Hairston v Oglesby et al

Filing 13

FINDINGS and RECOMMENDATION to Dismiss Petition 1 , signed by Magistrate Judge Jennifer L. Thurston on 1/17/2017: 21-Day Objection Deadline. (Hellings, J)

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1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 9 EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 10 11 ROBEY HAIRSTON, Petitioner, 12 13 14 15 16 v. JUDGE OGLESBY, et al., Respondents. ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) Case No.: 1:16-cv-01547-LJO-JLT (HC) FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATION TO DISMISS PETITION [TWENTY-ONE DAY DEADLINE] 17 18 On December 5, 2016, the Court conducted a preliminary review of the petition. The Court 19 determined that Petitioner had failed to state a claim, failed to demonstrate exhaustion of state 20 remedies, and failed to name a proper respondent. The petition was dismissed and Petitioner was 21 directed to file an amended petition within thirty days. Over thirty days have passed and Petitioner has 22 failed to comply. Therefore, the Court will recommend the action be DISMISSED. 23 24 DISCUSSION Local Rule 110 provides that “[f]ailure of counsel or of a party to comply with these Rules or 25 with any order of the Court may be grounds for imposition by the Court of any and all 26 sanctions…within the inherent power of the Court.” District Courts have the inherent power to control 27 their dockets and “in the exercise of that power, they may impose sanctions including, where 28 appropriate…dismissal of a case. Thompson v. Housing Auth., 782 F.2d 829, 831 (9th Cir. 1986). A 1 1 court may dismiss an action with prejudice, based on a party’s failure to prosecute an action, failure to 2 obey a court order, or failure to comply with local rules. See, e.g., Ghazali v. Moran, 46 F.3d 52, 53- 3 54 (9th Cir. 1995) (dismissal for noncompliance with local rule); Ferdik v. Bonzelet, 963 F.2d 1258, 4 1260-1261 (9th Cir. 1992) (dismissal for failure to comply with an order requiring amendment of 5 complaint); Carey v. King, 856 F.2d 1439, 1440-1441 (9th Cir. 1988) (dismissal for failure to comply 6 with local rule requiring pro se plaintiffs to keep court apprised of address). 7 In determining whether to dismiss an action for lack of prosecution, the court must consider 8 several factors: (1) the public’s interest in expeditious resolution of litigation; (2) the court’s need to 9 manage its docket; (3) the risk of prejudice to the Respondents; (4) the public policy favoring 10 disposition of cases on their merits; and, (5) the availability of less drastic alternatives. Ghazali, 46 11 F.3d at 53; Ferdik, 963 F.2d at 1260-1261. 12 Here, the Court finds that the public’s interest in expeditiously resolving this litigation and the 13 Court’s interest in managing the docket weigh in favor of dismissal, as this case has been pending 14 since August 4, 2016. The third factor, risk of prejudice to Respondent, also weighs in favor of 15 dismissal, since a presumption of injury arises from the occurrence of unreasonable delay in 16 prosecuting an action. Anderson v. Air West, 542 F.2d 522, 524 (9th Cir. 1976). The fourth factor -- 17 public policy favoring disposition of cases on their merits -- is greatly outweighed by the factors in 18 favor of dismissal discussed herein. Finally, a court’s warning to a party that failure to obey the 19 court’s order will result in dismissal satisfies the “consideration of alternatives” requirement. Ferdik, 20 963 F.2d at 1262. The Court’s order dated December 5, 2016, expressly stated: “Petitioner is 21 forewarned that his failure to comply with this Order may result in an Order of Dismissal or a 22 Recommendation that the petition be dismissed pursuant to Local Rule 110.” (Doc. 11, p. 5) 23 (emphasis in original). Thus, Petitioner had adequate warning that dismissal would result from his 24 noncompliance with the Court’s order. 25 RECOMMENDATION 26 For the foregoing reasons, the Court RECOMMENDS that the instant petition for writ of 27 habeas corpus (Doc. 1), be DISMISSED for failure to obey the Court’s orders and failure to prosecute. 28 2 1 This Findings and Recommendation is submitted to the United States District Court Judge 2 assigned to this case, pursuant to the provisions of 28 U.S.C. section 636 (b)(1)(B) and Rule 304 of the 3 Local Rules of Practice for the United States District Court, Eastern District of California. 4 Within twenty-one days after being served with a copy, Petitioner may file written objections 5 with the Court. Such a document should be captioned “Objections to Magistrate Judge’s Findings and 6 Recommendation.” The Court will then review the Magistrate Judge’s ruling pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 7 636 (b)(1)(C). Petitioner is advised that failure to file objections within the specified time may waive 8 the right to appeal the District Court’s order. Martinez v. Ylst, 951 F.2d 1153 (9th Cir. 1991). 9 10 11 12 IT IS SO ORDERED. Dated: January 17, 2017 /s/ Jennifer L. Thurston UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 3

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