Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_14-cv-01337/USCOURTS-caed-1_14-cv-01337-1/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 550
Nature of Suit: Prisoner - Civil Rights (U.S. defendant)
Cause of Action: 42:1983 Prisoner Civil Rights

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

PEDRO F. DURAN,

 Plaintiff,

 vs.

CONNIE GIPSON, et al.,

 Defendants.

1:14-cv-01337-EPG-PC

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE WHY CASE 

SHOULD NOT BE DISMISSED FOR 

PLAINTIFF’S FAILURE TO OBEY COURT 

ORDER

(ECF No. 11.) 

THIRTY DAY DEADLINE TO RESPOND

On May 13, 2016, the Court issued an order requiring Plaintiff to complete documents 

to initiate service of process and submit the documents to the Court, within thirty days. (ECF 

No. 11.) More than sixty days have passed, and Plaintiff has not submitted the service 

documents or otherwise responded to the Court’s order.

In determining whether to dismiss this action for failure to comply with the directives 

set forth in its order, “the Court must weigh the following factors: (1) the public’s interest in 

expeditious resolution of litigation; (2) the court’s need to manage its docket; (3) the risk of 

prejudice to defendants/respondents; (4) the availability of less drastic alternatives; and (5) the 

public policy favoring disposition of cases on their merits.” Pagtalunan v. Galaza, 291 F.3d 

639, 642 (9th Cir. 2002) (citing Ferdik v. Bonzelet, 963 F.2d 1258, 1260-61 (9th Cir. 1992)).

“‘The public’s interest in expeditious resolution of litigation always favors dismissal,’”

id. (quoting Yourish v. California Amplifier, 191 F.3d 983, 990 (9th Cir. 1999)), and here, the 

action has been pending since August 28, 2014. Plaintiff’s failure to respond to the Court’s 

order may reflect Plaintiff’s disinterest in prosecuting this case. In such an instance, the Court 

cannot continue to expend its scarce resources assisting a litigant who will not do his part to 

Case 1:14-cv-01337-DAD-EPG Document 12 Filed 07/26/16 Page 1 of 2
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initiate service of process for his lawsuit. Thus, both the first and second factors weigh in favor 

of dismissal.

Turning to the risk of prejudice, “pendency of a lawsuit is not sufficiently prejudicial in 

and of itself to warrant dismissal.” Id. (citing Yourish at 991). However, “delay inherently 

increases the risk that witnesses’ memories will fade and evidence will become stale,” id., and 

it is Plaintiff's failure to return service documents to the Court that is causing delay. Therefore, 

the third factor weighs in favor of dismissal.

As for the availability of lesser sanctions, at this stage in the proceedings there is little 

available to the Court which would constitute a satisfactory lesser sanction while protecting the 

Court from further unnecessary expenditure of its scarce resources. Plaintiff is proceeding in 

forma pauperis with this action, making monetary sanctions of little use, and given the early 

stage of these proceedings, the preclusion of evidence or witnesses is not available. However, 

inasmuch as the dismissal being considered in this case is without prejudice, the Court is 

stopping short of issuing the harshest possible sanction of dismissal with prejudice.

Finally, because public policy favors disposition on the merits, this factor will always 

weigh against dismissal. Id. at 643.

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE

In light of the foregoing analysis, Plaintiff is HEREBY ORDERED to respond in 

writing to this order, within thirty (30) days from the date of service of this order, showing 

cause why this case should not be dismissed for Plaintiff’s failure to comply with the Court’s 

order issued on May 13, 2016. Failure to respond to this order will result in dismissal of 

this action, without prejudice.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: July 26, 2016 /s/

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

Case 1:14-cv-01337-DAD-EPG Document 12 Filed 07/26/16 Page 2 of 2