Roy McCormick v. IGIA, Inc.

• Court: Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
• Decided: July 3, 2024
• Docket: 23-12621
• Status: Unpublished

Opinion

USCA11 Case: 23-12621 Document: 23-1 Date Filed: 07/03/2024 Page: 1 of 4

[DO NOT PUBLISH] In the United States Court of Appeals For the Eleventh Circuit

____________________

No. 23-12621 Non-Argument Calendar ____________________

ROY MCCORMICK, Plaintiff-Appellant, versus IGIA, INC.,

Defendant-Appellee.

Appeal from the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida D.C. Docket No. 6:22-cv-01270-CEM-DCI ____________________ USCA11 Case: 23-12621 Document: 23-1 Date Filed: 07/03/2024 Page: 2 of 4

2 Opinion of the Court 23-12621

Before JILL PRYOR, BRANCH, and BLACK, Circuit Judges. PER CURIAM: Roy McCormick, pro se, appeals the district court’s order dis- missing his diversity complaint raising personal injury and product liability claims. He asserts the district court erred by dismissing his claims because “exigent and extraordinary circumstances” pre- vented him from filing a case management report before the court’s deadline in accordance with Middle District of Florida Local Rule 3.02. After review, we vacate and remand. We review a district court’s dismissal of an action for failure to comply with its order for an abuse of discretion. Betty K Agencies, Ltd. v. M/V MONADA, 432 F.3d 1333, 1337 (11th Cir. 2005). A dis- trict court may dismiss a case sua sponte for failure to comply with a court order, either pursuant to Rule 41(b), 1 or under its inherent power to manage its docket. Id. Still, a district court abuses its discretion when it sua sponte dismisses a civil action with prejudice where (1) the court fails to make a finding the plaintiff acted will- fully or a lesser sanction would not have sufficed, and (2) nothing in the record supports a finding the plaintiff acted willfully or a lesser sanction would not have sufficed. Id. at 1338-42. While we have remanded cases in which there has been no finding on the efficacy of sanctions less severe than dismissal, we have also

1 “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). USCA11 Case: 23-12621 Document: 23-1 Date Filed: 07/03/2024 Page: 3 of 4

23-12621 Opinion of the Court 3

affirmed dismissal under Rule 41(b) when the record supported an implicit finding that any lesser sanctions would not serve the inter- ests of justice. Mingo v. Sugar Cane Growers Co-op. of Fla., 864 F.2d 101, 102-03 (11th Cir. 1989); Goforth v. Owens, 766 F.2d 1533, 1535 (11th Cir. 1985). In contrast, a district court does not abuse its dis- cretion by dismissing a case without prejudice for even a single pro- cedural violation because the party may refile its complaint. See Dynes v. Army Air Force Exch. Serv., 720 F.2d 1495, 1499 (11th Cir. 1983). Middle District of Florida Local Rule 3.02 provides “the par- ties . . . must file a case management report using the standard form from the clerk or on the court’s website.” M.D. Fla. L.R. 3.02(a)(2). Rule 3.02 also provides the parties must file the case management report “within forty days after any defendant appears in an action originating in this court,” or “within forty days after the docketing of an action removed or transferred to this court.” M.D. Fla. L.R. 3.02(b)(1)-(2). The district court abused its discretion by sua sponte dismiss- ing McCormick’s case for his failure to comply with the court’s standing order. Although McCormick’s case was dismissed with- out prejudice, the statute of limitations has run, 2 making this the

2 Under Florida law, “[a]n action for injury to a person founded on the design,

manufacture, distribution, or sale of personal property that is not permanently incorporated in an improvement to real property, including fixtures” must be brought within 4 years. Fla. Stat. § 95.11(3)(d). Likewise, claims relying on a theory of statutory liability must also be brought within 4 years. Fla. Stat. USCA11 Case: 23-12621 Document: 23-1 Date Filed: 07/03/2024 Page: 4 of 4

4 Opinion of the Court 23-12621

functional equivalent of a dismissal with prejudice. See Fla. Stat. § 95.11(3). The district court failed to make a finding McCormick acted willfully or a lesser sanction would not have sufficed, and nothing in the record supports such a finding. See Betty K Agencies, 432 F.3d at 1338-42. McCormick’s response to IGIA’s motion to dismiss— which he filed less than 2 weeks before the court’s dismissal or- der—shows McCormick’s willingness to actively prosecute his case. Additionally, when sent a disclosure statement by the court, McCormick completed and filed it. Finally, the rule requires the parties, not solely the plaintiff, file the case management report, and nothing in the record indicates IGIA filed a case management report or attempted to get McCormick to complete one and McCormick refused or was otherwise unwilling to complete and file one. See M.D. Fla. L.R. 3.02(a)(2). VACATED AND REMANDED.

§ 95.11(3)(e). Finally, any action not specifically provided for in § 95.11, must be brought within 4 years. Fla. Stat. § 95.11(3)(o).