Opinion
2:19-cv-01314-MCE-KJN
02-11-2023
MICHAEL MOORE, Plaintiff, v. COUNTY OF SOLANO and SOLANO COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, Defendants.
ORDER
MORRISON C. ENGLAND, SENIOR UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE.
On February 18, 2021, the Court ordered Plaintiff Michael Moore (“Plaintiff”) and Defendants County of Solano and Solano County Sheriff's Department (collectively, “Defendants”) to file a Joint Status Report (“JSR”) within ten days. ECF No. 15. However, the parties did not file a JSR or otherwise respond to the Court's order. On May 26, 2022, the parties were “again ordered to file a JSR as previously directed and are further ordered to show cause in writing in that JSR why sanctions should not be imposed for failing to follow the orders of this Court.” ECF No. 18. The deadline to do so was June 3, 2022, but to date, no JSR or response has been filed.
Defendants City of Fairfield, Fairfield Police Department, and Scott Ledford were dismissed from this action on December 4, 2019. ECF No. 14. These Defendants filed a response to the Court's minute order confirming their dismissal. ECF No. 16.
Eastern District of California Local Rule 110 provides that the “[f]ailure of counsel or of a party to comply with these Rules or with any order of the Court may be grounds for imposition by the Court of any and all sanctions authorized by statute or Rule or within the inherent power of the Court.” “District courts have inherent power to control their dockets” and “[i]n the exercise of that power they may impose sanctions including, where appropriate, default or dismissal.” Thompson v. Housing Auth. of City of L.A., 782 F.2d 829, 831 (9th Cir. 1986). Prior to dismissing an action, however, this Court must consider the following: “(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 sanctions.” Id.
Having considered each of the above factors, the Court finds dismissal is warranted here. This case has already been on file for over three and a half years, and it has been over two years since any action was taken by Plaintiff. In light of the parties' failures to respond to both the Court's order to file a JSR and order to show cause, neither the Court nor the public have any hope of moving the action expeditiously toward any kind of resolution absent their participation. As for the risk of prejudice to Defendants, “[t]he law presumes injury from unreasonable delay.” Anderson v. Air West, Inc., 542 F.2d 522, 524 (9th Cir. 1976). The parties were given two lengthy opportunities to respond to court orders and warned that sanctions may be imposed for failing to comply, which shows that the Court considered less drastic measures. Ultimately, these four factors outweigh the public policy favoring disposition on the merits.
Because Plaintiff has failed to prosecute this action in two years and the parties have ignored this Court's consecutive orders, this action is hereby DISMISSED without prejudice. The Clerk of Court is directed to close the case.
IT IS SO ORDERED.