Opinion
1:22-cv-00581-DAD-BAK (SKO)
09-07-2022
TREVON FOREMAN and LOTISHA DAVIDSON, Plaintiffs, v. DISTRICT ATTORNEY OF BAKERSFIELD, Defendant.
ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE WHY PLAINTIFF TREVON FOREMAN SHOULD NOT BE DISMISSED FOR HIS FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH A COURT ORDER AND FAILURE TO PROSECUTE
(Doc. 9)
21-DAY DEADLINE
SHEILA K. OBERTO, UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE
Plaintiffs Trevon Foreman and Lotisha Davidson (“Plaintiffs”) are proceeding pro se in this action. Plaintiffs filed their complaint against Defendant District Attorney of Bakersfield on May 16, 2022. (Doc. 1.) On that same date, Plaintiff Foreman, a state prisoner, filed an application to proceed in forma pauperis (“IFP”) without prepayment of fees. (Doc. 2.)
On May 20, 2022, the undersigned issued an order finding that Plaintiff Foreman failed to submit to the Court a certified copy of his trust fund account statement, providing him another IFP application form, and directing him to file an amended IFP application that corrects the identified deficiencies within thirty days. (Doc. 4.)
Having received no response from Plaintiff Foreman, the undersigned issued an order to show cause (“OSC”) why he should not be dismissed for his failure to comply with the Court's order and for his failure to prosecute this action. (Doc. 6.) Plaintiff Foreman failed to file a response to the OSC.
Plaintiff Lotisha Davidson filed her own application to proceed IFP, but it contains information related to only her finances. (See Doc. 5.) “Where there are multiple plaintiffs in a single action, the plaintiffs may not proceed in forma pauperis unless all of them demonstrate inability to pay the filing fee.” Darden v. Indymac Bancorp, Inc., No. CIV S-09-2970 JAM DAD, 2009 WL 5206637, at *1 (E.D. Cal. Dec. 23, 2009) (emphasis added); see also Anderson v. California, No. 10 CV 2216 MMA (AJB), 2010 WL 4316996, at *1 (S.D. Cal. Oct. 27, 2010) (“[A]lthough only one filing fee needs to be paid per case, if multiple plaintiffs seek to proceed in forma pauperis, each plaintiff must qualify for IFP status.”).
On July 22, 2022, the undersigned issued findings and recommendations that Plaintiff Foreman be dismissed from this case without prejudice for his failure to obey the Court's orders and to prosecute this action. (Doc. 7.) The findings and recommendations were served on Plaintiff Foreman and contained notice that any objections thereto were to be filed within twenty-one (21) days after service. (See id.)
On July 26, 2022, Plaintiff Foreman filed a certified copy of his prisoner trust account (Doc. 8), but neglected to file an amended IFP application as previously ordered. On July 29, 2022, the undersigned withdrew the findings and recommendations and ordered Plaintiff to either complete, sign, and file an IFP application or pay the $402.00 filing fee for this action within thirty (30) days of the date of service of the order. (Doc. 9.) To date, neither the application has been filed nor the filing fee paid and the time to do so has lapsed.
The Local Rules, corresponding with Fed.R.Civ.P. 11, provide, “[f]ailure of counsel or of a party to comply with . . . any order of the Court may be grounds for the imposition by the Court of any and all sanctions . . . within the inherent power of the Court.” E.D. Cal. Local Rule 110. “District courts have inherent power to control their dockets,” and in exercising that power, a court may impose sanctions, including dismissal of an action. Thompson v. Housing Authority of Los Angeles, 782 F.2d 829, 831 (9th Cir. 1986). A court may dismiss an action based on a party's failure to prosecute an action or failure to obey a court order, or failure to comply with local rules. See, e.g., Ferdik v. Bonzelet, 963 F.2d 1258, 1260-61 (9th Cir. 1992) (dismissal for failure to comply with an order requiring amendment of complaint); Malone v. U.S. Postal Service, 833 F.2d 128, 130 (9th Cir. 1987) (dismissal for failure to comply with a court order); Henderson v. Duncan, 779 F.2d 1421, 1424 (9th Cir. 1986) (dismissal for failure to prosecute and to comply with local rules).
Accordingly, Plaintiff Foreman is ORDERED to show cause within twenty-one (21) days of the date of service of this order why he should not be dismissed for his failure to comply with the Court's order and for his failure to prosecute this action. Alternatively, within that same time, Plaintiff Foreman may either file an IFP application, or pay the $402 filing fee for this action. Failure to comply with this order will result in the recommendation that Plaintiff Foreman be dismissed from this action.
There is no need for Plaintiff Foreman to re-file his prisoner trust account statement.
IT IS SO ORDERED.