Opinion
Case No. EDCV 14-2598 RGK(JC)
06-08-2015
DAVID ROWLAND YOUNG, Plaintiff, v. CALIFORNIA CORRECTIONAL HEALTH CARE SERVICES, et al., Defendants.
MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER DISMISSING ACTION
On December 22, 2014, David Rowland Young ("plaintiff"), who is in custody at Centinela State Prison ("CSP"), is proceeding pro se, and has paid the filing fee, filed a Civil Rights Complaint ("Complaint") pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983 ("Section 1983") against multiple defendants connected with the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation ("CDCR") and the Ironwood State Prison ("ISP") where plaintiff was formerly housed. Plaintiff appears to have sued (1) California Correctional Health Care Services ("CCHCS"); (2) Dr. Lee ("Lee"), ISP Chief Medical Officer; (3) L.D. Zamora ("Zamora"), Chief of the CCHCS Office of Third Level Appeals; as well as (4) multiple "Unnamed CDCR employees at [ISP and CSP]" ("Doe Defendants") (collectively "defendants"). Plaintiff sues the individual defendants in their individual capacities only, and seeks monetary and injunctive relief from all defendants.
As plaintiff is a prisoner proceeding on a civil rights complaint against governmental defendants, the assigned Magistrate Judge screened the Complaint to determine if the action is frivolous or malicious, fails to state a claim on which relief may be granted, or seeks monetary relief against a defendant who is immune from such relief. See 28 U.S.C. § 1915A; 42 U.S.C. § 1997e(c).
On April 9, 2015, the Magistrate Judge issued an order (the "April Order") advising plaintiff that the Complaint was deficient for reasons described in the April Order and affording plaintiff an opportunity to file a First Amended Complaint by April 23, 2015 if he wished to proceed with this action. The April Order further expressly advised plaintiff that the failure timely to file a First Amended Complaint might result in the dismissal of this action on the grounds set forth in the April Order and/or for failure diligently to prosecute. To date, although the foregoing deadline has expired, plaintiff has failed to file a First Amended Complaint or to seek an extension of time to do so.
Specifically, the Magistrate Judge advised plaintiff, albeit in greater detail and with citation to authorities, that the Complaint, among other deficiencies, fails to comport with Rule 8 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, fails to state a cognizable Section 1983 claim against defendant CCHCS because such entity is immune from such a suit, fails to state a plausible Eighth Amendment claim against defendant Lee, and fails to state a viable Section 1983 claim against defendant Zamora.
In light of the foregoing, on May 7, 2015, the Magistrate Judge issued an Order to Show Cause ("OSC") directing plaintiff, by May 21, 2015, to show cause in writing why this action should not be dismissed based upon the deficiencies in the Complaint identified in the April Order and/or based upon plaintiff's failure to prosecute this action. The OSC expressly cautioned plaintiff that the failure timely to comply with the OSC and/or to show good cause would result in the dismissal of this action based upon the deficiencies identified in the April Order, plaintiff's failure to prosecute this action, and/or plaintiff's failure to comply with the OSC. To date, plaintiff has failed to file a response to the OSC, and the deadline to do so has now expired.
It is well-established that a district court has authority to dismiss a plaintiff's action because of his failure to prosecute or to comply with court orders. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 41(b); Link v. Wabash Railroad Co., 370 U.S. 626, 629-30 (1962); Ferdik v. Bonzelet, 963 F.2d 1258, 1260 (9th Cir.), cert. denied, 506 U.S. 915 (1992). In determining whether to dismiss an action for failure to prosecute or failure to comply with court orders, a district 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 defendants; (4) the public policy favoring disposition of cases on their merits; and (5) the availability of less drastic alternatives. See In re Eisen, 31 F.3d 1447, 1451 (9th Cir. 1994) (failure to prosecute); Ferdik, 963 F.2d at 1260-61 (failure to comply with court orders).
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 Court cannot hold this case in abeyance indefinitely awaiting plaintiff's response to the Court's directives. The third factor, risk of prejudice to defendants, also weighs in favor of dismissal since a presumption of injury arises from the occurrence of unreasonable delay in prosecuting an action. Anderson v. Air West, Inc., 542 F.2d 522, 524 (9th Cir. 1976). The fourth factor, the public policy favoring disposition of cases on their merits, is greatly outweighed by the factors in favor of dismissal discussed herein. Finally, as plaintiff has already been cautioned of the consequences of his failure to prosecute and his failure to comply with the OSC, has been afforded the opportunity to do so, and has not responded, no sanction lesser than dismissal without prejudice is feasible.
IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that this action is dismissed based upon plaintiff's failure to prosecute and failure to comply with the OSC.
IT IS SO ORDERED. DATED: June 8, 2015
/s/_________
HONORABLE R. GARY KLAUSNER
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE