Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-azd-2_14-cv-00968/USCOURTS-azd-2_14-cv-00968-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 442
Nature of Suit: Civil Rights Employment
Cause of Action: 42:1981 Job Discrimination (Race)

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WO 

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 

FOR THE DISTRICT OF ARIZONA

 On June 23, 2014, the Court’s Orders were returned by the United States Post 

Office with the notation “Return to Sender – Refused.” (Doc. 6.) The Court thereby 

issued an Order (Doc. 7) directing Plaintiff to show cause why this case should not be 

dismissed for failure to prosecute. Finding Plaintiff has failed to respond to the Court’s 

Order, this action will be dismissed. 

 Pursuant to Rule 41(b) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, a district court 

may dismiss an action due to a plaintiff’s failure to prosecute or to comply with court 

orders. See Link v. Wabash R.R. Co., 370 U.S. 626, 629-30 (1962) (a court’s authority to 

dismiss for lack of prosecution is necessary to prevent undue delays in the disposition of 

pending cases and to avoid congestion in the calendars of the district courts); Ferdik v. 

Bonzelet, 963 F.2d 1258, 1260 (1992) (a district court may dismiss an action for failure to 

comply with any order of the court). Further, a district court may dismiss an action for 

failure to comply with a local rule. Ghazali v. Moran, 46 F.3d 52, 53 (9th Cir. 1995). 

Rule 83.3(d) of the Local Rules of Civil Procedure (“LRCiv”), Rules of Practice of the 

Victor O. Dema, 

 

 Plaintiff, 

vs. 

Allegiant Air, LLC, 

 Defendant. 

 

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No. CV-14-00968-PHX-SPL

ORDER 

Case 2:14-cv-00968-SPL Document 9 Filed 07/09/14 Page 1 of 3
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U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona, requires that an “unrepresented party must 

file a notice of a name or address change... no later than fourteen (14) days before the 

effective date of the change.” 

 Before dismissal for failure to prosecute or to comply with a local rule, the Court 

must consider five factors: “(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 sanctions.” Ghazali, 46 F.3d at 53 (quoting Henderson v. Duncan, 779 F.2d 

1421, 1423 (9th Cir. 1986)). 

 Under the instant circumstances, the first factor “always favors dismissal.” Yourish 

v. Cal. Amplifier, 191 F.3d 983, 990 (9th Cir. 1999). “It would be absurd to require the 

district court to hold a case in abeyance indefinitely just because it is unable, through the 

plaintiff’s own fault, to contact the plaintiff to determine if his reasons for not 

prosecuting his lawsuit are reasonable or not.” Carey v. King, 856 F.2d 1439, 1441 (9th 

Cir. 1988) (per curiam). “A party, not the district court, bears the burden of keeping the 

court apprised of any changes in his mailing address.” Id. The second factor also favors 

dismissal. See Ferdik, 963 F.2d at 1261. Plaintiff’s failure to keep the Court informed of 

his address prevents this case from proceeding in the foreseeable future. See Edwards v. 

Marin Park, Inc., 356 F.3d 1058, 1065 (9th Cir. 2004) (noting that “resources continue to 

be consumed by a case sitting idly on the court’s docket”). Plaintiff has not provided the 

Court with his current address, and the Court’s mail has been returned. Under the third 

factor, “the failure to prosecute diligently is sufficient by itself to justify a dismissal, even 

in the absence of a showing of actual prejudice to the defendant from the failure.” In re 

Eisen, 31 F.3d 1447, 1452 (9th Cir. 1994) (internal quotation omitted). The fourth factor 

weighs against dismissal because public policy favors disposition of cases on their merits, 

see Pagtalunan v. Galaza, 291 F.3d 639, 643 (9th Cir. 2002), however, it is outweighed 

by the other factors. Lastly, while dismissal itself is a drastic sanction, see Ferdik, 963 

F.2d at 1260, dismissal without prejudice is available and appropriate in this case. Absent 

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Plaintiff’s current address, the alternatives are bound to be futile. 

 In sum, the five-factor analysis favors dismissal. Therefore, in light of Plaintiff’s 

failure to prosecute this action and comply with LRCiv 83.3, requiring him to notify the 

Court of address changes, dismissal of this action is warranted. Accordingly, 

IT IS ORDERED that Plaintiff’s Complaint (Doc. 1) is dismissed without 

prejudice. 

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the Clerk of Court shall terminate this action. 

 Dated this 9th day of July, 2014. 

Honorable Steven P. Logan

United States District Judge

Case 2:14-cv-00968-SPL Document 9 Filed 07/09/14 Page 3 of 3