Mester v. Dickinson et al

Filing 92

ORDER signed by Magistrate Judge Kendall J. Newman on 7/11/11 ORDERING that the Clerk is directed to send plft a copy of the dft's 53 Motion; Response to motion due by 8/1/2011; dft's reply to response due within 7 days thereafter. (Manzer, C)

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1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 9 FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 10 MORRIS MESTER, 11 12 13 Plaintiff, No. 2:09-cv-3307 FCD KJN P vs. K. DICKINSON, et al., 14 Defendants. 15 ORDER / 16 Plaintiff is a state prisoner proceeding without counsel. On November 18, 2010, 17 defendant Miller1 filed a motion to dismiss and motion for summary judgment. The action was 18 subsequently stayed, and on June 24, 2011, the stay was lifted, and plaintiff was granted an 19 extension of time in which to oppose the motion. On July 5, 2011, plaintiff filed a document 20 entitled “Responding to Summary Judgment Motion . . .” in which plaintiff claims he has 21 misplaced the motion and therefore cannot timely respond. Plaintiff claims he is not stalling, but 22 that with all the cell searches and prison transfers, he cannot find his copy of the motion. 23 24 Even litigants proceeding without counsel are required to pay for copies of court filings. Plaintiff is prosecuting his own civil rights action and is required to maintain his own 25 1 26 Defendants Sinkovich and Robertson joined in the motion, but were subsequently dismissed. (Dkt. No. 55.) 1 1 records of court actions. However, given the stale nature of this motion, the court directs the 2 Clerk of Court to provide plaintiff a copy of the motion in order to expedite resolution of this 3 stale motion. Plaintiff is cautioned, however, that it is not inclined to provide plaintiff an 4 extension of time to respond to the motion, nor to provide plaintiff with copies of any other 5 documents filed in this action. 6 In addition, plaintiff claims his complaint “is not all about [defendant] Miller.” 7 (Dkt. 91 at 1.) Plaintiff is reminded that the pending motion was filed by defendant Miller. 8 Therefore, plaintiff need only address plaintiff’s allegations against defendant Miller. Plaintiff 9 should not address any other defendant in the opposition to the motion. 10 Finally, given the stale nature of defendant Miller’s motion, plaintiff is cautioned 11 that the court will not grant any further extensions of time to respond to the pending motion. 12 Local Rule 230(l) provides in part: “Failure of the responding party to file written opposition or 13 to file a statement of no opposition may be deemed a waiver of any opposition to the granting of 14 the motion . . . .” On August 13, 2010, plaintiff was advised of the requirements for filing an 15 opposition to a motion and that failure to oppose such a motion may be deemed a waiver of 16 opposition to the motion. 17 Local Rule 110 provides that failure to comply with the Local Rules “may be 18 grounds for imposition of any and all sanctions authorized by statute or Rule or within the 19 inherent power of the Court.” In the order filed August 10, 2010, plaintiff was also advised that 20 failure to comply with the Local Rules may result in a recommendation that the action be 21 dismissed. 22 Finally, Rule 41(b) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure provides: 23 Involuntary Dismissal; Effect. If the plaintiff fails to prosecute or to comply with these rules or a court order, a defendant may move to dismiss the action or any claim against it. Unless the dismissal order states otherwise, a dismissal under this subdivision (b) and any dismissal not under this rule -- except one for lack of jurisdiction, improper venue, or failure to join a party under Rule 19 -- operates as an adjudication on the merits. 24 25 26 2 1 Id. 2 Good cause appearing, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that: 3 1. The Clerk of Court is directed to send plaintiff a copy of defendant Miller’s 4 November 18, 2010 motion, with attachments (Dkt. Nos. 53-1 & 53-2); 5 2. On or before August 1, 2011, plaintiff shall file an opposition, if any, to the 6 motion to dismiss and for summary judgment. Failure to file a timely opposition will be deemed 7 as consent to have the: (a) pending motion granted; (b) action dismissed for lack of prosecution; 8 and (c) action dismissed based on plaintiff’s failure to comply with these rules and a court order. 9 Such failure shall result in a recommendation that defendant Miller’s motion be granted and 10 plaintiff’s claims against defendant Miller be dismissed pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil 11 Procedure 41(b); and 12 13 3. Defendant Miller’s reply, if any, shall be filed seven days thereafter. DATED: July 11, 2011 14 15 _____________________________________ KENDALL J. NEWMAN UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE 16 17 mest3307.eot2 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 3

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