Dominguez v. Morgan et al

Filing 13

ORDER to SHOW CAUSE Why Action Should Not Be Dismissed With Prejudice for Failure to State a Claim, Failure to Obey a Court Order, and Failure to Prosecute signed by Magistrate Judge Michael J. Seng on 1/3/2018. Show Cause Response due within fourteen (14) days. (Jessen, A)

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1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 11 EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 12 13 AMORY DOMINGUEZ, 14 15 16 17 Plaintiff, v. QUEEN VICTORIA MORGAN, et al., Defendants. 18 CASE NO. 1:17-cv-01403-DAD-MJS (PC) ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE WHY ACTION SHOULD NOT BE DISMISSED WITH PREJUDICE FOR FAILURE TO STATE A CLAIM, FAILURE TO OBEY A COURT ORDER, AND FAILURE TO PROSECUTE (ECF No. 12) FOURTEEN (14) DAY DEADLINE 19 20 21 Plaintiff is a state prisoner proceeding pro se and in forma pauperis in this civil 22 rights action brought pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. On November 22, 2017, the Court 23 dismissed Plaintiff’s complaint for failure to state a claim but gave thirty days leave to 24 amend. (ECF No. 12.) That deadline has passed without Plaintiff filing an amended 25 pleading; notice of voluntary dismissal; notice of electing to stand on his complaint; or 26 seeking an extension of time to do so. 27 28 Local Rule 110 provides that “failure of counsel or of a party to comply with these 1 Rules or with any order of the Court may be grounds for imposition by the Court of any 2 and all sanctions . . . within the inherent power of the Court.” District courts have the 3 inherent power to control their dockets and “in the exercise of that power, they may 4 impose sanctions including, where appropriate, default or dismissal.” Thompson v. 5 Housing Auth., 782 F.2d 829, 831 (9th Cir. 1986). A court may dismiss an action, with 6 prejudice, based on a party’s failure to prosecute, failure to obey a court order, or failure 7 to comply with local rules. See, e.g., Ghazali v. Moran, 46 F.3d 52, 53-54 (9th Cir. 1995) 8 (dismissal for noncompliance with local rule); Ferdik v. Bonzelet, 963 F.2d 1258, 1260- 9 61 (9th Cir. 1992) (dismissal for failure to comply with an order requiring amendment of a 10 complaint); Carey v. King, 856 F.2d 1439, 1440-41 (9th Cir. 1988) (dismissal for failure 11 to comply with local rule requiring pro se plaintiffs to keep court apprised of address); 12 Malone v. U.S. Postal Service, 833 F.2d 128, 130 (9th Cir. 1987) (dismissal for failure to 13 comply with a court order); Henderson v. Duncan, 779 F.2d 1421, 1424 (9th Cir. 1986) 14 (dismissal for lack of prosecution and failure to comply with local rules). 15 In determining whether to dismiss an action for lack of prosecution, failure to obey 16 a court order, or failure to comply with local rules, the Court must consider several 17 factors: (1) the public’s interest in expeditious resolution of litigation, (2) the Court’s need 18 to manage its docket, (3) the risk of prejudice to the defendants, (4) the public policy 19 favoring disposition of cases on their merits, and (5) the availability of less drastic 20 alternatives. Thompson, 782 F.2d at 831; Henderson, 779 F.2d at 1423-24; Malone, 833 21 F.2d at 130; Ferdik, 963 F.2d at 1260-61; Ghazali, 46 F.3d at 53. 22 In the instant case, the public’s interest in expeditiously resolving this litigation 23 and the Court’s interest in managing its docket weigh in favor of dismissal. The third 24 factor, risk of prejudice to Defendants, also weighs in favor of dismissal, since a 25 presumption of injury arises from the occurrence of unreasonable delay in prosecuting 26 this action. Anderson v. Air West, 542 F.2d 522, 524 (9th Cir. 1976). The fourth factor -- 27 public policy favoring disposition of cases on their merits -- is greatly outweighed by the 28 factors in favor of dismissal discussed herein. Finally, as for the availability of lesser 2 1 sanctions, at this stage in the proceedings there is little available which would constitute 2 a satisfactory lesser sanction while preserving scarce Court resources. Plaintiff has not 3 paid the filing fee for this action and is likely unable to pay, making monetary sanctions 4 of little use. 5 Accordingly, it is HEREBY ORDERED THAT: 6 1. 7 Within fourteen (14) days of service of this Order, Plaintiff shall either: a. File an amended complaint, notice of voluntary dismissal, notice of 8 electing to stand on his complaint, or 9 b. Show cause as to why this action should not be dismissed with 10 prejudice for failure to state a claim, failure to prosecute, and failure 11 to comply with the Court’s order (ECF No. 12); and 12 2. 13 If Plaintiff fails to comply with this order, the undersigned will recommend that the action be dismissed, with prejudice. 14 15 16 IT IS SO ORDERED. Dated: January 3, 2018 /s/ 17 Michael J. Seng UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 3

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