Opinion
ORDER
KENDALL J. NEWMAN, Magistrate Judge.
On April 2, 2015, the court granted plaintiffs a further extension of time to obtain counsel and continued the temporary stay of formal discovery and motion practice until a scheduling order or other appropriate order issues. (ECF No. 16.) However, the court's order made clear that "[w]hether or not plaintiffs successfully retain an attorney, plaintiffs and defendants shall meet and confer, and then file an updated joint status report with proposed dates for scheduling the case no later than June 1, 2015." (Id.)
On June 1, 2015, defendants filed a separate status report, indicating that the parties could not agree on a proposed schedule for the case, and that plaintiffs would apparently be submitting their own status report. (ECF No. 19.) However, plaintiffs failed to file any status report by the required deadline. Nor did they timely request an extension of time to comply with the court's order.
In the past, the court has been lenient and has generously granted plaintiffs extensions of time. However, the court has also previously cautioned plaintiffs that failure to comply with court orders may result in sanctions. (ECF No. 14 at 2 n.1.) Although the court liberally construes the pleadings and filings of pro se litigants, they are nonetheless expected to comply with court deadlines and procedures. Accordingly, the court finds it appropriate to impose monetary sanctions based on plaintiffs' failure to comply with the court's order to file a joint status report. Because the court is cognizant that plaintiffs are proceeding in forma pauperis, the amount of sanctions imposed is necessarily minimal.
Finally, the court once again orders the parties to properly meet and confer and file an updated joint status report regarding scheduling of the case. If the parties disagree as to any issue, the parties may set forth their differences with respect to that issue, and the reasons for those differences, in the report, but their mere disagreement as to issues does not excuse the obligation to file a joint status report. Sanctions will be imposed on any party who fails to participate in good faith in the preparation and filing of the joint status report.
Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that:
1. Within 21 days of this order, plaintiffs shall pay to the Clerk of Court a total of $100.00 in monetary sanctions based on their failure to comply with the court's April 2, 2015 order.
2. Within 21 days of this order, the parties shall meet and confer, prepare, and file an updated joint status report regarding scheduling of the case.
3. Failure to comply with this order may result in additional sanctions, including potential dismissal of the action pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 41(b).
IT IS SO ORDERED.