Document ID: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_06-cv-01104/USCOURTS-caed-1_06-cv-01104-3/pdf.json

Parties Involved:
John M. Black
Plaintiff
Reyes McGuine
Defendant

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

JOHN M. BLACK, )

)

Plaintiff, )

)

vs. )

)

DOCTOR REYES McGUINE, et al., )

)

Defendants. )

)

1:06-cv-01104-LJO-SMS PC

FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

RECOMMENDING DISMISSAL OF

ACTION FOR FAILURE TO OBEY A

COURT ORDER AND FAILURE TO

STATE A CLAIM UPON WHICH

RELIEF MAY BE GRANTED

(Doc. 14)

Plaintiff John M. Black (“plaintiff”) is a state prisoner

proceeding pro se and in forma pauperis in this civil rights action

pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. By order filed February 16, 2007, the

court found that plaintiff’s amended complaint failed to state any

claims for relief against the named defendants. The court dismissed

plaintiff’s amended complaint and ordered plaintiff to file a second

amended complaint within thirty days from the date of service of that

order. More than thirty days have passed and plaintiff has not filed

a second amended complaint or otherwise responded to the court's

order. 

Local Rule 11-110 provides that “failure of counsel or of a party

to comply with these Local Rules or with any order of the Court may

be grounds for the imposition by the Court of any and all sanctions

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. . . within the inherent power of the Court.” District courts have

the inherent power to control their dockets and “in the exercise of

that power, they may impose sanctions including, where appropriate .

. . dismissal of a case.” Thompson v. Housing Auth., 782 F.2d 829,

831 (9 Cir. 1986). A court may dismiss an action, with prejudice, th

based on a party’s failure to prosecute an action, failure to obey a

court order, or failure to comply with local rules. See, e.g. Ghazali

v. Moran, 46 F.3d 52, 53-54 (9 Cir. 1995)(dismissal for th

noncompliance with local rule); Ferdik v. Bonzelet, 963 F.2d 1258,

1260-61 (9 Cir. 1992) (dismissal for failure to comply with an order th

requiring amendment of complaint); Carey v. King, 856 F.2d 1439, 1440-

41 (9 Cir. 1988)(dismissal for failure to comply with local rule th

requiring pro se plaintiffs to keep court apprised of address); Malone

v. U.S. Postal Service, 833 F.2d 128, 130 (9 Cir. 1987)(dismissal th

for failure to comply with court order); Henderson v. Duncan, 779 F.2d

1421, 1424 (9th Cir. 1986)(dismissal for failure to lack of

prosecution and failure to comply with local rules). 

In determining whether to dismiss an action for lack of

prosecution, failure to obey a court order, or failure to comply with

local rules, the court must consider several 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 alternatives. Thompson, 782 F.2d

at 831; Henderson, 779 F.2d at 1423-24; Malone, 833 F.2d at 130;

Ferdik, 963 F.2d at 1260-61; Ghazali, 46 F.3d at 53. 

In the instant case, the court finds that the public’s interest

in expeditiously resolving this litigation and the court’s interest

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in managing the docket weigh in favor of dismissal. The third factor,

risk of prejudice to defendants, also weighs in favor of dismissal,

since a presumption of injury arises from the occurrence of

unreasonable delay in prosecuting an action. Anderson v. Air West,

542 F.2d 522, 524 (9 Cir. 1976). The fourth factor -- public policy th

favoring disposition of cases on their merits -- is greatly outweighed

by the factors in favor of dismissal discussed herein. Finally, a

court’s warning to a party that his failure to obey the court’s order

will result in dismissal satisfies the “consideration of alternatives”

requirement. Ferdik v. Bonzelet, 963 F.2d at 1262; Malone, 833 at

132-33; Henderson, 779 F.2d at 1424. The court’s order of February

16, 2007, requiring plaintiff to file a second amended complaint,

expressly stated: “If plaintiff fails to file a second amended

complaint in compliance with this order, the court will recommend that

this action be dismissed, with prejudice, for failure to state a claim

upon which relief may be granted.” Thus, plaintiff had adequate

warning that dismissal would result from non-compliance with the

court’s order. 

Accordingly, it is HEREBY RECOMMENDED that this action be

DISMISSED, with prejudice, for plaintiff’s failure to obey the court’s

order of February 16, 2007, and for the reasons set forth therein,

namely, for failure to state a claim upon which relief may be granted.

These Findings and Recommendations are submitted to the United

States District Judge assigned to the case, pursuant to the provisions

of Title 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(l). Within twenty (20) days after being

served with these Findings and Recommendations, plaintiff may file

written objections with the court. Such a document should be

captioned "Objections to Magistrate Judge's Findings and

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Recommendations." Plaintiff is advised that failure to file

objections within the specified time may waive the right to appeal the

District Court's order. Martinez v. Ylst, 951 F.2d 1153 (9th Cir.

1991).

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: April 10, 2007 /s/ Sandra M. Snyder 

icido3 UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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