LIUBIMTSEVA

v.

THE SECRETARY OF THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT, AN AGENCY OF THE UNITED STATES

THIS CAUSE comes before the Court on a sua sponte review of the record. On April 1, 2025, Defendant Secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (“HUD”) filed a Motion to Dismiss pursuant to Rule 12(b)(1), 12(b)(5), and 12(b)(6) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure based on sovereign immunity, lack of jurisdiction over HUD, and failure to state a claim. [ECF No. 7]. According to Rule 7.1(c)(1) of the Local Rules for the Southern District of Florida, “each party opposing a motion shall file and serve an opposing memorandum of law no later than fourteen (14) days after service of the motion. Failure to do so may be deemed sufficient cause for granting the motion by default.”S.D. Fla. L.R. 7.1(c)(1). Plaintiffs' response in opposition to Defendant's Motion to Dismiss was due on April 15, 2025. To date, Plaintiffs have not filed any response, nor have they requested an extension to do so.

"A district court has the authority to sua sponte dismiss a case under either Rule 41(b) or the court's inherent power to manage its docket.” Arrington v. Hausman, No. 15-62326-CIV-GAYLES, 2016 WL 782416, at *1 (S.D. Fla. Feb. 17, 2016) (citing Betty K Agencies, Ltd. v. M/V MONADA, 432

F. 3d 1333, 1337 (11th Cir. 2005)). “More specifically, a district court may, in its discretion, dismiss an action for failure to comply with local rules, such as those mandating the time for response to motions." Id. (citing Wieckiewicz v. Educ. Credit Mgmt. Corp., 443 F. App'x 449, 450 (11th Cir. 2011) (per curiam)). “[A] dismissal with prejudice for failure to comply with local rules is a drastic sanction, [which] may be used only as a last resort when ‘(1) a party engages in a clear pattern of delay or willful contempt (contumacious conduct); and (2) the district court specifically finds that lesser sanctions would not suffice.” Rex v. Monaco Coach, 155 F. App’x 485, 486 (11th Cir. 2005) (per curiam) (quoting World Thrust Films, Inc. v. Int'l Family Entm't, Inc., 41 F. 3d 1454, 1456 (11th Cir. 1995)). However, “a district court is afforded far greater discretion in dismissing without prejudice, as a dismissal in this manner is not considered an adjudication on the merits[.]” Arrington, 2016 WL 782416, at *1 (citing Taylor v. Spaziano, 251 F. App’x 616, 619 (11th Cir. 2007) (per curiam)).

The Court notes that Plaintiffs are represented by counsel who should be aware of Local Rule 7.1(c)(1). Plaintiffs also have a separate case before this Court (represented by the same counsel) where they have failed to respond to Defendant's Motion to Dismiss. [See Liubimtseva et al v. The Secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Case No. 0:25-cv-60593-DSL, ECF No. 7]. Lastly, the Court also notes that in both cases the parties failed to file a Joint Scheduling Report on time, suggesting a pattern of missing deadlines and a lack of intent by Plaintiffs to prosecute these cases.

The Court therefore acts well within its discretion by dismissing this case without prejudice under its inherent power, pursuant to Rule 7.1(c)(1) of the Local Rules for the Southern District of Florida Local Rule, due to Plaintiffs failure to respond to the Defendant's Motion to Dismiss. Accordingly, it is hereby ORDERED AND ADJUDGED that the Defendant's Motion to Dismiss [ECF No. 7] is GRANTED. Plaintiffs' Complaint [ECF No. 1-1] is DISMISSED WITHOUT PREJUDICE AND WITHOUT LEAVE TO AMEND. The Clerk of Court is directed to CLOSE this case. Any pending motions are DENIED AS MOOT, and any pending deadlines are TERMINATED.

DONE AND ORDERED in the Southern District of Florida on April 22, 2025.

DAVID S. LEIBOWITZ

UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE cc: counsel of record