Morales-Cardenas v. State of Nevada et al
Filing
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ORDER DISMISSING CASE with prejudice. It is further ordered that the Clerk of Court shall enter judgment accordingly. Signed by Chief Judge Gloria M. Navarro on 6/30/16. (Copies have been distributed pursuant to the NEF - ADR)
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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
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DISTRICT OF NEVADA
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***
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BENJAMIN MORALES-CARDENAS,
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Plaintiff,
Case No. 2:15-cv-01508-GMN-GWF
ORDER
v.
STATE OF NEVADA et al.,
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Defendants.
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This action is a pro se civil rights complaint filed pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983 by
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a former state prisoner. On May 20, 2016, the Court issued an order directing Plaintiff,
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who had been recently released from prison, to file an application to proceed in forma
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pauperis for non-prisoners or to pay the $400 filing fee within thirty (30) days from the
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date of that order. (ECF No. 15 at 1). The Court stated that it would issue an order on
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the matter of service after it determined the matter of the payment of the filing fee.1 The
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thirty-day period has now expired, and Plaintiff has not filed an application to proceed in
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forma pauperis for non-prisoners, paid the full filing fee, or otherwise responded to the
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Court’s order.
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District courts have the inherent power to control their dockets and “[i]n the
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exercise of that power, they may impose sanctions including, where appropriate . . .
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dismissal” of a case. Thompson v. Hous. Auth. of City of Los Angeles, 782 F.2d 829,
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The Court previously issued a screening order in this case (ECF No. 2, 4) and
the case proceeded to mediation (ECF No. 13).
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831 (9th Cir. 1986). A court may dismiss an action, with prejudice, based on a party’s
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failure to prosecute an action, failure to obey a court order, or failure to comply with
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local rules. See Ghazali v. Moran, 46 F.3d 52, 53-54 (9th Cir. 1995) (dismissal for
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noncompliance with local rule); Ferdik v. Bonzelet, 963 F.2d 1258, 1260-61 (9th Cir.
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1992) (dismissal for failure to comply with an order requiring amendment of complaint);
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Carey v. King, 856 F.2d 1439, 1440-41 (9th Cir. 1988) (dismissal for failure to comply
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with local rule requiring pro se plaintiffs to keep court apprised of address); Malone v.
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U.S. Postal Service, 833 F.2d 128, 130 (9th Cir. 1987) (dismissal for failure to comply
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with court order); Henderson v. Duncan, 779 F.2d 1421, 1424 (9th Cir. 1986) (dismissal
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for lack of prosecution and failure to comply with local rules).
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In determining whether to dismiss an action for lack of prosecution, failure to
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obey a court order, or failure to comply with local rules, the court must consider several
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factors: (1) the public’s interest in expeditious resolution of litigation; (2) the court’s need
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to manage its docket; (3) the risk of prejudice to the defendants; (4) the public policy
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favoring disposition of cases on their merits; and (5) the availability of less drastic
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alternatives. Thompson, 782 F.2d at 831; Henderson, 779 F.2d at 1423-24; Malone,
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833 F.2d at 130; Ferdik, 963 F.2d at 1260-61; Ghazali, 46 F.3d at 53.
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In the instant case, the Court finds that the first two factors, the public’s interest in
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expeditiously resolving this litigation and the Court’s interest in managing the docket,
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weigh in favor of dismissal.
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weighs in favor of dismissal, since a presumption of injury arises from the occurrence of
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unreasonable delay in filing a pleading ordered by the court or prosecuting an action.
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See Anderson v. Air West, 542 F.2d 522, 524 (9th Cir. 1976). The fourth factor – public
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policy favoring disposition of cases on their merits – is greatly outweighed by the factors
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in favor of dismissal discussed herein. Finally, a court’s warning to a party that his
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failure to obey the court’s order will result in dismissal satisfies the “consideration of
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alternatives” requirement.
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Henderson, 779 F.2d at 1424.
The third factor, risk of prejudice to Defendants, also
Ferdik, 963 F.2d at 1262; Malone, 833 F.2d at 132-33;
The Court’s order requiring Plaintiff to file a fully
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complete application to proceed in forma pauperis for nonprisoners or to pay the full
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filing fee of $400 within thirty days expressly stated: “IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that if
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Plaintiff does not timely comply with this order, dismissal of this action may result.”
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(ECF No. 15 at 2). Thus, Plaintiff had adequate warning that dismissal would result
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from his noncompliance with the Court’s order to file a fully complete application to
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proceed in forma pauperis for nonprisoners or to pay the full filing fee of $400 within
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thirty days.
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It is therefore ordered that this action is dismissed, with prejudice, based on
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Plaintiff’s failure to file a fully complete application to proceed in forma pauperis for
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nonprisoners or to pay the full filing fee of $400 in compliance with this Court’s May 20,
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2016, order.
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It is further ordered that the Clerk of Court shall enter judgment accordingly.
30th
DATED THIS XXxx day of June 2016.
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Gloria M. Navarro, Chief Judge
United States District Court
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