Segovia v. Peters, et al.

Filing 16

ORDER to SHOW CAUSE Why Action should not be Dismissed with Prejudice for Failure to Obey a Court Order and Failure to Prosecute; Show Cause Response due within Fourteen (14) Days signed by Magistrate Judge Michael J. Seng on 2/28/2017. (Sant Agata, S)

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

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EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

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DAVID SEGOVIA,

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CASE NO. 1:17-cv-00053-MJS (PC)

Plaintiff,

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE WHY ACTION
SHOULD NOT BE DISMISSED WITH
PREJUDICE FOR FAILURE TO OBEY A
COURT ORDER AND FAILURE TO
PROSECUTE

Defendant.

(ECF No. 15)

v.
PETERS,

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. Plaintiff initiated this action on

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October 10, 2014 in the Sacramento Division of the Eastern District of California. (ECF

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No. 1.) On January 12, 2017, the Court screened Plaintiff’s complaint and determined

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that it states a cognizable claim against Defendant Peters, but no other claims. (ECF No.

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13.) Because the only cognizable claims arose at Kern Valley State Prison, the action

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was transferred to the Fresno Division of the Eastern District of California. (Id.)

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On January 17, 2017, the undersigned ordered Plaintiff to return service

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documents within thirty days to initiate service of process on Defendant Peters. (ECF

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No. 15.) Plaintiff was warned that failure to comply would result in dismissal of the action.

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The thirty day deadline passed without Plaintiff submitting service documents or

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requesting an extension of time in which to do so.

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Local Rule 110 provides that “failure of counsel or of a party to comply with these

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Rules or with any order of the Court may be grounds for imposition by the Court of any

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and all sanctions . . . within the inherent power of the Court.” District courts have the

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inherent power to control their dockets and “in the exercise of that power, they may

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impose sanctions including, where appropriate, default or dismissal.” 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:
1.

Within fourteen (14) days of service of this Order, Plaintiff shall either

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submit service documents as ordered or show cause as to why this action

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should not be dismissed with prejudice for failure to prosecute and failure

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to comply with the Court’s order (ECF No. 15); and

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2.

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If Plaintiff fails to show cause or submit service documents, the
undersigned will recommend that the action be dismissed, with prejudice.

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IT IS SO ORDERED.
Dated:

February 28, 2017

/s/

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Michael J. Seng

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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