THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE MIDDLE DISTRICT OF PENNSYLVANIA LANA SLOTTERBACK, Plaintiff 3:25-CV-434 : (JUDGE MARIANI) v. POTTSVILLE SOCIAL SECURITY OFFICE, Defendant.
MEMORANDUM OPINION On July 9, 2025, this Court adopted Magistrate Judge Daryl Bloom’s Report and Recommendation (“R&R”) (Doc. 8) and dismissed Plaintiff Lana Slotterback’s Complaint without prejudice to the filing of an Amended Complaint within 21 days of the Court’s Order. (Doc. 9). The Court warned Plaintiff that “[flailure to file an Amended Complaint may result in the dismissal of the above-captioned action.” (/d. at § 4). Plaintiffs Amended Complaint was thus due on or before July 30, 2025. As of the date of this Memorandum Opinion and accompanying Order, Plaintiff has not filed an Amended Complaint, a motion for an extension of time to do so, or any other document of record. Pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 41, an action may be dismissed “[i]f the plaintiff fails to prosecute or to comply with these rules or a court order.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 41(b). See Spain v. Gallegos, 26 F.3d 439, 454 (3d Cir. 1994) (recognizing that a district court may sua sponte dismiss an action for failure to prosecute); Iseley v. Bitner, 216 F.
App’x 252, 254-255 (3d Cir. 2007) (“A District Court has the authority to dismiss a suit sua sponte for failure to prosecute by virtue of its inherent powers and pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 41(b)”) (citing Link v. Wabash R.R. Co., 370 U.S. 626, 630-631 (1962)). See also Briscoe v. Klaus, 538 F.3d 252, 258 (3d Cir. 2008) (“[wJhile a District Court may dismiss a case sua sponte, . . . it should use caution in doing so because it may not have acquired knowledge of the facts it needs to make an informed decision.”) (internal citation omitted). The Third Circuit has recognized that a plaintiff's failure to comply with a Court order directing the plaintiff to file an amended complaint may form the basis for a District Court’s sua sponte dismissal of the action for failure to prosecute. See Azubuko v. Bell Nat'l Org., 243 F.App’x 728 (3d Cir. 2007); see also R & C Oilfield Servs. LLC v. Am. Wind Transp. Grp., LLC, 45 F.4th 655, 661 (3d Cir. 2022) (“A court does not abuse its discretion in dismissing for failure to prosecute where a litigant’s conduct has made adjudication impossible.”); Salley v. Beard, 245 F. App’x 202, 204 (3d Cir. 2007) (“A district court may dismiss an action sua sponte as a sanction for failure to abide by court orders.”). Prior to dismissing an action for failure to prosecute, a Court generally must weigh the factors set forth by the Third Circuit in Poulis v. State Farm Fire & Casualty Company. Specifically, (1) the extent of the party's personal responsibility; (2) the prejudice to the adversary caused by the failure to meet scheduling orders and respond to discovery; (3) a history of dilatoriness; (4) whether the conduct of the party or the attorney was willful or in bad faith; (5) the effectiveness of sanctions other than dismissal, which entails an analysis of alternative sanctions; and (6) the meritoriousness of the claim or defense.
Poulis v. State Farm Fire & Cas. Co., 747 F.2d 863, 868 (3d Cir.1984). “Not all of these factors need be met for a district court to find dismissal is warranted.” Hicks v. Feeney, 850 F.2d 152, 156 (3d Cir. 1988). Instead, the “factors should be weighed by the district courts in order to assure that the ‘extreme’ sanction of dismissal . . . is reserved for the instances in which it is justly merited.” Poulis, 747 F.2d at 870." In the present action, the Poulis factors weigh in favor of dismissal of this action. Plaintiff has not taken the necessary steps to pursue this action. Plaintiff has not filed any document in this action since May 2, 2025, when she filed a revised application for leave to proceed in forma pauperis (Doc. 7). Since that time, Judge Bloom filed an R&R on May 27, 2025, recommending dismissal of the Complaint, to which Plaintiff did not file any objections or otherwise respond. The Court subsequently adopted the R&R, and its reasoning, on July 9, 2025, and ordered Plaintiff to file an amended complaint. Plaintiff failed to do. Where Plaintiff is proceeding pro se, the responsibility for her failure to prosecute this action falls squarely on her. In addition, the Court warned Plaintiff that failure to file to an amended complaint may result in dismissal of this action. See e.g., Dickens v. Danberg, 700 F.App’x 116, 118 (3d Cir. 2017) (“The District Court properly balanced the Poulis factors here. First,
' Although the Court will undertake an analysis of the factors set forth in Poutis, the Court notes that when a litigant’s conduct makes adjudication of the case impossible, “balancing under Poulis is unnecessary.” Azubuko v. Bell Nat’! Org., 243 F. App’x 728, 729 (3d Cir. 2007) (citing Guyer v. Beard, 907 F.2d 1424, 1429-1430 (3d Cir. 1990); Spain v. Gallegos, 26 F.3d 439, 454-455 (3d Cir. 1994). Here, Plaintiffs first Complaint was dismissed by this Court. Her failure to file an Amended Complaint leaves this Court without any operative pleading in this action, maxing adjudication of this matter impossible.
the responsibility for Dickens’ failure to participate in the litigation falls on him, as he proceeded pro se.”). The failure to file an amended complaint within the timeframe provided by the Court is a knowing and willful act because only Plaintiff can take the necessary steps to further this action. See Hall v. Holman, 265 F.App’x 135, 137 (3d Cir. 2008) (district court did not abuse its discretion where pro se plaintiffs conduct “was at least in willful disregard of his responsibilities as a pro se litigant.”). This is particularly true given the Court’s warning that failure to file an amended complaint by July 30, 2025, would result in dismissal of the action. See Pruden v. SCIi Camp Hill, 252 F. App’x 436, 438 (3d Cir. 2007) (“The District Court dismissed the complaint without prejudice and allowed Pruden twenty days in which to file
an amended complaint. Pruden failed to do so. Because Pruden decided not to amend his complaint in accordance with the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, we conclude that the District Court did not abuse its discretion when it dismissed Pruden’s complaint with prejudice.”); see id (district court did not abuse its discretion where, as here, “[t]he District Court expressly warned [pro se prisoner] that the failure to amend his complaint would result in dismissal of the action with prejudice.”). Plaintiffs lack of action additionally implies, without any express statement, an intent to not proceed with the present action. See Allen v. Am. Fed’n of Govt.
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THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE MIDDLE DISTRICT OF PENNSYLVANIA LANA SLOTTERBACK, Plaintiff 3:25-CV-434 : (JUDGE MARIANI) v. POTTSVILLE SOCIAL SECURITY OFFICE, Defendant.
MEMORANDUM OPINION On July 9, 2025, this Court adopted Magistrate Judge Daryl Bloom’s Report and Recommendation (“R&R”) (Doc. 8) and dismissed Plaintiff Lana Slotterback’s Complaint without prejudice to the filing of an Amended Complaint within 21 days of the Court’s Order. (Doc. 9). The Court warned Plaintiff that “[flailure to file an Amended Complaint may result in the dismissal of the above-captioned action.” (/d. at § 4). Plaintiffs Amended Complaint was thus due on or before July 30, 2025. As of the date of this Memorandum Opinion and accompanying Order, Plaintiff has not filed an Amended Complaint, a motion for an extension of time to do so, or any other document of record. Pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 41, an action may be dismissed “[i]f the plaintiff fails to prosecute or to comply with these rules or a court order.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 41(b). See Spain v. Gallegos, 26 F.3d 439, 454 (3d Cir. 1994) (recognizing that a district court may sua sponte dismiss an action for failure to prosecute); Iseley v. Bitner, 216 F.
App’x 252, 254-255 (3d Cir. 2007) (“A District Court has the authority to dismiss a suit sua sponte for failure to prosecute by virtue of its inherent powers and pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 41(b)”) (citing Link v. Wabash R.R. Co., 370 U.S. 626, 630-631 (1962)). See also Briscoe v. Klaus, 538 F.3d 252, 258 (3d Cir. 2008) (“[wJhile a District Court may dismiss a case sua sponte, . . . it should use caution in doing so because it may not have acquired knowledge of the facts it needs to make an informed decision.”) (internal citation omitted). The Third Circuit has recognized that a plaintiff's failure to comply with a Court order directing the plaintiff to file an amended complaint may form the basis for a District Court’s sua sponte dismissal of the action for failure to prosecute. See Azubuko v. Bell Nat'l Org., 243 F.App’x 728 (3d Cir. 2007); see also R & C Oilfield Servs. LLC v. Am. Wind Transp. Grp., LLC, 45 F.4th 655, 661 (3d Cir. 2022) (“A court does not abuse its discretion in dismissing for failure to prosecute where a litigant’s conduct has made adjudication impossible.”); Salley v. Beard, 245 F. App’x 202, 204 (3d Cir. 2007) (“A district court may dismiss an action sua sponte as a sanction for failure to abide by court orders.”). Prior to dismissing an action for failure to prosecute, a Court generally must weigh the factors set forth by the Third Circuit in Poulis v. State Farm Fire & Casualty Company. Specifically, (1) the extent of the party's personal responsibility; (2) the prejudice to the adversary caused by the failure to meet scheduling orders and respond to discovery; (3) a history of dilatoriness; (4) whether the conduct of the party or the attorney was willful or in bad faith; (5) the effectiveness of sanctions other than dismissal, which entails an analysis of alternative sanctions; and (6) the meritoriousness of the claim or defense.
Poulis v. State Farm Fire & Cas. Co., 747 F.2d 863, 868 (3d Cir.1984). “Not all of these factors need be met for a district court to find dismissal is warranted.” Hicks v. Feeney, 850 F.2d 152, 156 (3d Cir. 1988). Instead, the “factors should be weighed by the district courts in order to assure that the ‘extreme’ sanction of dismissal . . . is reserved for the instances in which it is justly merited.” Poulis, 747 F.2d at 870." In the present action, the Poulis factors weigh in favor of dismissal of this action. Plaintiff has not taken the necessary steps to pursue this action. Plaintiff has not filed any document in this action since May 2, 2025, when she filed a revised application for leave to proceed in forma pauperis (Doc. 7). Since that time, Judge Bloom filed an R&R on May 27, 2025, recommending dismissal of the Complaint, to which Plaintiff did not file any objections or otherwise respond. The Court subsequently adopted the R&R, and its reasoning, on July 9, 2025, and ordered Plaintiff to file an amended complaint. Plaintiff failed to do. Where Plaintiff is proceeding pro se, the responsibility for her failure to prosecute this action falls squarely on her. In addition, the Court warned Plaintiff that failure to file to an amended complaint may result in dismissal of this action. See e.g., Dickens v. Danberg, 700 F.App’x 116, 118 (3d Cir. 2017) (“The District Court properly balanced the Poulis factors here. First,
' Although the Court will undertake an analysis of the factors set forth in Poutis, the Court notes that when a litigant’s conduct makes adjudication of the case impossible, “balancing under Poulis is unnecessary.” Azubuko v. Bell Nat’! Org., 243 F. App’x 728, 729 (3d Cir. 2007) (citing Guyer v. Beard, 907 F.2d 1424, 1429-1430 (3d Cir. 1990); Spain v. Gallegos, 26 F.3d 439, 454-455 (3d Cir. 1994). Here, Plaintiffs first Complaint was dismissed by this Court. Her failure to file an Amended Complaint leaves this Court without any operative pleading in this action, maxing adjudication of this matter impossible.
the responsibility for Dickens’ failure to participate in the litigation falls on him, as he proceeded pro se.”). The failure to file an amended complaint within the timeframe provided by the Court is a knowing and willful act because only Plaintiff can take the necessary steps to further this action. See Hall v. Holman, 265 F.App’x 135, 137 (3d Cir. 2008) (district court did not abuse its discretion where pro se plaintiffs conduct “was at least in willful disregard of his responsibilities as a pro se litigant.”). This is particularly true given the Court’s warning that failure to file an amended complaint by July 30, 2025, would result in dismissal of the action. See Pruden v. SCIi Camp Hill, 252 F. App’x 436, 438 (3d Cir. 2007) (“The District Court dismissed the complaint without prejudice and allowed Pruden twenty days in which to file
an amended complaint. Pruden failed to do so. Because Pruden decided not to amend his complaint in accordance with the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, we conclude that the District Court did not abuse its discretion when it dismissed Pruden’s complaint with prejudice.”); see id (district court did not abuse its discretion where, as here, “[t]he District Court expressly warned [pro se prisoner] that the failure to amend his complaint would result in dismissal of the action with prejudice.”). Plaintiffs lack of action additionally implies, without any express statement, an intent to not proceed with the present action. See Allen v. Am. Fed’n of Govt. Emp., 317 F.App’x 180, 181 (3d Cir 2009) (“Allen’s failure to file an amended complaint plausibly signaled to the Court that he was not pursuing his claims. Moreover, the refusal to file an amended complaint, would have left the District Court uncertain of the contours of Allen’s claims.”).
The other Poulis factors also weigh in favor of dismissal of this action. Plaintiff's failure to file an amended complaint prevents this Court from advancing the case and prejudices defendant in that it is potentially unaware of the filing of an action against it and its need to retain counsel and prepare a defense, if necessary. In addition, because this action cannot proceed in the absence of a complaint which adequately pleads a cause of action, alternative sanctions, such as monetary sanctions, would not be effective in this
case. Moreover, Plaintiff is proceeding pro se and in forma pauperis so alternative sanctions, such as monetary or discovery sanctions, would not be effective or applicable in this case. See Dickens, 700 F. App’x at 118 (‘Fifth, the District Court properly found that it could not consider monetary sanctions as an alternative to dismissal, because Dickens was proceeding in forma pauperis.”). Finally, the final Poulis factor - meritoriousness of the claim — also weighs in favor dismissal for the reasons set forth in Judge Bloom’s R&R recommending that this action be dismissed. Plaintiffs pro se Complaint failed to comply with Fed. R. Civ. P. 8 or to state a claim upon which relief could be granted. For the afore-stated reasons, this action will be dismissed without prejudice pursuant to Rule 41(b) and the Court's inherent authority. A separate Order follows.
f Cot WANA Robert-D. Mariani United States District Judge