Opinion
Case No. 2:15-cv-00253-RFB-GWF
02-08-2017
CLIFFORD J. SCHUETT, Petitioner, v. U.S. MARSHAL SERVICE, et al., Respondents.
ORDER
On March 31, 2016, the Court entered an order noting that the habeas petition filed in this action was not entirely legible, and that the basis for the petition may have become moot based on petitioner's transfer to another facility. (ECF No. 21). The Court ordered petitioner to file an amended petition within ninety days. (Id.). The ninety-day period expired on June 29, 2016, and petitioner has not filed an amended petition or otherwise responded to the Court's order.
District courts have the inherent power to control their dockets and "in the exercise of that power, they may impose sanctions including, where appropriate . . . dismissal of a case." Thompson v. Housing Auth., 782 F.2d 829, 831 (9 Cir. 1986). A court may dismiss an action, with prejudice, based on a party's failure to prosecute an action, failure to obey a court order, or failure to comply with local rules. See, e.g. Pagtalunan v. Galaza, 291 P.3d 639, 643 (9 Cir. 2002) (dismissal of habeas corpus petition with prejudice for failure to prosecute action and failure to comply with a court order); Ghazali v. Moran, 46 F.3d 52, 53-54 (9 Cir. 1995) (dismissal for noncompliance with local rule); Ferdik v. Bonzelet, 963 F.2d 1258, 1260-61 (9 Cir. 1992) (dismissal for failure to comply with an order requiring amendment of complaint); Carey v. King, 856 F.2d 1439, 1440-41 (9 Cir. 1988) (dismissal for failure to comply with local rule requiring pro se plaintiffs to keep court apprised of address); Malone v. U.S. Postal Service, 833 F.2d 128, 130 (9 Cir. 1987) (dismissal for failure to comply with court order); Henderson v. Duncan, 779 F.2d 1421, 1424 (9th Cir. 1986) (dismissal for failure to lack of prosecution and failure to comply with local rules).
In determining whether to dismiss an action for lack of prosecution, failure to obey a court order, or failure to comply with local rules, the court must consider several factors: (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 alternatives. Pagtalunan, 291 F.3d at 642; Thompson, 782 F.2d at 831; Henderson, 779 F.2d at 1423-24; Malone, 833 F.2d at 130; Ferdik, 963 F.2d at 1260-61; Ghazali, 46 F.3d at 53.
The Court finds that the first two factors, the public's interest in expeditiously resolving this litigation and the Court's interest in managing the docket, weigh in favor of dismissal. The third factor, risk of prejudice to respondents, also weighs in favor of dismissal, since a presumption of injury arises from the occurrence of unreasonable delay in filing a pleading ordered by the court or prosecuting an action. See Anderson v. Air West, 542 F.2d 522, 524 (9 Cir. 1976). The fourth factor - public policy favoring disposition of cases on their merits - is outweighed by the factors in favor of dismissal discussed herein. Finally, a court's warning to a party that his failure to obey the court's order will result in dismissal satisfies the "consideration of alternatives" requirement. Pagtalunan, 291 F.3d at 643; Ferdik v. Bonzelet, 963 F.2d at 1262; Malone, 833 at 132-33; Henderson, 779 F.2d at 1424. The Court's March 31, 2016 order requiring petitioner to file an amended petition within ninety days expressly stated: "If no amended petition is filed, this case will be dismissed without prejudice." (ECF No. 21, at p. 2). Thus, petitioner had adequate warning that dismissal would result from noncompliance with the Court's order.
IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that this action is DISMISSED WITHOUT PREJUDICE based on petitioner's failure to file an amended petition in compliance with this Court's order of March 31, 2016.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the Clerk of Court shall enter judgment accordingly.
DATED this 8 day of February, 2017.
/s/_________
RICHARD F. BOULWARE, II
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE