Hobson v. Dallas Police Dept et al

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS
FORT WORTH DIVISION
FREDDIE LEE HOBSON, 	§
§
Plaintiff, 	§
§
v. 	§ 	Civil Action No. 4:26-cv-0013-O-BP
§
DALLAS POLICE DEPT, et al., 	§
§
Defendants. 	§
FINDINGS, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATION
OF THE UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE
On January 7, 2026, pro se Plaintiff Freddie Lee Hobson filed a civil complaint, and this
case was referred to the undersigned for judicial screening pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(b) and
Special Order 3. ECF Nos. 1, 3.
The findings, conclusions and recommendation of the United States Magistrate Judge are
as follows:
FINDINGS AND CONCLUSIONS:
A. 	NATURE OF THE CASE
This case is a new civil action.
B. 	PARTIES
Freddie Lee Hobson is the plaintiff. He names “Dallas Police Dept” and “City Manager”
as defendants.
C. 	LEGAL ANALYSIS
To proceed with a civil action in this Court, a plaintiff must either pay the $405.00 filing
and administrative fees or be granted permission to proceed in forma pauperis (“IFP”). See 28
U.S.C. §§ 1914, 1915. On January 13, after reviewing Plaintiff’s IFP application, the Court
determined that it was deficient because Plaintiff did not complete all sections of the form, which
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elicits information that is necessary for the Court to review when assessing his pauper status. ECF
No. 5. The Court ordered Plaintiff to either pay the $405.00 filing and administrative fees to the
clerk of Court or file a complete long-form IFP application by January 27. Id. The Court provided
Plaintiff the form necessary to comply and warned him that failure to do so could result in dismissal
of this case without further notice for failure to prosecute. Id.
Rule 41(b) permits a court to dismiss an action sua sponte for failure to prosecute or follow
orders of the court. McCullough v. Lynaugh, 835 F.2d 1126, 1127 (5th Cir. 1988). This authority
flows from a court’s inherent power to control its docket, prevent undue delays in the disposition
of pending cases, and avoid congested court calendars. Link v. Wabash R.R. Co., 370 U.S. 626,
629-31 (1962).
The deadline for Plaintiff to comply with the Court’s January 13 order expired. To date,
Plaintiff has not complied with the Court’s order, sought an extension of time to do so, or otherwise
attempted to cure his filing deficiency or communicate with the Court about his case. Because
Plaintiff has not paid the requisite fees or obtained permission to proceed IFP, this case is subject
to dismissal for failure to comply with Court orders and for lack of prosecution under Rule 41(b).
RECOMMENDATION
The 	undersigned 	therefore 	RECOMMENDS 	that 	the 	Court 	DISMISS 	Plaintiff’s
complaint for lack of prosecution, without prejudice to being refiled. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 41(b).
A copy of these findings, conclusions, and recommendation shall be served on all parties
in the manner provided by law. Under 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1), each party to this action has the right
to serve and file specific written objections in the United States District Court to the United States
Magistrate Judge’s proposed findings, conclusions, and recommendation within fourteen (14)
days after the party has been served with a copy of this document. The United States District Judge
need only make a de novo determination of those portions of the United States Magistrate Judge’s
proposed findings, conclusions, and recommendation to which specific objection is timely made.
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See 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1). Failure to file by the date stated above a specific written objection to a
proposed factual finding or legal conclusion will bar a party, except upon grounds of plain error
or manifest injustice, from attacking on appeal any such proposed factual findings and legal
conclusions accepted by the United States District Judge. See Douglass v. United Servs. Auto
Ass’n, 79 F.3d 1415, 1428–29 (5th Cir. 1996) (en banc), superseded by statute 28 U.S.C. §
636(b)(1) (extending the deadline to file objections from ten to fourteen days).
SIGNED on February 6, 2026.
Hal R. Ray, Jr.
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE
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