Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_03-cv-06563/USCOURTS-caed-1_03-cv-06563-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 190
Nature of Suit: Other Contract Actions
Cause of Action: 28:1332 Diversity-Breach of Contract

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

ORIX FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC., )

 a New York corporation, )

)

Plaintiff, )

)

v. )

)

EDWARD HUNTER, )

)

Defendant. )

____________________________________)

CV F 03-6563 AWI TAG

ORDER DISMISSING ACTION

FOR LACK OF PROSECUTION

On November 6, 2003, Plaintiff filed this action for breach of conditional sale contract

notes and possession of personal property. On January 6, 2004, October 6, 2004, and

November 8, 2004, the court issued writs of possession at Plaintiff’s request. 

On January 5, 2007, the Clerk of the Court issued a minute order setting a February 12,

2007 hearing date to determine if this action should be dismissed for lack of prosecution. The

order stated any opposition to dismissal was to be filed five court days prior to the hearing. No

opposition was timely filed. The case was called during the court’s afternoon calender on

February 12, 2007, but neither Plaintiff nor any other party appeared. 

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. See, e.g., Ferdik v. Bonzelet, 963 F.2d 1258, 1260-61 (9th

Cir. 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;

Case 1:03-cv-06563-AWI-TAG Document 28 Filed 02/14/07 Page 1 of 2
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(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 1260-61. th

At this time, the court finds dismissal of this action 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 three years. Plaintiff has filed no document with this court in over two years. The court

cannot manage its docket if it maintains cases in which the plaintiff has failed to litigate its 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 not contacted the court in over two years.

The availability of less drastic sanctions has been considered, but given that Plaintiff has not

contacted the court in two years and did not respond to the court’s January 5, 2007 order, the

court has no effective sanction but to close the case. The January 5, 2007 order informed

Plaintiff that any opposition to dismissal must be filed by February 5, 2007 and he must appear at

the February 12, 2007 hearing. Finally, the risk of prejudice to Defendant also weighs in favor

of dismissal because a presumption of injury arises from the occurrence of unreasonable delay in

prosecuting an action. See Anderson v. Air West, 542 F.2d 522, 524 (9 Cir. 1976). th

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 12, 2007 /s/ Anthony W. Ishii 

0m8i78 UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

Case 1:03-cv-06563-AWI-TAG Document 28 Filed 02/14/07 Page 2 of 2