Hubbard v. Gipson et al
Filing
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ORDER to SHOW CAUSE why Action Should not be Dismissed with Prejudice for Failure to Obey a Court Order and Failure to Prosecute signed by Magistrate Judge Michael J. Seng on 08/04/2014. Show Cause Response due by 8/22/2014.(Flores, E)
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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
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EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
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ZANE HUBBARD,
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Plaintiff,
ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE WHY ACTION
SHOULD NOT BE DISMISSED WITH
PREJUDICE FOR FAILURE TO OBEY A
COURT ORDER AND FAILURE TO
PROSECUTE
Defendants.
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CASE NO. 1:14-cv-0275-LJO-MJS (PC)
(ECF No. 7)
v.
GIPSON, et al.,
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FOURTEEN (14) DAY DEADLINE
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Plaintiff is a state prisoner proceeding pro se and in forma pauperis in this civil
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rights action brought pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. On June 20, 2014, Plaintiff’s
complaint was dismissed for failure to state a claim, but he was given leave to file a first
amended complaint within thirty days. (ECF No. 7.) The thirty day deadline has passed
without Plaintiff either filing an amended pleading or seeking an extension of time to do
so.
Local Rule 110 provides that “failure of counsel or of a party to comply with these
Rules or with any order of the Court may be grounds for 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
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impose sanctions including, where appropriate . . . dismissal of a case.” Thompson v.
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Housing Auth., 782 F.2d 829, 831 (9th Cir. 1986). A court may dismiss an action, with
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prejudice, based on a party’s failure to prosecute, failure to obey a court order, or failure
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to comply with local rules. See, e.g., Ghazali v. Moran, 46 F.3d 52, 53-54 (9th Cir. 1995)
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(dismissal for noncompliance with local rule); Ferdik v. Bonzelet, 963 F.2d 1258, 1260-
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61 (9th Cir. 1992) (dismissal for failure to comply with an order requiring amendment of a
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complaint); Carey v. King, 856 F.2d 1439, 1440-41 (9th Cir. 1988) (dismissal for failure
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to comply with local rule requiring pro se plaintiffs to keep court apprised of address);
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Malone v. U.S. Postal Service, 833 F.2d 128, 130 (9th Cir. 1987) (dismissal for failure to
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comply with a court order); Henderson v. Duncan, 779 F.2d 1421, 1424 (9th Cir. 1986)
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(dismissal for lack of prosecution and failure to comply with local rules).
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In determining whether to dismiss an action for lack of prosecution, failure to obey
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a court order, or failure to comply with local rules, the Court must consider several
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factors: (1) the public’s interest in expeditious resolution of litigation, (2) the Court’s need
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to manage its docket, (3) the risk of prejudice to the defendants, (4) the public policy
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favoring disposition of cases on their merits, and (5) the availability of less drastic
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alternatives. Thompson, 782 F.2d at 831; Henderson, 779 F.2d at 1423-24; Malone, 833
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F.2d at 130; Ferdik, 963 F.2d at 1260-61; Ghazali, 46 F.3d at 53.
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In the instant case, the public’s interest in expeditiously resolving this litigation
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and the Court’s interest in managing its 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
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presumption of injury arises from the occurrence of unreasonable delay in prosecuting
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this action. Anderson v. Air West, 542 F.2d 522, 524 (9th Cir. 1976). The fourth factor --
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public policy favoring disposition of cases on their merits -- is greatly outweighed by the
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factors in favor of dismissal discussed herein. Finally, as for the availability of lesser
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sanctions, at this stage in the proceedings there is little available which would constitute
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a satisfactory lesser sanction while preserving scarce Court resources. Plaintiff has not
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paid the filing fee for this action and is likely unable to pay, making monetary sanctions
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of little use.
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Accordingly, it is HEREBY ORDERED that:
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Within fourteen (14) days of service of this Order, Plaintiff shall either show
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cause as to why this action should not be dismissed with prejudice for
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failure to comply with the Court’s order (ECF No. 7) and failure to
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prosecute, or file an amended complaint, and
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2.
If Plaintiff fails to show cause or file an amended complaint, the
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undersigned shall recommend this action be dismissed, with prejudice,
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subject to the “three strikes” provision set forth in 28 U.S.C. § 1915(g).
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Silva v. Di Vittorio, 658 F.3d 1090 (9th Cir. 2011).
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IT IS SO ORDERED.
Dated:
August 4, 2014
/s/
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Michael J. Seng
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE
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