Hernandez v. Carranza, et al.
Filing
6
FINDINGS and RECOMMENDATIONS recommending that DISMISSAL of this action, based on Plaintiff's failure to prosecute and comply with the Local Rules by keeping his address of record updated re 1 Prisoner Civil Rights Complaint filed by David Hernandez ; referred to Judge Ishii,signed by Magistrate Judge Sheila K. Oberto on 11/21/17. Objections to F&R due 21-Day Deadline (Martin-Gill, S)
1
2
3
4
5
6
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
7
EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
8
9 DAVID HERNANDEZ,
10
Case No. 1:17-cv-01071-SKO (PC)
12 CARRANZA, et al.,
FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS TO
DISMISS ACTION FOR FAILURE TO
COMPLY WITH THE COURT’S ORDER AND
FAILURE TO KEEP HIS ADDRESS OF
RECORD UPDATED
13
(Doc. 3)
11
Plaintiff,
v.
Defendants.
14
TWENTY-ONE (21) DAY DEADLINE
15
CLERK OF THE COURT TO ASSIGN A
DISTRICT JUDGE
16
17
18
19
Plaintiff, David Hernandez, is proceeding pro se and in forma pauperis in this action under
42 U.S.C. § 1983. Plaintiff filed this action on August 10, 2017. On August 14, 2017, the First
Informational Order issued which informed Plaintiff of various requirements to pursue this action
20 (including the requirement to keep his address of record updated), and contained an order for
21 Plaintiff to consent or decline to magistrate judge jurisdiction. (Doc. 3.) Plaintiff was required to
22 return the form indicating his affirmative or negative response to magistrate judge jurisdiction
23 within thirty (30) days. (Doc. 3-1, p. 1.)
24
The First Informational Order and the order re magistrate judge jurisdiction were returned
25 by the United States Postal Service on September 5, 2017, as undeliverable, noting that Plaintiff
26 was not in custody. The order granting Plaintiff’s motion to proceed in forma pauperis that issued
27 on August 16, 2017, was likewise previously returned on August 29, 2017, as undeliverable and
28 unable to forward. An order issued on October 24, 2017, for Plaintiff to show cause why this
1 action should not be dismissed for failure to comply with the Court’s order and to keep his address
2 of record updated. (Doc. 5.) This order was served on Plaintiff that same day and granted twenty3 one (21) days for Plaintiff to file a response. (Id.) More than twenty-one (21) days have passed
4 without Plaintiff having filed a response to the order to show cause, or having updated his address
5 with the Court.
6
A pro se plaintiff must keep the Court and opposing parties informed of the party’s correct
7 address. Local Rule 182(f). If a party moves to a different address without filing and serving a
8 notice of change of address, documents served at a party’s old address of record shall be deemed
9 received even if not actually received. Id. If mail directed to a pro se plaintiff at the address of
10 record is returned by the United States Postal Service as undeliverable, the order will not be served
11 a second time absent a notice of change of address. If a pro se plaintiff’s address is not updated
12 within sixty-three (63) days of mail being returned as undeliverable, the case will be dismissed for
13 failure to prosecute. Local Rule 183(b).
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
The Local Rules corresponding with Fed. R. Civ. P. 11 provide, “[f]ailure of counsel, or of
a party to comply 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.” Local Rule 110. “District
courts have inherent power to control their dockets,” and in exercising that power, a court may
impose sanctions, including dismissal of an action. Thompson v. Housing Authority of Los
Angeles, 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. See, e.g. Ferdik v. Bonzelet, 963 F.2d 1258, 1260-61 (9th Cir. 1992) (dismissal for
failure to comply with an order requiring amendment of complaint); Malone v. U.S. Postal
Service, 833 F.2d 128, 130 (9th Cir. 1987) (dismissal for failure to comply with a court order);
23
Henderson v. Duncan, 779 F.2d 1421, 1424 (9th Cir. 1986) (dismissal for failure to prosecute and
24
to comply with local rules).
25
It appears that Plaintiff abandoned this action shortly after its commencement. Whether
26
Plaintiff did so mistakenly or intentionally after having been released from custody is
27
inconsequential. It matters not that the First Informational Order was not delivered to Plaintiff, as
28
2
1 its mailing was merely a courtesy extended by this Court to incarcerated parties who may not
2 otherwise have ready access to the Local Rules. It is Plaintiff’s responsibility as the party
3 initiating this action to comply with the Court’s Local Rules which require Plaintiff to keep his
4 address of record updated. The Court declines to expend its limited resources to screen or
5 otherwise address a case that Plaintiff has chosen to ignore.
Accordingly, the Court HEREBY RECOMMENDS DISMISSAL of this action, based
6
7 on Plaintiff’s failure to prosecute and comply with the Local Rules by keeping his address of
8 record updated.
Fed. R. Civ. P. 41(b); Local Rule 183(b). The Clerk of the Court is directed to
9 assign a district judge to this action.
These Findings and Recommendations will be submitted to the United States District
10
11 Judge assigned to the case, pursuant to the provisions of Title 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(l). Within
12 twenty-one (21) days after being served with these Findings and Recommendations, the parties
13 may file written objections with the Court. The document should be captioned “Objections to
14 Magistrate Judge’s Findings and Recommendations.” Failure to file objections within the
15 specified time may waive the right to appeal the District Court’s order. Martinez v. Ylst, 951 F.2d
16 1153 (9th Cir. 1991).
17
18
IT IS SO ORDERED.
19 Dated:
20
November 21, 2017
/s/
Sheila K. Oberto
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
3
.
Disclaimer: Justia Dockets & Filings provides public litigation records from the federal appellate and district courts. These filings and docket sheets should not be considered findings of fact or liability, nor do they necessarily reflect the view of Justia.
Why Is My Information Online?