Opinion
Case No. 1:12-cv-01373-SMS (PC)
12-04-2013
ISABEL TUBACH, Plaintiff, v. J. BROWN, GOVERNOR, et al., Defendants.
ORDER DISMISSING ACTION,
WITHOUT PREJUDICE, FOR
FAILURE TO PROSECUTE
(Doc. 10)
Plaintiff Isabel Tubach ("Plaintiff") is a prisoner in the custody of the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation ("CDCR"). Plaintiff, who is proceeding pro se and in forma pauperis in this civil rights action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983, filed the complaint in this action on August 22, 2012. Doc. 1. In the complaint, Plaintiff appears to allege that she is being sexually abused and harassed in violation of the Eighth Amendment, though she does not allege the violation of any specific constitutional right. The complaint fails to state the dates of the occurrences of which she complains and alleges numerous legal conclusions rather than detailed factual allegations.
On October 2, 2013, to enable the Court to screen the complaint in compliance with 28 U.S.C. § 1915A, this Court issued an order requiring Plaintiff to submit within thirty (30) days a more definite statement of facts. Doc. 9. The order warned Plaintiff that failure to comply might result in the action's being dismissed without further notice pursuant to Rule 41(b) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.
On November 6, 2013, after more than thirty days passed without any action by Plaintiff, the Court ordered her to show cause within fifteen days why this action should not be dismissed, warning her that this action would be dismissed if she failed to respond. Doc. 10. Although the fifteen-day deadline has expired, Plaintiff has not complied with or otherwise responded to either of the Court's orders.
The First Informational Order also warned Plaintiff that failure to comply with a court order is grounds for sanctions including dismissal of this action. Local Rule 110; Fed. R. Civ. P. 41(b). Doc. 4.
The Court has the inherent power to control its docket and may, in the exercise of that power, impose sanctions where appropriate, including dismissal of the action. Bautista v. Los Angeles County, 216 F.3d 837, 841 (9th Cir. 2000). In determining whether to dismiss an action, the Court must weigh "(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." In re Phenylpropanolamine (PPA) Products Liability Litigation, 460 F.3d 1217, 1226 (9th Cir. 2006), quoting Malone v. U.S. Postal Service, 833 F.2d 128, 130 (9th Cir. 1987), cert. denied, 488 U.S. 819 (1988). These factors guide a court in deciding how to proceed when a plaintiff fails to actively prosecute his or her case.
Based on Plaintiff's failure to comply with or otherwise respond to the above orders, the Court is left with no alternative but to dismiss the action for failure to prosecute. This action cannot proceed without Plaintiff's cooperation and compliance with the orders at issue.
Accordingly, this action is hereby DISMISSED, without prejudice, for failure to prosecute. IT IS SO ORDERED.
Sandra M. Snyder
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE