Gant v. McDonald et al
Filing
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FINDINGS and RECOMMENDATIONS signed by Magistrate Judge Kendall J. Newman on 1/4/2012 RECOMMENDING that this action be dismissed without prejudice pursuant to F.R.Civ.P. 41(b). Referred to Judge Lawrence K. Karlton; Objections due within 21 days. (Yin, K)
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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
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FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
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TONY AUSTIN GANT,
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Plaintiff,
No. 2: 10-cv-1364 LKK KJN P
vs.
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M.D. McDONALD, et al.,
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Defendants.
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FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
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Plaintiff is a state prisoner, proceeding without counsel, with a civil rights action
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pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. On October 19, 2011, defendants filed a motion for summary
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judgment. On November 2, 2010, the court advised plaintiff of the requirements for opposing a
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motion pursuant to Rule 56 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. See Rand v. Rowland, 154
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F.3d 952, 957 (9th Cir. 1998) (en banc), and Klingele v. Eikenberry, 849 F.2d 409, 411-12 (9th
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Cir. 1988). In that same order, plaintiff was advised of the requirements for filing an opposition
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to the pending motion and that failure to oppose such a motion might be deemed a waiver of
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opposition to the motion.
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On November 23, 2011, plaintiff was ordered to file an opposition or a statement
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of non-opposition to the pending motion within thirty days. In the same order, plaintiff was
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informed that failure to file an opposition would result in a recommendation that this action
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be dismissed pursuant to Rule 41(b) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. The thirty day
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period has now expired and plaintiff has not responded to the court’s order.
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“Pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 41(b), the district court may dismiss
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an action for failure to comply with any order of the court.” Ferdik v. Bonzelet, 963 F.2d 1258,
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1260 (9th Cir. 1992). “In determining whether to dismiss a case for failure to comply with a
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court order the district court must weigh five factors including: ‘(1) the public's interest in
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expeditious resolution of litigation; (2) the court's need to manage its docket; (3) the risk of
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prejudice to the defendants; (4) the public policy favoring disposition of cases on their merits;
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and (5) the availability of less drastic alternatives.’” Ferdik, 963 F.2d at 1260-61 (quoting
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Thompson v. Housing Auth., 782 F.2d 829, 831 (9th Cir. 1986)); see also Ghazali v. Moran, 46
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F.3d 52, 53 (9th Cir. 1995).
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In determining to recommend that this action be dismissed, the court has
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considered the five factors set forth in Ferdik. Here, as in Ferdik, the first two factors strongly
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support dismissal of this action. The action has been pending for 1 ½ years and has reached the
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stage, set by the court’s scheduling order, for resolution of dispositive motions and, if necessary,
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preparation for pretrial conference and jury trial. Plaintiff’s failure to comply with the Local
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Rules and the court’s November 2, 2010, order suggests that he has abandoned this action and
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that further time spent by the court thereon will consume scarce judicial resources in addressing
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litigation which plaintiff demonstrates no intention to pursue.
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Under the circumstances of this case, the third factor, prejudice to defendants
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from plaintiff’s failure to oppose the motion, also favors dismissal. Plaintiff’s failure to oppose
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the motion prevents defendants from addressing plaintiff’s substantive opposition, and would
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delay resolution of this action, thereby causing defendants to incur additional time and expense.
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The fifth factor also favors dismissal. The court has advised plaintiff of the
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requirements under the Local Rules and granted ample additional time to oppose the pending
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motion, all to no avail. The court finds no suitable alternative to dismissal of this action.
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The fourth factor, public policy favoring disposition of cases on their merits,
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weighs against dismissal of this action as a sanction. However, for the reasons set forth supra,
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the first, second, third, and fifth factors strongly support dismissal. Under the circumstances of
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this case, those factors outweigh the general public policy favoring disposition of cases on their
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merits. See Ferdik, 963 F.2d at 1263.
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For the foregoing reasons, IT IS HEREBY RECOMMENDED that this action be
dismissed without prejudice pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 41(b).
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These findings and recommendations are submitted to the United States District
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Judge assigned to the case, pursuant to the provisions of 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(l). Within twenty-
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one days after being served with these findings and recommendations, any party may file written
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objections with the court and serve a copy on all parties. Such a document should be captioned
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“Objections to Magistrate Judge’s Findings and Recommendations.” Any response to the
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objections shall be filed and served within fourteen days after service of the objections. The
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parties are advised that failure to file objections within the specified time may waive the right to
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appeal the District Court’s order. Martinez v. Ylst, 951 F.2d 1153 (9th Cir. 1991).
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DATED: January 4, 2012
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_____________________________________
KENDALL J. NEWMAN
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE
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gant1364.46
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