Hall v. Social Security Administration, et al

Filing 5

ORDER signed by Magistrate Judge Kendall J. Newman on 4/20/2017 ORDERING Within 21 days of this order, plaintiff shall pay the Clerk of Court $100.00 in monetary sanctions for failure to comply with the court's orders. Within 21 days of thi s order, plaintiff shall show cause in writing why this action should not be dismissed with prejudice pursuant to FRCP 41(b) based on plaintiff's failure to comply with the court's orders and failure to prosecute the case. Within 21 days of this order, plaintiff shall file a first amended complaint in compliance with the court's 3/16/2017 order. Alternatively, and in lieu of paying the monetary sanctions, responding to the order to show cause, and filing a first amended complaint, plaintiff may instead file a notice of voluntary dismissal of the action without prejudice within 21 days of this order. The Clerk of Court shall serve a copy of the court's 3/16/2017 order on plaintiff along with this order. (Reader, L)

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

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FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

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ANTHONY J. HALL,

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Plaintiff,

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No. 2:17-cv-0065-MCE-KJN PS

v.

ORDER

SOCIAL SECURITY
ADMINISTRATION, et al.,

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Defendants.

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On March 16, 2017, the court granted plaintiff’s application to proceed in forma pauperis

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and dismissed plaintiff’s original complaint with leave to amend. (ECF No. 4.) Plaintiff was

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given 28 days to file either an amended complaint or a notice of voluntary dismissal of the action.

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(Id.) Additionally, plaintiff was expressly cautioned that failure to file either an amended

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complaint or a notice of voluntary dismissal by the required deadline may result in dismissal of

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the action with prejudice pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 41(b). (Id.) Although the

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applicable deadline has now passed, the court’s records show that plaintiff failed to file either an

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amended complaint or a notice of voluntary dismissal as ordered.1

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The court notes that its March 16, 2017 order was returned to the court as undeliverable.
Nevertheless, it is plaintiff’s duty to keep the court informed of his current address, and service of
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The court has considered whether the action should be dismissed at this juncture.

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Nevertheless, in light of plaintiff’s pro se status, and the court’s desire to resolve the action on the

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merits, the court first attempts lesser sanctions by issuing an order to show cause and imposing

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monetary sanctions. Given that plaintiff is proceeding in forma pauperis, the amount of monetary

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sanctions imposed is necessarily minimal.

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Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that:

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1. Within 21 days of this order, plaintiff shall pay the Clerk of Court $100.00 in
monetary sanctions for failure to comply with the court’s orders.

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2. Within 21 days of this order, plaintiff shall show cause in writing why this action

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should not be dismissed with prejudice pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure

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41(b) based on plaintiff’s failure to comply with the court’s orders and failure to

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prosecute the case.

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3. Within 21 days of this order, plaintiff shall file a first amended complaint in
compliance with the court’s March 16, 2017 order.

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4. Alternatively, and in lieu of paying the monetary sanctions, responding to the order to

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show cause, and filing a first amended complaint, plaintiff may instead file a notice of

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voluntary dismissal of the action without prejudice within 21 days of this order.

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5. Failure to timely comply with all terms of this order will result in dismissal of the

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action with prejudice pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 41(b).

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the court’s order at the address on record was effective absent the filing of a notice of change of
address. In relevant part, Local Rule 182(f) provides: “Each appearing attorney and pro se party
is under a continuing duty to notify the Clerk and all other parties of any change of address or
telephone number of the attorney or the pro se party. Absent such notice, service of documents at
the prior address of the attorney or pro se party shall be fully effective.”
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6. The Clerk of Court shall serve a copy of the court’s March 16, 2017 order on plaintiff
along with this order.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
Dated: April 20, 2017

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