Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_15-cv-01647/USCOURTS-caed-1_15-cv-01647-3/pdf.json

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

---

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

1

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

CORDELL HOWARD,

Plaintiff,

v.

KINGS COUNTY SHERIFF, et al.,

Defendants.

Case No. 1:15-cv-01647-DAD-SAB-PC

FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATION 

RECOMMENDING DISMISSAL OF 

ACTION FOR FAILURE TO STATE A 

COGNIZABLE CLAIM FOR RELIEF AND 

FAILURE TO PROSECUTE

(ECF NOs. 8, 9)

OBJECTIONS DUE IN THIRTY DAYS

Plaintiff Cordell Howard is appearing pro se and in forma pauperis in this civil rights 

action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. This matter was referred to a United States Magistrate 

Judge pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)(B) and Local Rule 302. 

On January 27, 2016, the Court dismissed Plaintiff’s October 29, 2015, complaint for 

failure to state a cognizable claim for relief and Plaintiff was granted thirty days to file an 

amended complaint. 28 U.S.C. § 1915A; 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e). Plaintiff was warned that if he 

failed to comply, this action would be dismissed, with prejudice, for failure to state a claim and 

failure to prosecute. (ECF No. 8 at 6:13.) Plaintiff failed to file an amended complaint, and on 

March 4, 2016, an order to show cause was entered, directing Plaintiff to show cause, within 

thirty days, why this action should not be dismissed for his failure to comply with the January 

27, 2016, order. (ECF No. 9.) More than thirty days have passed, and Plaintiff has not filed a 

response to the order to show cause.

The Court has the inherent power to control its docket and may, in the exercise of that 

power, impose sanctions where appropriate, including dismissal of this action. Bautista v. Los 

Angeles Cnty., 216 F.3d 837, 841 (9th Cir. 2000). In determining whether to dismiss an action, 

Case 1:15-cv-01647-DAD-SAB Document 10 Filed 04/18/16 Page 1 of 2
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

2

the Court must weigh “(1) the public’s interest in expeditious resolution of litigation; (2) the 

court’s need to manage its own docket; (3) the risk of prejudice to the defendants; (4) the public 

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

sanctions.” In re Phenylpropanolamine (PPA) Prod. Liab. Litig., 460 F.3d 1217, 1226 (9th Cir. 

2006)(internal quotations and citations omitted). These factors guide a court in deciding what to 

do, and are not conditions that must be met in order for a court to take action. Id. (citation 

omitted).

Based on Plaintiff’s failure to comply with or otherwise respond to the Court’s order, as a 

result, there is no pleading on file which sets forth any claims upon which relief may be granted, 

and the Court is left with no alternative but to dismiss the action for failure to state a cognizable 

claim for relief. Id. Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY RECOMMENDED that this action be 

dismissed, with prejudice, for failure to state a cognizable claim for relief, and failure to 

prosecute.

These Findings and Recommendations will be submitted to the United States District 

Judge assigned to the case, pursuant to the provisions of Title 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1). Within 

thirty (30) days after being served with these findings and recommendations, Plaintiff may file 

written objections with the Court. The document should be captioned “Objections to Magistrate 

Judge’s Findings and Recommendations.” Plaintiff is advised that failure to file objections 

within the specified time may result in the waiver of rights on appeal. Wilkerson v. Wheeler, 

772 F.2d 834, 838-39 (9th Cir. 2014)(citing Baxter v. Sullivan, 923 F.2d 1391, 1394 (9th Cir. 

1991)). 

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: April 18, 2016 

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

Case 1:15-cv-01647-DAD-SAB Document 10 Filed 04/18/16 Page 2 of 2