Source: http://mt.findacase.com/research/wfrmDocViewer.aspx/xq/fac.20180523_0001834.DMT.htm/qx
Timestamp: 2019-04-21 14:02:13+00:00

Document:
CCA OF SHELBY, MT., STATE OF MONTANA, SHELBY MEDICAL CENTER X-RAY TECH, OFFICER MATHUE CLARK, CITY OF SHELBY, and SHELBY SHERIFF'S OFFICE, Defendants.
Mr. Braaton was given an opportunity to amend his deficient claims but was instructed that if he preferred to proceed only on his allegations against Defendant Clark, he must notify the Court and those claims would be served upon Defendant Clark. Mr. Braaton did not respond to the Court's Order. Mr. Braaton was instructed in the Court's prior Order that if he failed to timely comply with every provision of the Court's Order, the case may be dismissed. Ferdik v. Bonzelet, 963 F.2d 1258, 1260-61 (9th Cir. 1992) (court may dismiss an action for failure to comply with any order of the court). Accordingly, on April 9, 2018, the Court issued an Order requiring Mr. Braaton to show cause on or before May 4, 2018 why this matter should not be dismissed for failure to comply with the Court's January 26, 2018 Order. (Doc. 10.) Mr. Braaton did not respond.
The Court has the inherent power to sua sponte dismiss a case for lack of prosecution or failure to comply with a court order. Henderson v. Duncan, 779 F.2d 1421, 1423 (9th Cir. 1986); see also Fed.R.Civ.P. 41(b); Ferdik v. Bonzelet, 963 F.2d 1258, 1260 (9th Cir. 1992). Dismissal, however, is a harsh penalty and should be imposed as a sanction only in extreme circumstances. Henderson, 779 F.2d at 1423.
The following factors must be considered before dismissal is imposed as a sanction for failure to prosecute or failure to comply with a court order: (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/respondents; (4) the availability of less drastic alternatives; and (5) the public policy favoring disposition of cases on their merits. Pagtalunan v. Galaza, 291 F.3d 639 (9th Cir. 2002) (citing Ferdik, 963 F.2d at 1260-61).
“The public's interest in expeditious resolution of litigation always favors dismissal.” Yourish v. California Amplifier, 191 F.3d 983, 990 (9th Cir. 1999). Mr. Braaton's failure to respond to January 26, 2018 Order suggests he is no longer interested in prosecuting this action. As such, this matter could linger indefinitely. This factor weighs in favor of dismissal.
The second factor also supports dismissal. The Ninth Circuit has noted that “[i]t is incumbent upon us to preserve the district courts' power to manage their docket without being subject to the endless vexatious noncompliance of litigants. . . .” Ferdik, 963 F.2d at 1261. “The trial judge is in the best position to determine whether the delay in a particular case interferes with docket management and the public interest.” Pagtalunan, 291 F.3d 639 (citing Yourish, 191 F.3d 983). The Court must be able to manage its docket and it cannot do so if Mr. Braaton refuses to respond to Court Orders and refuses to comply with Court imposed deadlines. Therefore, this factor favors dismissal.
The third factor requires the Court to weigh the risk of prejudice to Defendants. “To prove prejudice, a defendant must establish that plaintiff's actions impaired defendant's ability to proceed to trial or threatened to interfere with the rightful decision of the case.” Malone v. United States Postal Service, 833 F.2d 128, 131 (9th Cir. 1987). Mr. Braaton's refusal to litigate this matter makes prejudice a foregone conclusion. The longer this matter sits, the more prejudice to Defendants.
The Court has considered and provided less drastic alternatives. Alternatives may include “allowing further amended complaints, allowing additional time, or insisting that appellant associate experienced counsel.” Nevijel v. North Coast Life Insurance Co., 651 F.2d 671, 674 (9th Cir. 1981). Although less drastic alternatives to dismissal should be considered, the court is not required to exhaust all such alternatives prior to dismissal. Id. The Court gave Mr. Braaton the opportunity to show cause why this matter should not be dismissed for failure to prosecute and warned him about the consequences of not responding to the Court's Order. (Doc. 10.) Mr. Braaton did not respond. The Court can envision no further alternatives to dismissal.
The last factor weighs against dismissal because public policy favors the disposition of cases on their merits. Pagtalunan, 291 F.3d 639 (citing Hernandez v. City of El Monte, 138 F.3d 393, 399 (9th Cir. 1998)). But in light of the other four factors favoring dismissal, the Court finds that this matter should be dismissed for failure to prosecute and failure to comply with the Court's order.
1. This matter should be DISMISSED pursuant to Rule 41(b) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. The Clerk of Court should be directed to close the case and enter judgment pursuant to Rule 58 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.

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