Plaintiff, v. Major Smith, Lt. L. Lark, Sgt. Pressly, Sgt. Bachinski, and Officer Fallaw, Defendants.
REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION
Plaintiff, proceeding pro se and in forma pauperis, brought this action alleging violations of his constitutional rights pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. On February 2, 2021, Defendants filed a Motion for Summary Judgment. ECF No. 84. As Plaintiff is proceeding pro se, the court entered an order on February 5, 2021, pursuant to Roseboro v. Garrison, 528 F.2d 309 (4th Cir. 1975), advising Plaintiff of the importance of such motions and of the need for him to file an adequate response. ECF No. 94. Plaintiff was specifically advised that if he failed to respond adequately by 31 days from receipt of the Roseboro Order, Defendants' Motion may be granted, thereby ending Plaintiff's case. Id. Notwithstanding the specific warning and instructions set forth in the court's Roseboro order Plaintiff failed to respond to Defendants' Motion for Summary Judgment.
On March 11, 2021, the court ordered Plaintiff to advise the court whether he wished to continue with the case and to file a response to the Motion for Summary Judgment by April 1, 2021. ECF No. 103. Plaintiff filed no response. As such, it appears to the court that he does not oppose Defendants' Motion and wishes to abandon his action. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 41(b); Davis v. Williams, 588 F.2d 69, 70 (4th Cir. 1978) (noting that a court deciding whether to dismiss a case under Fed. R. Civ. P. 41(b) must balance the policy of deciding cases on their merits against "sound judicial administration." In so doing, the court must weigh: 1) plaintiff's responsibility for failure to prosecute, 2) prejudice to defendant from delay, 3) history of delay, and 4) effectiveness of lesser sanctions.); see also Ballard v. Carlson, 882 F.2d 93, 95-96 (4th Cir. 1989) (noting and applying Davis factors in dismissing case under Fed. R. Civ. P. 41(b)); Chandler Leasing Corp. v. Lopez, 669 F.2d 919, 920 (4th Cir. 1982) (same). Based upon the above, and taking into account the factors in Davis, Ballard, and Chandler, the undersigned recommends this action be dismissed with prejudice for failure to prosecute pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 41(b).
IT IS SO RECOMMENDED. April 6, 2021
Florence, South Carolina
/s/
Kaymani D. West
United States Magistrate Judge