Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-4_09-cv-05262/USCOURTS-cand-4_09-cv-05262-1/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

For the Northern District of California

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United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

MELVIN DUKES,

Plaintiff,

 v.

 B. E. JUNES, et al.,

Defendants. /

No. C 09-05262 SBA (PR)

ORDER DIRECTING PLAINTIFF TO

SHOW CONTINUED INTENT TO

PROSECUTE THIS ACTION

Plaintiff filed the instant pro se civil rights complaint under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 in the United

States District Court for the Eastern District of California, and in an Order dated November 2, 2009,

Magistrate Judge Gregory G. Hollows of the Eastern District transferred this action to this Court. 

On November 2, 2009, the Clerk of the Court informed Plaintiff that this case had been transferred

to the Northern District. On November 10, 2009, the Clerk sent Plaintiff another notice directing

him to pay the filing fee or to file a completed in forma pauperis application. On January 27, 2010,

this action was reassigned to the undersigned judge. On January 28, 2010, Plaintiff was sent a third

notice informing him of the reassignment.

Pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 41(b), a district court may sua sponte dismiss an

action for failure to prosecute or to comply with a court order. See Link v. Wabash R.R., 370 U.S.

626, 633 (1962); McKeever v. Block, 932 F.2d 795, 797 (9th Cir. 1991). But such a dismissal

should only be ordered when the failure to comply is unreasonable. See id. A district court should

afford the litigant prior notice of its intention to dismiss. See Malone v. United States Postal Serv.,

833 F.2d 128, 133 (9th Cir. 1987). 

In the instant case, Plaintiff has failed to communicate with the Court since this case has

been transferred to the Northern District. Furthermore, the November 10, 2009 and January 28,

2010 notices were returned as undeliverable on November 16, 2009 and February 9, 2010,

respectively, with a notation: "Return to Sender -- Inmate Refused." Accordingly, it is in the

Case 4:09-cv-05262-SBA Document 10 Filed 03/04/10 Page 1 of 3
United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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P:\PRO-SE\SBA\CR.09\Dukes5262.41(b)-NOTICE.wpd 2

interests of justice and judicial efficiency for the Court to establish whether Plaintiff intends to

continue to prosecute this action. Plaintiff shall file a notice of his continued intent to prosecute no

later than thirty (30) days of the date of this Order. Failure to do so will result in the dismissal of

this action without prejudice for failure to prosecute under Rule 41(b) of the Federal Rules of Civil

Procedure. See Malone, 833 F.2d at 133 (the district court should afford the litigant prior notice

before dismissing for failure to prosecute).

IT IS SO ORDERED.

DATED: 3/3/10 

SAUNDRA BROWN ARMSTRONG

United States District Judge

Case 4:09-cv-05262-SBA Document 10 Filed 03/04/10 Page 2 of 3
United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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P:\PRO-SE\SBA\CR.09\Dukes5262.41(b)-NOTICE.wpd 3

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE 

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

DUKES et al,

Plaintiff,

 v.

JUNES et al,

Defendant. /

Case Number: CV09-05262 SBA 

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

I, the undersigned, hereby certify that I am an employee in the Office of the Clerk, U.S. District

Court, Northern District of California.

That on March 4, 2010, I SERVED a true and correct copy(ies) of the attached, by placing said

copy(ies) in a postage paid envelope addressed to the person(s) hereinafter listed, by depositing said

envelope in the U.S. Mail, or by placing said copy(ies) into an inter-office delivery receptacle

located in the Clerk's office.

Melvin Dukes D-33572

Salinas Valley State Prison

P.O. Box 1050

Soledad, CA 93960-1050

Dated: March 4, 2010

Richard W. Wieking, Clerk

By: LISA R CLARK, Deputy Clerk

Case 4:09-cv-05262-SBA Document 10 Filed 03/04/10 Page 3 of 3