From Casetext: Smarter Legal Research

Mingo v. Sugar Cane Growers Co-op. of Florida

United States Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit
Jan 23, 1989
864 F.2d 101 (11th Cir. 1989)

Summary

holding that a district court "possesses the inherent power to police its docket" and that "sanctions imposed [upon dilatory litigants] can range from a simple reprimand to an order dismissing the action with or without prejudice"

Summary of this case from Sanders v. Merrill

Opinion

No. 87-5710. Non-Argument Calendar.

January 23, 1989.

Ann Margaret Pointer, Fisher Phillips, Atlanta, Ga., for defendant-appellee, cross-appellant.

Appeal from the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida.

Before VANCE, KRAVITCH and COX, Circuit Judges.


Plaintiff appeals the district court's order dismissing his action, with prejudice, for want of prosecution. We vacate the order and remand the cause to the trial court.

The district court possesses the inherent power to police its docket. Link v. Wabash Railroad Co., 370 U.S. 626, 629-30, 82 S.Ct. 1386, 1388, 8 L.Ed.2d 734 (1962). Incident to this power, the judge may impose formal sanctions upon dilatory litigants. The sanctions imposed can range from a simple reprimand to an order dismissing the action with or without prejudice.

Our cases announce the rule, however, that dismissal is warranted only upon a "clear record of delay or willful contempt and a finding that lesser sanctions would not suffice." Goforth v. Owens, 766 F.2d 1533, 1535 (11th Cir. 1985) (emphasis supplied); Jones v. Graham, 709 F.2d 1457, 1458 (11th Cir. 1983); Hildebrand v. Honeywell, Inc., 622 F.2d 179, 181 (5th Cir. 1980). Although we occasionally have found implicit in an order the conclusion that "lesser sanctions would not suffice" ( see Goforth, 766 F.2d at 1535), we have never suggested that the district court need not make that finding, which is essential before a party can be penalized for his attorney's misconduct. Hildebrand, 622 F.2d at 181. See Cohen v. Carnival Cruise Lines, Inc., 782 F.2d 923, 925 (11th Cir. 1986) (trial court abused discretion by ordering dismissal without considering lesser sanctions); Carter v. United States, 780 F.2d 925, 928 (11th Cir. 1986) (same; dicta); also, Jones v. Bowen, 790 F.2d 1550, 1553 (11th Cir. 1986) (cause remanded). In Goforth, any order other than dismissal would have "greatly prejudiced" the defendants. Id., 766 F.2d at 1535; compare Jones v. Graham, 709 F.2d at 1461-62 (district judge found that great prejudice to defendants could only be cured by dismissal).

See Bonner v. City of Prichard, 661 F.2d 1206, 1209 (11th Cir. 1981) (in banc). The Eleventh Circuit, sitting in banc, adopted as binding precedent all decisions rendered prior to October 1, 1981, by the former Fifth Circuit.

In the instant case, the trial court did not make a finding concerning the efficacy of sanctions less severe than dismissal. The district court did mention that earlier in the litigation the cause had come close to dismissal; in fact, the court had warned plaintiff on at least two prior occasions that further delay might yield dismissal. In its order finally disposing of the action, the court concluded that dismissal was warranted because "it would be unfair to defendant to allow this unhappy litigation to drag on longer than it already has," and further, that "the circumstances of this case cry out for such a `just, speedy, and inexpensive determination.'" We understand the district judge's frustration. Because the sanction of dismissal with prejudice is so unsparing, however, we hesitate to infer from this language that the trial court reflected upon the wide range of sanctions at its disposal and concluded that none save dismissal would spur this litigation to its just completion. We therefore VACATE the order and REMAND the cause for the district court's further consideration.

Because we remand the cause, defendant's cross-appeal for fees and expenses is not ripe for our determination.


Summaries of

Mingo v. Sugar Cane Growers Co-op. of Florida

United States Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit
Jan 23, 1989
864 F.2d 101 (11th Cir. 1989)

holding that a district court "possesses the inherent power to police its docket" and that "sanctions imposed [upon dilatory litigants] can range from a simple reprimand to an order dismissing the action with or without prejudice"

Summary of this case from Sanders v. Merrill

holding that "[t]he district court possesses the inherent power to police its docket. . . . . The sanctions imposed [upon dilatory litigants] can range from a simple reprimand to an order dismissing the action with or without prejudice."

Summary of this case from Yates v. Cobb

holding that a "district court possesses the inherent power to police its docket."

Summary of this case from Pickett v. Saul

holding that a "district court possesses the inherent power to police its docket."

Summary of this case from Mathis v. Valenza

holding that a "district court possesses the inherent power to police its docket."

Summary of this case from Dailey v. Dunn

holding that a "district court possesses the inherent power to police its docket."

Summary of this case from Hinson v. U.S. Marshals

holding that a "district court possesses the inherent power to police its docket."

Summary of this case from Cunningham v. Ivey

holding that a district court "possesses the inherent power to police its docket" and that "sanctions imposed [upon dilatory litigants] can range from a simple reprimand to an order dismissing the action with or without prejudice"

Summary of this case from Fareed v. Ivey

holding that a "district court possesses the inherent power to police its docket."

Summary of this case from Freeman v. McCoy

holding that "[t]he district court possesses the inherent power to police its docket. . . . . The sanctions imposed [upon dilatory litigants] can range from a simple reprimand to an order dismissing the action with or without prejudice."

Summary of this case from Pendleton v. Martin

holding that "[t]he district court possesses the inherent power to police its docket. . . . . The sanctions imposed [upon dilatory litigants] can range from a simple reprimand to an order dismissing the action with or without prejudice."

Summary of this case from Crenshaw v. Ivey

holding that "[t]he district court possesses the inherent power to police its docket. . . . . The sanctions imposed [upon dilatory litigants] can range from a simple reprimand to an order dismissing the action with or without prejudice."

Summary of this case from Gilmore v. Dunn

holding that a "district court possesses the inherent power to police its docket."

Summary of this case from Martin v. Cook

holding that a "district court possesses the inherent power to police its docket."

Summary of this case from Haynes v. Banargie

holding that a "district court possesses the inherent power to police its docket."

Summary of this case from Devold v. Ivey

holding that a "district court possesses the inherent power to police its docket."

Summary of this case from Rudd v. Crowe

holding that a "district court possesses the inherent power to police its docket."

Summary of this case from Brocato v. Ala. Bureau of Pardons & Paroles

holding that "[t]he district court possesses the inherent power to police its docket."

Summary of this case from Henderson v. Dunn

holding that "[t]he district court possesses the inherent power to police its docket. . . . . The sanctions imposed [upon dilatory litigants] can range from a simple reprimand to an order dismissing the action with or without prejudice."

Summary of this case from Holliman v. Dunn

holding that "[t]he district court possesses the inherent power to police its docket. . . . . The sanctions imposed [upon dilatory litigants] can range from a simple reprimand to an order dismissing the action with or without prejudice."

Summary of this case from Smith v. Mac Sim Butler Montgomery Cnty. Det. Facility

holding that a "district court possesses the inherent power to police its docket."

Summary of this case from Mann v. Franklin

holding that "[t]he district court possesses the inherent power to police its docket."

Summary of this case from Pinchon v. Walker

holding that "[t]he district court possesses the inherent power to police its docket. . . . . The sanctions imposed [upon dilatory litigants] can range from a simple reprimand to an order dismissing the action with or without prejudice."

Summary of this case from Hines v. Dunn

holding that "[t]he district court possesses the inherent power to police its docket. . . . . The sanctions imposed [upon dilatory litigants] can range from a simple reprimand to an order dismissing the action with or without prejudice."

Summary of this case from Cole v. Shackelford

holding that a "district court possesses the inherent power to police its docket."

Summary of this case from Lett v. Ivey
Case details for

Mingo v. Sugar Cane Growers Co-op. of Florida

Case Details

Full title:HUGH D. MINGO, INDIVIDUALLY AND ON BEHALF OF ALL OTHERS SIMILARLY…

Court:United States Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit

Date published: Jan 23, 1989

Citations

864 F.2d 101 (11th Cir. 1989)

Citing Cases

Royal Palace Hotel Associates, Inc. v. International Resort Classics, Inc.

In addition, the district court possesses the inherent power to police its docket. SeeLink v. Wabash Railroad…

Wonders Trust v. Deaton, Inc.

In addition, the district court possesses the inherent power to police its docket. SeeLink v. Wabash Railroad…