DISMISSAL OF INACTIVE CASES

U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee

Rule Set: Local Rules of the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee

Rule: 41.01

Jurisdiction: MDTN

Bluebook Citation: M.D. Tenn. L.R. 41.01

All Rules: M.D. Tenn. Local Rules, complete index


Text

(a) Dismissal for Unreasonable Delay. Civil suits that have been pending for an unreasonable period of time without any action having been taken by any party may be summarily dismissed, but the dismissal shall be without prejudice to refile or to move the Court to set aside the order of dismissal for just cause. (b) Dismissal for Failure of Pro Se Plaintiff to Keep Court Apprised of Current Address. A party proceeding pro se must keep the Court and opposing parties apprised of the pro se party’s current address and other contact information, such as telephone number and email address, if any.

Failure of a pro se plaintiff to timely notify the Court and opposing parties of any change in address may result in dismissal of the action with or without prejudice. (c) Reinstatement. If any action dismissed under this rule is reinstated, the Court may impose such sanctions as are just and reasonable under the circumstances of the case. LR 45.01 − SUBPOENAS (a) Issuance of Subpoenas to Pro Se Parties.

The Clerk shall issue subpoenas to pro se parties pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 45 only upon written motion made and order entered by the Court. 16 (b) Service of Subpoenas by United States Marshal. The United States Marshal will not serve subpoenas for witnesses in civil cases unless so required by these Rules, the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, or by order of the Court. (c) Deposition Subpoenas.

A notice of deposition must be served under Fed. R. Civ. P. 30 prior to service of any subpoena of the deponent. (d) Timing of Subpoenas for Production of Documents. Whenever a party issues a subpoena for the production of documents to a person not a party to the action pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 45, the party issuing the subpoena must serve a copy of the subpoena by facsimile, electronically, or by hand delivery upon counsel for every other party to the action at least two (2) business days prior to service of the subpoena. Each party to the action in which such a subpoena is served shall have the right to inspect and copy documents produced pursuant to such a subpoena, absent an order of the Court to the contrary.

LR 54.01 – COSTS AND ATTORNEY’S FEES (a) Costs. If counsel for the litigants in a civil case are able to agree on costs, they need not file a bill of costs with the Clerk. If counsel cannot agree, a bill of costs, with supporting documentation, must be filed by the prevailing party with the Clerk within thirty (30) days from the entry of the judgment in the case. A copy of said bill of costs must be served on opposing counsel.

The filing of a bill of costs in the Court’s CM/ECF system and the subsequent Notice of Electronic Filing (NEF) that is generated and emailed to case participants, or in the case of a paper filing the filing and service of a Bill of Costs by the filer, shall constitute the commencement of the 14-day notice period required under Fed. R. Civ. P. 54(d)(1)for the taxation of costs by the Clerk. Upon expiration of the 14-day period, the Clerk shall tax costs as sought by the prevailing party unless an objection is filed by the opposing party. If objections are filed within the 14-day period, the Clerk shall review the objections and make a determination as to whether and in what amount the costs should be taxed. Notice of the proposed taxation shall be provided by the Clerk and any exceptions to the proposed taxation must be filed within fourteen (14) days from the filing of the Notice of Taxation.

Following consideration of the exceptions the Clerk shall issue a Taxation of Costs assessing the costs. Any motion seeking court review of the Clerk’s taxation must be filed within seven (7) days from the date of the filing of the Taxation of Costs by the Clerk. (b) Attorney’s Fees. (1) After Entry of District Court Judgment.

Unless otherwise provided by statute or order of the Court, a motion for an award of attorney’s fees and related nontaxable expenses must be filed within thirty (30) days from the District Court’s entry of final judgment in the case. (2) After Any Appeal. Unless otherwise provided by statute or order of the Court, a motion for an award of attorney’s fees and related nontaxable expenses for appellate and Supreme Court litigation in the case must be made within thirty (30) days of the entry of the Sixth Circuit mandate and, if applicable, thirty (30) days from the denial of a petition for certiorari or other final decision of the Supreme Court. 17 (3) Social Security Appeals.

(A) Any application for attorney’s fees under 28 U.S.C. § 2412(d)(1)(A) must be filed within thirty (30) days of the order of remand or reversal, and must be accompanied by the supporting documents described in this rule. (B) Any application for attorney’s fees under 42 U.S.C §406(b) must be filed within thirty (30) days after plaintiff's federal court attorney has received all of the Notices of Award that are necessary to calculate the total amount of retroactive benefits payable. An application submitted beyond the 30-day period will be considered only upon a showing of good cause for the delay. In addition to the required supporting documents described in this rule, a copy of the Notice(s) of Award must accompany any application for fees under this section.

(c) Requirement for Supporting Documents; Deadline for Objections. A motion or application for an award of attorney’s fees must be supported by a separately filed memorandum of law as to the authority of the Court to make such an award, and as to why the movant should be considered the “prevailing party,” if such is required for the award. The motion must also be supported by an accompanying affidavit of counsel setting out in detail the number of hours spent on each aspect of the case, the rate customarily charged by counsel for such work, the prevailing rate charged in the community for similar services, and any other factors that the Court should consider in making the award. The party or parties against whom the award is requested must file any objections within fourteen (14) days of the filing of the motion.

The objections must be accompanied by a memorandum setting forth the objecting party’s contentions why the award is excessive, unwarranted, or unjust. Failure to file timely objections may be deemed to be no opposition to the requested fees.

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