Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_06-cv-01862/USCOURTS-caed-1_06-cv-01862-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 423
Nature of Suit: Bankruptcy Withdrawal 28 USC 157
Cause of Action: 28:0157 Motion for Withdrawal of Reference

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

JAMES SALVEN, )

)

Plaintiff, )

v. )

)

BRETT CARLSEN, et al., )

)

Defendants. )

____________________________________)

1: 06-CV-1862 AWI

ORDER DISMISSING ACTION 

FOR LACK OF PROSECUTION

BACKGROUND

On December 19, 2006, Plaintiff filed a motion to withdraw a bankruptcy reference. 

Plaintiff never noticed this motion for hearing before the court. No further document was filed

in this action.

On January 25, 2008, the Clerk of the Court issued a minute order that placed this matter

on the court’s February 25, 2008 calendar for a hearing on dismissal for lack of prosecution. 

The minute order stated any opposition to dismissal was to be filed by February 19, 2008. 

Plaintiff did not file an opposition to dismissal for lack of prosecution and did not contact the

court in any way.

On February 25, 2008, the court held a hearing concerning dismissal of this action for

lack of prosecution. Neither Plaintiff nor his attorney were present when the case was called. 

Noting that nothing had occurred in this action since it was filed and Plaintiff’s absence at the

hearing, the court dismissed this action.

Case 1:06-cv-01862-AWI Document 4 Filed 02/28/08 Page 1 of 3
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LEGAL STANDARD

A court may dismiss an action, with prejudice, based on a party’s failure to prosecute an

action or failure to obey a court order. Ferdik v. Bonzelet, 963 F.2d 1258, 1260-61 (9 Cir. th

1992). In determining whether to dismiss an action for lack of prosecution the court must

consider several factors, including: (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 the defendants; (4)

the public policy favoring disposition of cases on their merits; and (5) the availability of less

drastic alternatives. Ghazali v. Moran, 46 F.3d 52, 53 (9 Cir. 1995); Ferdik, 963 F.2d at

th

1260-61.

DISCUSSION

The court finds that dismissal for Plaintiff’s failure to prosecute is appropriate. The

public’s interest in expeditiously resolving this litigation and the court’s interest in managing the

docket weigh in favor of dismissal. This action has been pending for over one year. Plaintiff

has never noticed his motion for hearing or otherwise proceeded with this case. The court

cannot manage its docket if it maintains cases in which a plaintiff has failed to litigate his case. 

The public’s interest in the expeditious resolution of litigation weighs heavily in favor of

dismissal of such cases so that the court’s limited resources may be spent on cases in which the

litigant is actually proceeding. Public policy favoring disposition of cases on their merits also

has little or no weight in actions where the Plaintiff has been unable or unwilling to proceed with

the action. The availability of less drastic sanctions has been considered, but given that Plaintiff

did not comply with the court’s January 25, 2008 order, appear at the February 25, 2008 hearing,

or otherwise contact the court, the court has no effective sanction but to close the case. Finally,

any risk of prejudice to Defendant also weighs in favor of dismissal.

/ / /

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ORDER

Accordingly, the court ORDERS that:

1. This action is DISMISSED for Plaintiff’s failure to prosecute; and

2. The Clerk of the Court is DIRECTED to close the case.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: February 26, 2008 /s/ Anthony W. Ishii 

0m8i78 UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

Case 1:06-cv-01862-AWI Document 4 Filed 02/28/08 Page 3 of 3