Opinion ID: 705223
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Dismissal as an Exercise of Inherent Powers

Text: 29 We now consider whether the district court's dismissal of Lujan's complaint can be justified as a proper exercise of its inherent power to sanction. See Halaco Engineering Co. v. Costle, 843 F.2d 376, 380 (9th Cir.1988). Imposition of dismissal as a sanction is reviewed for abuse of discretion. Id. at 379. Factual findings upon which the district court relied are reviewed for clear error. Id. 30 Although district courts have the inherent power to dismiss an action as a sanction, in so doing the court must consider the following: 31 (1) the existence of certain extraordinary circumstances, (2) the presence of willfulness, bad faith, or fault by the offending party, (3) the efficacy of lesser sanctions, (4) the relationship or nexus between the misconduct drawing the dismissal sanction and the matters in controversy in the case, and finally, as optional considerations where appropriate, (5) the prejudice to the party victim of the misconduct, and (6) the government interests at stake. 32 Id. at 380. We need not address all of these factors, because the district court failed to explicitly consider the possibility of lesser sanctions. To satisfy this requirement, the district court had to provide a reasonable explanation of possible and meaningful alternatives. See id. at 381. Failure to explicitly consider less drastic sanctions is a fatal flaw in the district court's decision to dismiss as a sanction, and consequently, its decision cannot be viewed as a proper exercise of its inherent power to dismiss as a sanction. 5 See id.