WHITEHEAD
v.
VERIFACTS, LLC
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The court held that a plaintiff's claims will be dismissed without prejudice for failure to timely serve a defendant and failure to respond to a court order directing the plaintiff to show cause for that failure.
Plaintiff failed to serve Defendant CenterPoint Legal Solutions, LLC within the time allowed by Fed. R. Civ. P. 4(m). The Court ordered Plaintiff to s…
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This matter is before the Court sua sponte. On March 8, 2022, the Court issued an order directing Plaintiff to show cause why the claims against CenterPoint Legal Solutions, LLC, should not be dismissed without prejudice due to Plaintiff’s failure to serve this Defendant within the 90 days allowed by Fed. R. Civ. P. 4(m). Doc. 43. Plaintiff was directed to file a written response within seven days. Id. at 2. The Court cautioned that failure to respond to the Court’s Order regarding service on this Defendant would result in dismissal of the action, without prejudice, as to CenterPoint Legal “without further notice from the Court.” Id. Plaintiff did not respond to the Court’s Order regarding CenterPoint Legal and did not seek an extension of time to serve this Defendant or respond to the Court’s Order. DISCUSSION A district court may dismiss a plaintiff’s claims pursuant to Rule 41(b) or the court’s inherent authority to manage its docket. Betty K Agencies, Ltd. v. M/V MONADA, 432 F. 3d 1333, 1337 (11th Cir. 2005). Under Rule 41(b), “[i]f the plaintiff fails to prosecute or to comply with these rules or a court order, a defendant may move to dismiss this action or any claim against it.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 41(b). The Eleventh Circuit has recognized that a district court may dismiss an action sua sponte for the plaintiff’s failure to prosecute his case or obey a court order under Rule 41(b). Betty K Agencies, Ltd., 432 F. 3d at 1337. Because Plaintiff has failed to timely serve Defendant CenterPoint Legal Solutions, LLC pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 4(m) and failed to respond to the Court’s order regarding the lack of service on this Defendant, Plaintiff’s claims against CenterPoint Legal will be dismissed without prejudice.
Accordingly, it is hereby ORDERED: 1. Plaintiff’s claims against CenterPoint Legal Solutions, LLC are DISMISSED, without prejudice 2. There being no claims remaining,1 the Clerk of Court is directed to terminate all motions and deadlines and CLOSE this case.
Chakene Charts Mo TL ol yell Charlene Edwards Honeywell United States District Judge
Copies furnished to: Counsel of Record Unrepresented Parties, if any