Shehee v. Hill, et al.
Filing
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FINDINGS And RECOMMENDATION To Dismiss Action For Failure To Comply With A Court Order (Fourteen Day Deadline) (Doc. 1 ), signed by Magistrate Judge Dennis L. Beck on 1/16/2015. F&R's referred to Judge Anthony W. Ishii; Objections to F&R due by 2/3/2015. (Fahrney, E)
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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
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EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
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GREGORY ELL SHEHEE,
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Plaintiff,
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vs.
LAURIE HILL, et al.,
Defendants.
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1:13-CV-01936 AWI DLB PC
FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATION TO
DISMISS ACTION FOR FAILURE TO
COMPLY WITH A COURT ORDER
(FOURTEEN DAY DEADLINE)
Plaintiff Gregory Ell Shehee (“Plaintiff”) is a civil detainee proceeding pro se and in
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forma pauperis in this civil rights action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. Plaintiff filed this action
on November 21, 2013.
On October 20, 2014, the Court screened the initial complaint and determined that
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Plaintiff failed to state a claim upon which relief may be granted under § 1983. The Court
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dismissed the complaint and granted Plaintiff thirty (30) days to file an amended complaint.
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Plaintiff was forewarned that failure to file an amended complaint within the allotted time would
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result in the action being dismissed with prejudice for failure to state a claim. Over thirty (30)
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days have passed and Plaintiff has failed to comply with the Court’s order.
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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
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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.
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See, e.g., Ghazali v. Moran, 46 F.3d 52, 53-54 (9th Cir. 1995) (dismissal for noncompliance with
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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, 144041 (9th Cir. 1988) (dismissal for failure to comply with local rule requiring pro se plaintiffs to
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keep court apprised of address); Malone v. U.S. Postal Service, 833 F.2d 128, 130 (9th Cir.
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1987) (dismissal for failure to comply with court order); Henderson v. Duncan, 779 F.2d 1421,
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1424 (9th Cir. 1986) (dismissal for failure to lack of prosecution and failure to comply with local
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rules).
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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;
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Henderson, 779 F.2d at 1423-24; Malone, 833 F.2d at 130; Ferdik, 963 F.2d at 1260-61; Ghazali,
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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. The third
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factor, risk of prejudice to defendants, also weighs in favor of dismissal, since a presumption of
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injury arises from the occurrence of unreasonable delay in prosecuting an action. Anderson v.
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Air West, 542 F.2d 522, 524 (9th Cir. 1976). The fourth factor -- public policy favoring
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disposition of cases on their merits -- is greatly outweighed by the factors in favor of dismissal
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discussed herein. Finally, a court’s warning to a party that his failure to obey the court’s order
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will result in dismissal satisfies the “consideration of alternatives” requirement. Ferdik v.
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Bonzelet, 963 F.2d at 1262; Malone, 833 at 132-33; Henderson, 779 F.2d at 1424. The Court’s
order expressly stated that dismissal would result if Plaintiff failed to file an amended complaint
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within the allotted time. Thus, Plaintiff had adequate warning that dismissal would result from
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his noncompliance with the Court’s order.
RECOMMENDATION
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Accordingly, the Court HEREBY RECOMMENDS that this action be dismissed with
prejudice based on Plaintiff's failure to obey the Court’s order of October 20, 2014.
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These Findings and Recommendations are submitted to the United States District Judge
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assigned to the case, pursuant to the provisions of Title 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(l). Within fourteen
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(14) days after date of service of these Findings and Recommendations, Plaintiff may file written
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objections with the Court. Such a document should be captioned “Objections to Magistrate
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Judge's Findings and Recommendations.” Plaintiff is advised that failure to file objections
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within the specified time may waive the right to appeal the District Court's order. Martinez v.
Ylst, 951 F.2d 1153 (9th Cir. 1991).
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IT IS SO ORDERED.
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Dated:
/s/ Dennis
January 16, 2015
L. Beck
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE
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