Jonathan Williams v. Venture Logistics

• Court: District Court, S.D. Indiana
• Decided: January 16, 2026
• Docket: 1:25-cv-00065
• Status: Unknown

Opinion

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF INDIANA INDIANAPOLIS DIVISION

JONATHAN WILLIAMS, ) ) Plaintiff, ) ) v. ) No. 1:25-cv-00065-JPH-MG ) VENTURE LOGISTICS, ) ) Defendant. )

ORDER ADOPTING ENTRY RECOMMENDING DISMISSAL AND DISMISSING CASE

Plaintiff Jonathan Williams brought this lawsuit against his former employer, Venture Logistics, under Title VII and the Americans with Disabilities Act, alleging that the Defendant subjected him to discrimination and retaliation based on his race and perceived disability. Dkt. 9 at 1–2. On November 10, 2025, the Magistrate Judge ordered Mr. Williams to show cause as to why he failed to appear for a telephonic status conference. Dkt. 31. The order warned Mr. Williams that a "[f]ailure to respond will result in an entry recommending dismissal of this action." Id. Mr. Williams did not respond to this show cause order, thus, on December 8, 2025, the Magistrate Judge entered an Entry Recommending Dismissal of plaintiff's case for his failure to prosecute. Dkt. 33. The Court has waited fourteen days, and Mr. Williams has not responded to that order. I. Discussion

"If the plaintiff fails to prosecute or to comply with these rules or a court order, a defendant may move to dismiss the action or any claim against it." Fed. R. Civ. P. 41(b). Unless stated otherwise, a dismissal under 41(b) "operates as an adjudication on the merits." Id. Further, "[i]t is well- established that district courts possess inherent authority to dismiss a case sua sponte for a plaintiff's failure to prosecute." GCIU Emp. Ret. Fund v. Chi. Trib. Co., 8 F.3d 1195, 1199 (7th Cir. 1993) (citing Link v. Wabash R.R. Co., 370 U.S. 626 (1962)). This includes the power to dismiss a case for "failure to comply with valid orders," repeated failure to meet deadlines, or other "contumacious conduct." Thomas v. Wardell, 951 F.3d 854, 862 (7th Cir. 2020); see, e.g., Garner v. Metro. Sch. Dist. of Pike Twp., Pub. Sch. Corp., No. 1:23-CV-01748-RLY-KMB, 2024 WL 4710156 (S.D. Ind. Nov. 7, 2024) (adopting magistrate judge's report and recommendation to dismiss the case with prejudice pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 41(b) in part because Plaintiff failed to

obey court orders, missed deadlines, and had not filed anything in months). Here, Mr. Williams has failed to prosecute this case in multiple ways. He failed to attend a telephonic status conference before the Magistrate Judge, dkt. 30, and did not comply with the Order to Show Cause explaining his failure to attend the conference, dkt. 31. Further, the Order to Show Cause warned Mr. Williams that if he failed to respond, the Magistrate would recommend dismissal, yet Mr. Williams did not respond to the Order or the Magistrate's Entry Recommending Dismissal, dkt. 33. Mr. Williams failed to prosecute this case and follow Court orders, despite being warned that such failures may result in dismissal of his case. Therefore, this case is DISMISSED WITH PREJUDICE. Fed. R. Civ. P. 41(b); Ball v. City of Chicago, 2 F.3d 752, 760 (7th Cir. 1993) ("Dismissal for failure to prosecute is, as provided in Fed. R. Civ. P. 41(b), with prejudice, and appellate review is highly deferential."). All pending motions are denied as moot. Final Judgment shall issue in a separate entry.

SO ORDERED. Date: 1/16/2026 ard Pat tambon James Patrick Hanlon United States District Judge Southern District of Indiana Distribution: JONATHAN WILLIAMS 28 East 16th Street Apt. 301 Indianapolis, IN 46202 All Electronically Registered Counsel.