Tramontano v. OhioHealth Corporation

• Court: District Court, S.D. Ohio
• Decided: June 20, 2025
• Docket: 2:24-cv-03865
• Status: Unknown

Opinion

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF OHIO EASTERN DIVISION

KATHERINE TRAMONTANO,

Plaintiff,

v. Civil Action 2:24-cv-3865 Judge Michael H. Watson Magistrate Judge Chelsey M. Vascura OHIOHEALTH CORPORATION,

Defendant.

REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION This matter is before the undersigned for a Report and Recommendation on the Court’s May 22, 2025, Show Cause Order. (ECF No. 14.) For the reasons that follow, it is RECOMMENDED that this action be DISMISSED WITH PREJUDICE. This case was commenced on August 20, 2024. (ECF No. 1.) On March 4, 2025, Plaintiff’s counsel moved to withdraw because of Plaintiff’s failure to communicate, despite repeated attempts by Counsel. (ECF No. 11). On March 26, 2025, the Court granted counsel’s Motion and ordered Plaintiff to inform the Court as to whether she intended to retain new counsel or proceed pro se (in which case the Court required that she provide an updated, valid mailing address). (ECF No 13.) Plaintiff never filed notice with the Court or provided the Court with an updated address. Accordingly, on May 22, 2025, this Court issued an Order directing her to show cause within 14 days as to why this action should not be dismissed for failure to prosecute. (ECF No. 14.) Plaintiff was cautioned that failure to comply with the Show Cause Order would result in the dismissal of her case. (Id.) To date, however, Plaintiff has failed to respond to the May 22, 2024, Show Cause Order and has not provided the Court with an updated mailing address. Under the circumstances, the undersigned finds dismissal of Plaintiff’s action appropriate pursuant Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 41(b). The Court’s inherent authority to dismiss a plaintiff’s action with prejudice because of her failure to prosecute is expressly recognized in

Rule 41(b), which provides in pertinent part: “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. Unless the dismissal order states otherwise, a dismissal under this subdivision (b) . . . operates as an adjudication on the merits.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 41(b); Link v. Walbash R.R. Co., 370 U.S. 626, 629–31 (1962). “This measure is available to the district court as a tool to effect ‘management of its docket and avoidance of unnecessary burdens on the tax-supported courts [and] opposing parties.’” Knoll v. AT & T, 176 F.3d 359, 363 (6th Cir. 1999) (internal citations omitted). The Sixth Circuit directs the district courts to consider the following four factors in deciding whether to dismiss an action for failure to prosecute under Rule 41(b):

(1) whether the party’s failure is due to willfulness, bad faith, or fault; (2) whether the adversary was prejudiced by the dismissed party’s conduct; (3) whether the dismissed party was warned that failure to cooperate could lead to dismissal; and (4) whether less drastic sanctions were imposed or considered before dismissal was ordered. Schafer v. City of Defiance Police Dep’t, 529 F.3d 731, 737 (6th Cir. 2008) (citing Knoll, 176 F.3d at 363). “‘Although typically none of the factors is outcome dispositive, . . . a case is properly dismissed by the district court where there is a clear record of delay or contumacious conduct.’” Schafer, 529 F.3d at 737 (quoting Knoll, 176 F.3d at 363). Here, Plaintiff failed to provide the Court with an updated mailing address and failed to comply with the Court’s Show Cause Order. Moreover, the Court explicitly cautioned Plaintiff in the Show Cause Order that failure to comply would result in dismissal of this action. See Stough v. Mayville Cmty. Schs., 138 F.3d 612, 615 (6th Cir. 1998) (noting that “[p]rior notice, or the lack thereof, is . . . a key consideration” in whether dismissal under rule 41(b) is appropriate). Plaintiff’s failure to timely comply with the clear orders of the Court, which established reasonable deadlines for compliance, constitutes bad faith or contumacious conduct. See Steward v. Cty. of Jackson, Tenn., 8 F. App’x 294, 296 (6th Cir. 2001) (concluding that a plaintiff’s

failure to comply with a court’s order “constitute[d] bad faith or contumacious conduct and justifie[d] dismissal”). Because Plaintiff has missed deadlines and disregarded the Court’s order, the undersigned concludes that no alternative sanction would protect the integrity of the pretrial process. It is therefore RECOMMENDED that this action be DISMISSED WITH PREJUDICE pursuant to Rule 41(b) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure for failure to prosecute. The Clerk is DIRECTED to mail a copy of this Report and Recommendation to the following address:

Katherine Tramontano 190 Binns Blvd. Columbus, Ohio 43204

PROCEDURE ON OBJECTIONS If any party objects to this Report and Recommendation, that party may, within fourteen (14) days of the date of this Report, file and serve on all parties written objections to those specific proposed findings or recommendations to which objection is made, together with supporting authority for the objection(s). A District Judge of this Court shall make a de novo determination of those portions of the Report or specified proposed findings or recommendations to which objection is made. Upon proper objections, a District Judge of this Court may accept, reject, or modify, in whole or in part, the findings or recommendations made herein, may receive further evidence or may recommit this matter to the Magistrate Judge with instructions. 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1). The parties are specifically advised that failure to object to the Report and Recommendation will result in a waiver of the right to have the District Judge review the Report

and Recommendation de novo, and also operates as a waiver of the right to appeal the decision of the District Court adopting the Report and Recommendation. See Thomas v. Arn, 474 U.S. 140 (1985); United States v. Walters, 638 F.2d 947 (6th Cir. 1981).

/s/ Chelsey M. Vascura CHELSEY M. VASCURA UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE