Riggs v. City of Pearland

177 F.R.D. 395, 40 Fed. R. Serv. 3d 804, 1997 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 20545, 1997 WL 786493
CourtDistrict Court, S.D. Texas
DecidedDecember 17, 1997
DocketNo. Civ.A. G-97-233
StatusPublished
Cited by19 cases

This text of 177 F.R.D. 395 (Riggs v. City of Pearland) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, S.D. Texas primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Riggs v. City of Pearland, 177 F.R.D. 395, 40 Fed. R. Serv. 3d 804, 1997 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 20545, 1997 WL 786493 (S.D. Tex. 1997).

Opinion

ORDER DENYING RECONSIDERATION OF THE COURT’S DISMISSAL WITH PREJUDICE

KENT, District Judge.

Plaintiffs commenced this action against Defendants alleging violations of the First, Fourth, and Fourteenth Amendments, as well as, violations of 42 U.S.C. §§ 1983 and 1985. Additionally, Plamtiffs alleged state-law claims involving negligence, assault and battery, defamation, and intentional infliction of emotional distress. After Plaintiffs failed to respond to Defendants’ Motion for Summary Judgment filed on June 30, 1997, and also failed to appear as Ordered at a scheduling conference held on September 3, 1997, tMs case was dismissed with prejudice on September 8,1997. Now before the Court is Plaintiffs’ Motion for Reconsideration. For the reasons that follow, Plaintiffs’ Motion is DENIED. TMs case is, and remains, DISMISSED WITH PREJUDICE.

[400]*400 I. FACTUAL SUMMARY

Plaintiff Gilbert Riggs is a diabetic who resides in Pearland, Texas. At approximately 10 p.m. on September 4, 1992, Mr. Riggs was allegedly having a reaction to an accidental overdose of insulin in his Pearland apartment. Common symptoms to an overdose of insulin include weakness, mental confusion, loss of balance, memory loss, slurred speech, erratic or bizarre behavior, seizures, coma, profuse sweating, and disorientation. Hearing noise in Mr. Riggs’ apartment, a neighbor called 911 to inform them of a possible disturbance. Pearland Police were dispatched.

When the officers arrived at Mr. Riggs’ apartment, they allegedly heard yelling and crashing inside. While trying to determine how many people were in the apartment, the officers looked through the window and saw Mr. Riggs thrashing about in his underwear with a laceration to the right side of his head. According to the officers and emergency medical service personnel at the scene, blood covered the walls as Mr. Riggs continued to throw himself all over the room. After getting the key to the apartment from the apartment manager, the officers entered the apartment and attempted to subdue Mr. Riggs. As they entered the apartment, Mr. Riggs allegedly “crawled rapidly” or “lunged” towards the officers. In response, one of the officers sprayed mace into Mr. Riggs’ face. After a struggle, which allegedly involved more mace and physical exertion by all involved, Mr. Riggs was finally cuffed and taken away in an ambulance. Mr. Riggs suffered various minor injuries.

Plaintiffs originally filed this suit in state court. After thirty-one months of procedural machinations, and prior to receiving a ruling on a summary judgment motion filed by Defendants, Plaintiffs amended their state-court petition to include allegations of constitutional violations. The case was subsequently removed to this Court by Defendants. Plaintiffs bring this suit under 42 U.S.G. § 1983 for violations of the Fifth, Fourth, and Fourteenth Amendments. Plaintiffs also allege violations of 42 U.S.C. § 1985. Additionally, Plaintiffs assert Texas state-law claims of negligence, assault and battery, defamation, and intentional infliction of emotional distress. Mrs. Riggs is suing for loss of consortium. Defendants again moved for summary judgment in this case on June 30, 1997. After Plaintiffs failed to respond to Defendant’s Motion and also failed to appear as Ordered at a scheduling conference held on September 3, 1997, this case was dismissed with prejudice on September 8,1997.

II. DISMISSAL WAS PROPER UNDER RULES 16, 37, AND U

This Court dismissed this case pursuant to Rules 16 and 41 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. Rule 16(f) provides for the imposition of various sanctions for violations of scheduling and other pretrial Orders of this Court. See Fed.R.Civ.P. 16(f). One of the sanctions authorized by Rule 16(f), by reference to Rule 37, is dismissal of the case. See id. Rule 16(f) provides:

(f) Sanctions. If a party or party’s attorney fails to obey a scheduling or pretrial order, or if no appearance is made on behalf of a party at a scheduling or pretrial conference, or if a party or party’s attorney is substantially unprepared to participate in the conference, or if a party or party’s attorney fails to participate in good faith, the judge, upon motion or his own initiative, may make such orders with regard thereto as are just and among others any of the orders provided in Rule 37(b)(2)(B), (C), (D).

Fed.R.Civ.P. 16(f) (emphasis added). Rule 16 merely makes explicit this Court’s discretionary power to control the expeditious disposition of docketed cases; this power has long been recognized by appellate courts. See, e.g., Link v. Wabash R. Co., 370 U.S. 626, 629-30, 82 S.Ct. 1386, 1388, 8 L.Ed.2d 734 (1962) (“The power to invoke this sanction is necessary in order to prevent undue delays in the disposition of pending cases and to avoid congestion in the calendars of the District Courts.”).

Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 37(b)(2) empowers a District Court to impose “just” sanctions on parties who disobey a discovery Order. See Fed.R.Civ.P. 37(b)(2). For the violation of a discovery Order, and therefore for violation of a Rule 16 Order, a [401]*401District Court can, among other things, order the dismissal of a claim and the payment of the opposing party’s expenses, including attorney’s fees. See F.D.I.C. v. Conner, 20 F.3d 1376, 1380 (5th Cir.1994). Rule 37 grants a District Court considerable, although not unlimited, discretion in fashioning appropriate penalties for those who disobey such an order. See Chilcutt v. United States, 4 F.3d 1313, 1320 (5th Cir.1993). An appellate court reviewing a dismissal pursuant to Rules 16 and 37 does not ask whether it would have imposed the same sanction as the District Court; instead, the proper inquiry is whether the District Court abused its discretion in imposing that sanction. See F.D.I.C., 20 F.3d at 1380; see also National Hockey League v. Metropolitan Hockey Club, Inc., 427 U.S. 639, 642, 96 S.Ct. 2778, 2780, 49 L.Ed.2d 747 (1976) (per curiam); Topalian v. Ehrman, 3 F.3d 931, 934 (5th Cir.1993).

Rule 41, the other basis for the Court’s dismissal of Plaintiffs’ case, provides:

(b) Involuntary Dismissal: Effect Thereof. For failure of the plaintiff to prosecute or to comply with these rules or any order of court, a defendant may move for dismissal of an action or of any claim against the defendant.

Fed.R.Civ.P.

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Bluebook (online)
177 F.R.D. 395, 40 Fed. R. Serv. 3d 804, 1997 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 20545, 1997 WL 786493, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/riggs-v-city-of-pearland-txsd-1997.