Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_03-cv-05629/USCOURTS-caed-1_03-cv-05629-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 422
Nature of Suit: Bankruptcy Appeals Rule 28 USC 158
Cause of Action: 28:0158 Notice of Appeal re Bankruptcy Matter (BAP)

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

MICHAEL A. RICHARDSON, et al., )

)

Plaintiffs, )

v. )

)

RANDALL PARKER, Trustee, )

)

Defendant. )

____________________________________)

CV F 03-5629 AWI

ORDER DISMISSING ACTION

FOR LACK OF PROSECUTION

On May 16, 2003, Plaintiff filed this bankruptcy appeal. On July 2, 2003, the court

ordered Plaintiffs to file documents in compliance with the Bankruptcy Rules. Plaintiffs have

filed no documents in this action since June 13, 2003. 

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 Plaintiffs 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;

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

Case 1:03-cv-05629-AWI Document 11 Filed 02/13/07 Page 1 of 2
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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 and a half years. Plaintiff has filed no document with this court in over three 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 no

party has contacted the court in over three years nor responded 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 Plaintiffs that any opposition to dismissal must be filed by February 5, 2007 and they

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 (9th

Cir. 1976). 

Accordingly, the court ORDERS that:

1. This action is DISMISSED for Plaintiffs’ 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-05629-AWI Document 11 Filed 02/13/07 Page 2 of 2