Martin v. Pleasant Valley State Prison

Filing 31

ORDER DISMISSING CASE (w/Strike) based on Plaintiffs failure to obey Courts order 30 , and for failure to state a claim; This dismissal counts as a strike, signed by Magistrate Judge Dennis L. Beck on 8/30/2010. CASE CLOSED. (Marrujo, C)

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(PC) Martin v. Pleasant Valley State Prison Doc. 31 1 2 3 4 5 CURTIS L. MARTIN, 6 Plaintiff, 7 v. 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 Plaintiff Curtis L. Martin ("Plaintiff") is a California state prisoner proceeding pro se and in forma pauperis in this civil rights action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. On July 14, 2010, the Court issued an order granting Plaintiff an extension of time to respond to the Court's Order to Show Cause. (Doc. 30.) Plaintiff has failed to comply or otherwise respond to this order. Local Rule 110 provides that "failure of counsel or of a party to comply with these Local Rules or with any order of the Court may be grounds for the imposition by the Court of any and all sanctions . . . within the inherent power of the Court." District courts have the inherent power to control their dockets and "in the exercise of that power, they may impose sanctions including, where appropriate . . . dismissal of a case." Thompson v. Housing Auth., 782 F.2d 829, 831 (9th Cir. 1986). A court may dismiss an action, with prejudice, based on a party's failure to prosecute an action, failure to obey a court order, or failure to comply with local rules. See, e.g., Ghazali v. Moran, 46 F.3d 52, 53-54 (9th Cir. 1995) (dismissal for noncompliance with local rule); Ferdik v. Bonzelet, 963 F.2d 1258, 1260-61 (9th Cir. 1992) (dismissal for failure to comply with an order requiring amendment of complaint); Carey v. King, 856 F.2d 1439, 1440-41 (9th Cir. 1988) (dismissal for failure to comply with local rule requiring pro se plaintiffs to keep court apprised of address); Malone v. U.S. Postal Service, 833 F.2d 128, 130 (9th Cir. 1987) (dismissal for failure to comply with court order); Henderson v. Duncan, 779 F.2d 1421, 1424 (9th Cir. 1 Dockets.Justia.com UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA CASE NO. 1:09-CV-00755-DLB PC ORDER DISMISSING ACTION FOR FAILURE TO OBEY A COURT ORDER AND FAILURE TO STATE A CLAIM (DOC. 30) DISMISSAL COUNTS AS STRIKE PURSUANT TO 28 U.S.C. § 1915(G) / PLEASANT VALLEY STATE PRISON, et al., Defendants. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 1986) (dismissal for failure to lack of prosecution and failure to comply with local rules). In determining whether to dismiss an action for lack of prosecution, failure to obey a court order, or failure to comply with local rules, the Court must consider several factors: (1) the public's interest in expeditious resolution of litigation; (2) the Court's need to manage its docket; (3) the risk of prejudice to the defendants; (4) the public policy favoring disposition of cases on their merits; and (5) the availability of less drastic alternatives. Thompson, 782 F.2d at 831; Henderson, 779 F.2d at 1423-24; Malone, 833 F.2d at 130; Ferdik, 963 F.2d at 1260-61; Ghazali, 46 F.3d at 53. In the instant case, the Court finds that the public's interest in expeditiously resolving this litigation and the Court's interest in managing the docket weigh in favor of dismissal. Plaintiff was provided numerous opportunities to obey the Court's order and file an amended complaint, but failed to comply. The third factor, risk of prejudice to defendants, also weighs in favor of dismissal, since a presumption of injury arises from the occurrence of unreasonable delay in prosecuting an action. Anderson v. Air West, 542 F.2d 522, 524 (9th Cir. 1976). The fourth factor -- public policy favoring disposition of cases on their merits -- is greatly outweighed by the factors in favor of dismissal discussed herein. Finally, a court's warning to a party that his failure to obey the court's order will result in dismissal satisfies the "consideration of alternatives" requirement. Ferdik, 963 F.2d at 1262; Malone, 833 F.2d at 132-33; Henderson, 779 F.2d at 1424. Plaintiff was warned that "failure to respond will result in dismissal of this action for failure to obey a court order and failure to state a claim." This constitutes sufficient consideration of alternatives. Accordingly, the Court HEREBY ORDERS that this action is DISMISSED based on Plaintiff's failure to obey the Court's order of July 14, 2010, and for failure to state a claim. This dismissal counts as a strike pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(g). IT IS SO ORDERED. Dated: 77e0d6 August 30, 2010 /s/ Dennis L. Beck UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE 2

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