Hernandez v. Gonzalez

Filing 20

FINDINGS and RECOMMENDATIONS Recommending that this 10 Action be Dismissed, with Prejudice, based on Plaintiff's Failure to Obey the Court's 19 Order of November 7, 2011 and Plaintiff's Failure to Prosecute this Action signed by Magistrate Judge Gary S. Austin on 1/4/2012. Referred to Judge Lawrence J. O'Neill. Objections to F&R due by 2/6/2012. (Sant Agata, S)

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1 2 3 4 5 6 7 IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 8 FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 9 10 FAUSTINO LEON HERNANDEZ, 11 12 13 14 Plaintiff, vs. C/O J. GONZALEZ, Defendant. ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) 1:10-cv-00248-LJO-GSA-PC FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS TO DISMISS CASE FOR FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH COURT ORDER AND FAILURE TO PROSECUTE OBJECTIONS, IF ANY, DUE IN THIRTY DAYS 15 16 Faustino Leon Hernandez ("Plaintiff") is a state prisoner proceeding pro se and in form pauperis 17 with this civil rights action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. On November 7, 2011, the Court issued an 18 order requiring Plaintiff to file an opposition or notice of non-opposition to Defendant's motion to 19 dismiss for failure to exhaust remedies, within thirty days. (Doc. 19.) The thirty day period has now 20 expired, and Plaintiff has not filed an opposition or notice of non-opposition, or otherwise responded 21 to the Court's order. 22 In determining whether to dismiss this action for failure to comply with the directives set forth 23 in its order, “the Court must weigh the following factors: (1) the public’s interest in expeditious 24 resolution of litigation; (2) the court’s need to manage its docket; (3) the risk of prejudice to defendants; 25 (4) the availability of less drastic alternatives; and (5) the public policy favoring disposition of cases on 26 their merits.” Pagtalunan v. Galaza, 291 F.3d 639, 642 (9th Cir. 2002) (citing Ferdik v. Bonzelet, 963 27 F.2d 1258, 1260-61 (9th Cir. 1992)). 28 1 1 “‘The public’s interest in expeditious resolution of litigation always favors dismissal,’” id. 2 (quoting Yourish v. California Amplifier, 191 F.3d 983, 990 (9th Cir. 1999)), and here, the action has 3 been pending for nearly two years. Moreover, Plaintiff has not submitted any documents for filing in 4 this action for more than eight months. Plaintiff's failure to respond to the Court's order appears to 5 reflect Plaintiff's disinterest in prosecuting this case. In such an instance, the Court cannot continue to 6 expend its scarce resources assisting a litigant who will not help himself by responding to court orders 7 or defending his case against dismissal. Thus, both the first and second factors weigh in favor of 8 dismissal. 9 Turning to the risk of prejudice, “pendency of a lawsuit is not sufficiently prejudicial in and of 10 itself to warrant dismissal.” Id. (citing Yourish at 991). However, “delay inherently increases the risk 11 that witnesses’ memories will fade and evidence will become stale,” id., and it is Plaintiff's failure to 12 oppose Defendant's motion to dismiss in the first instance and to respond to the Court's order in the 13 second instance that is causing delay. Therefore, the third factor weighs in favor of dismissal. 14 As for the availability of lesser sanctions, at this stage in the proceedings there is little available 15 to the Court which would constitute a satisfactory lesser sanction while protecting the Court from further 16 unnecessary expenditure of its scarce resources. Plaintiff is proceeding in forma pauperis in this action, 17 making monetary sanctions of little use, and given the early stage of these proceedings, the preclusion 18 of evidence or witnesses is not available. The dismissal being considered in this case is with prejudice, 19 which is the harshest possible sanction. However, the Court finds this sanction appropriate in light of 20 the fact that five months have passed since Defendant filed the motion to dismiss, and Plaintiff has yet 21 to respond. 22 23 Finally, because public policy favors disposition on the merits, this factor will always weigh against dismissal. Id. at 643. 24 Accordingly, the court HEREBY RECOMMENDS that this action be dismissed, with prejudice, 25 based on Plaintiff's failure to obey the Court’s order of November 7, 2011 and Plaintiff's failure to 26 prosecute this action. 27 /// 28 2 1 These findings and recommendations are submitted to the United States District Judge assigned 2 to the case, pursuant to the provisions of Title 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(l). Within thirty days after being 3 served with these findings and recommendations, Plaintiff may file written objections with the court. 4 Such a document should be captioned "Objections to Magistrate Judge's Findings and 5 Recommendations." Plaintiff is advised that failure to file objections within the specified time may 6 waive the right to appeal the District Court's order. Martinez v. Ylst, 951 F.2d 1153 (9th Cir. 1991). 7 8 IT IS SO ORDERED. 9 Dated: 6i0kij January 4, 2012 /s/ Gary S. Austin UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 3

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