James Duncan v. Dallas County Jail

• Court: District Court, N.D. Texas
• Decided: October 20, 2025
• Docket: 3:25-cv-02395
• Status: Unknown

Opinion

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS DALLAS DIVISION

JAMES DUNCAN, § #25030294, § PLAINTIFF, § § V. § CIVIL CASE NO. 3:25-CV-2395-K-BK § DALLAS COUNTY JAIL, § DEFENDANT. §

FINDINGS, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATION OF THE UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(b) and Special Order 3, this pro se civil action was referred to the United States magistrate judge for case management, including the issuance of findings and a recommended disposition when appropriate. Upon review, this action should be DISMISSED WITHOUT PREJUDICE for failure to comply with a court order and for want of prosecution. On September 5, 2025, the Court issued a deficiency order advising Plaintiff that if he seeks to proceed with this lawsuit, he must file a complaint on the court-approved form and pay the $405.00 filing fee or file an application to proceed in forma pauperis. Doc. 6. See also N.D. Tex. Misc. Ord. 14 (requiring inmates to file civil rights complaints and motions to proceed in forma pauperis on the court-approved forms). The deadline for Plaintiff’s response was October 3, 2025. However, Plaintiff has not complied with the Court’s deficiency order, nor has he sought an extension of time to do so. Also, Plaintiff is no longer confined at the Dallas County Jail, and as of the filing of this recommendation, has not provided the Court his current address. Under Rule 41(b) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, the court may dismiss an action sua sponte for failure to prosecute or for failure to comply with the federal rules or any court order. Larson vy. Scott, 157 F.3d 1030, 1031 (5th Cir. 1998). “This authority flows from the court’s inherent power to control its docket and prevent undue delays in the disposition of pending cases.” Boudwin y. Graystone Ins. Co., Ltd., 756 F.2d 399, 401 (Sth Cir. 1985) (citing Link v. Wabash R.R. Co., 370 U.S. 626 (1962)). Here, Plaintiff has been given ample opportunity to respond to the Court’s deficiency order. He has impliedly refused or declined to do so. Therefore, this action should be DISMISSED WITHOUT PREJUDICE for failure to comply with a court order and for lack of prosecution. See FED. R. Civ. P. 41(b) (an involuntary dismissal “operates as an adjudication on the merits,” unless otherwise specified). SO RECOMMENDED on October 20, 2025. Lv 1

E HARRIS TOLIVER UNNEDSTATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

INSTRUCTIONS FOR SERVICE AND NOTICE OF RIGHT TO APPEAL/OBJECT A copy of this report and recommendation will be served on all parties in the manner provided by law. Any party who objects to any part of this report and recommendation must file specific written objections within 14 days after being served with a copy. See 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1); FED. R. Civ. P. 72(b). An objection must identify the finding or recommendation to which objection is made, the basis for the objection, and the place in the magistrate judge’s report and recommendation the disputed determination is found. An objection that merely incorporates by reference or refers to the briefing before the magistrate judge is not specific. Failure to file specific written objections will bar the aggrieved party from appealing the factual findings and legal conclusions of the magistrate judge that are accepted or adopted by the district court, except upon grounds of plain error. See Douglass v. United Servs. Auto. Ass’n, 79 F.3d 1415, 1417 (Sth Cir. 1996), modified by statute on other grounds, 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1) (extending the time to object to 14 days).