Kenrance T. Roach v. Ware County Sheriff

• Court: District Court, S.D. Georgia
• Decided: September 24, 2025
• Docket: 5:25-cv-00035
• Status: Unknown

Opinion

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF GEORGIA WAYCROSS DIVISION

KENRANCE T. ROACH,

Petitioner, CIVIL ACTION NO.: 5:25-cv-35

v.

WARE COUNTY SHERIFF,

Respondent.

REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION Respondent filed a Motion to Dismiss, and I directed Petitioner Kenrance Roach (“Roach”) to show cause why the Court should not grant the Motion to Dismiss on or before August 8, 2025. Docs. 8, 9. Roach has not responded to the Motion to Dismiss or this Court’s show cause Order, and the times to do so have elapsed. As discussed below in more detail, I RECOMMEND the Court GRANT as unopposed Respondent’s Motion to Dismiss, DISMISS without prejudice Roach’s 28 U.S.C. § 2241 Amended Petition, doc. 6, for failure to follow this Court’s Order and Local Rules, DIRECT the Clerk of Court to CLOSE this case and enter the appropriate judgment of dismissal, and DENY Roach leave to appeal in forma pauperis. BACKGROUND On April 14, 2025, Roach brought his § 2241 Petition and asserts he was arrested on a firearms charge that no longer exists. Docs. 1, 6. After I ordered service of Roach’s Petition, Respondent filed this Motion to Dismiss. Docs. 4, 8. Respondent states Roach has not brought a habeas petition, as he seeks monetary damages. Doc. 8 at 1. Respondent also states that Roach’s current detention in Ware County Jail does not stem from the probation revocation he complains about in his Amended Petition. Id. When Roach failed to respond to the Motion to Dismiss within 14 days of service, doc. 8 at 9, the Court ordered Roach to show cause why the Court should not grant the Motion to

Dismiss as unopposed and dismiss Roach’s Petition based on his failure to follow this Court’s Orders and Local Rules. Doc. 9. The Court informed Roach he could show cause by either responding to the Motion or by informing the Court he does not oppose the Motion. Roach’s response was due on or before August 8, 2025. Id. There is nothing before the Court indicating this Order was returned to the Court or otherwise failed to reach Roach. Roach has not responded to the Motion to Dismiss or this Court’s Order, and the times to do so have elapsed. DISCUSSION The Court must now determine how to address Roach’s failure to comply with this Court’s Order and Local Rules. For the reasons set forth below, I RECOMMEND the Court DISMISS without prejudice Roach’s Petition and DENY Roach leave to appeal in forma

pauperis. I. Dismissal for Failure to Follow This Court’s Order and Local Rules A district court may dismiss a petitioner’s claims for failure to prosecute pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 41(b) and the court’s inherent authority to manage its docket. Link v. Wabash R.R. Co., 370 U.S. 626 (1962);1 Coleman v. St. Lucie Cnty. Jail, 433 F. App’x 716, 718 (11th Cir. 2011) (citing Fed. R. Civ. P. 41(b) and Betty K Agencies, Ltd. v. M/V

1 In Wabash, the Court held a trial court may dismiss an action for failure to prosecute “even without affording notice of its intention to do so.” 370 U.S. at 633. However, in this case, Roach was forewarned of the consequences of failing to respond to Respondent’s Motion to Dismiss or this Court’s Order. Doc. 9; see also Local R. 7.5 (“Failure to respond within the applicable time period shall indicate . . . there is no opposition to a motion.”). MONADA, 432 F.3d 1333, 1337 (11th Cir. 2005)). In particular, Rule 41(b) allows for the involuntary dismissal of a petitioner’s claims where he has failed to prosecute those claims, comply with the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure or local rules, or follow a court order. Fed. R. Civ. P. 41(b); see also Coleman, 433 F. App’x at 718; Sanders v. Barrett, No. 05-12660, 2005

WL 2640979, at *1 (11th Cir. Oct. 17, 2005) (citing Kilgo v. Ricks, 983 F.2d 189, 192 (11th Cir. 1993)); cf. Local R. 41.1(b) (“[T]he assigned Judge may, after notice to counsel of record, sua sponte . . . dismiss any action for want of prosecution, with or without prejudice[,] . . . [based on] willful disobedience or neglect of any order of the Court.” (emphasis omitted)). Additionally, a district court’s “power to dismiss is an inherent aspect of its authority to enforce its orders and ensure prompt disposition of lawsuits.” Brown v. Tallahassee Police Dep’t, 205 F. App’x 802, 802 (11th Cir. 2006) (quoting Jones v. Graham, 709 F.2d 1457, 1458 (11th Cir. 1983)). It is true dismissal with prejudice for failure to prosecute is a “sanction . . . to be utilized only in extreme situations” and requires a court to “(1) conclud[e] a clear record of delay or willful contempt exists; and (2) mak[e] an implicit or explicit finding that lesser sanctions would

not suffice.” Thomas v. Montgomery Cnty. Bd. of Educ., 170 F. App’x 623, 625–26 (11th Cir. 2006) (quoting Morewitz v. West of Eng. Ship Owners Mut. Prot. & Indem. Ass’n (Lux.), 62 F.3d 1356, 1366 (11th Cir. 1995)); see also Taylor v. Spaziano, 251 F. App’x 616, 619 (11th Cir. 2007) (citing Morewitz, 62 F.3d at 1366). By contrast, dismissal without prejudice for failure to prosecute is not an adjudication on the merits and, therefore, courts are afforded greater discretion in dismissing claims in this manner. Taylor, 251 F. App’x at 619; see also Coleman, 433 F. App’x at 719; Brown, 205 F. App’x at 802–03. While the Court exercises its discretion to dismiss cases with caution, dismissal of this action without prejudice is warranted. See Coleman, 433 F. App’x at 719 (upholding dismissal without prejudice for failure to prosecute, where plaintiff did not respond to court order to supply defendant’s current address for purpose of service); Brown, 205 F. App’x at 802–03 (upholding dismissal without prejudice for failure to prosecute, where plaintiff failed to follow court order to file amended complaint and court had informed plaintiff non-compliance could lead to

dismissal). Roach failed to follow this Court’s Order and Local Rules, despite having ample opportunity to do so and being forewarned of the consequences of his failure to do so. Doc. 9; Local R. 7.5. Thus, the Court should GRANT as unopposed Respondent’s Motion to Dismiss and DISMISS without prejudice Roach’s § 2241 Amended Petition. Docs. 6, 8. II. Leave to Appeal in Forma Pauperis The Court should also deny Roach leave to appeal in forma pauperis. Though Roach has not yet filed a notice of appeal, it would be appropriate to address that issue in the Court’s order of dismissal. See Fed. R. App. P. 24(a)(3) (noting trial court may certify appeal is not taken in good faith “before or after the notice of appeal is filed”).

An appeal cannot be taken in forma pauperis if the trial court certifies, either before or after the notice of appeal is filed, the appeal is not taken in good faith. 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a)(3); Fed. R. App. P. 24(a)(3). Good faith in this context must be judged by an objective standard. Busch v. County of Volusia, 189 F.R.D. 687, 691 (M.D. Fla. 1999). A party does not proceed in good faith when he seeks to advance a frivolous claim or argument. See Coppedge v. United States, 369 U.S. 438, 445 (1962). A claim or argument is frivolous when it appears the factual allegations are clearly baseless or the legal theories are indisputably meritless. Neitzke v. Williams, 490 U.S. 319, 327 (1989); Carroll v. Gross, 984 F.2d 392, 393 (11th Cir. 1993). Thus, a claim is frivolous and not brought in good faith if it is “without arguable merit either in law or fact.” Moore v. Bargstedt, 203 F. App’x 321, 323 (11th Cir. 2006) (quoting Bilal v. Driver, 251 F.3d 1346, 1349 (11th Cir. 2001)); see also Brown v. United States, Nos. 407CV085, 403CR001, 2009 WL 307872, at *1–2 (S.D. Ga. Feb. 9, 2009). Based on the above analysis of Roach’s failure to follow this Court’s Order and Local

Rules or to respond to the Motion to Dismiss, there are no non-frivolous issues to raise on appeal, and an appeal would not be taken in good faith. Thus, the Court should DENY Roach in forma pauperis status on appeal. CONCLUSION Based on the foregoing, I RECOMMEND the Court GRANT as unopposed Respondent’s Motion to Dismiss, DISMISS without prejudice Roach’s 28 U.S.C. § 2241 Petition for failure to follow the Court’s Order and Local Rules, DIRECT the Clerk of Court to CLOSE this case and enter the appropriate judgment of dismissal, and DENY Roach leave to appeal in forma pauperis. Any objections to this Report and Recommendation shall be filed within 14 days of

today’s date. Objections shall be specific and in writing. Any objection that the Magistrate Judge failed to address a contention raised in the Complaint must be included. Failure to file timely, written objections will bar any later challenge or review of the Magistrate Judge’s factual findings and legal conclusions. 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)(C); Harrigan v. Metro Dade Police Dep’t Station #4, 977 F.3d 1185, 1192–93 (11th Cir. 2020). To be clear, a party waives all rights to challenge the Magistrate Judge’s factual findings and legal conclusions on appeal by failing to file timely, written objections. Harrigan, 977 F.3d at 1192–93; 11th Cir. R. 3-1. A copy of the objections must be served upon all other parties to the action. Upon receipt of objections meeting the specificity requirement set out above, a United States District Judge will make a de novo determination of those portions of the report, proposed findings, or recommendation to which objection is made and may accept, reject, or modify, in whole or in part, the findings or recommendations made herein. Objections not meeting the specificity requirement set out above will not be considered by the District Judge. A party may not appeal a Magistrate Judge’s report and recommendation directly to the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit. Appeals may be made only from a final judgment entered by or at the direction of a District Judge. SO REPORTED and RECOMMENDED, this 24th day of September, 2025.

BO _ UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF GEORGIA