Opinion
Case No.: 2:18-cv-00290-GMN-EJY
04-07-2020
MICHELLE BERTSCH, Plaintiff, v. DISCOVER FINANCIAL SERVICES, et al., Defendants.
ORDER
Pending before the Court is the case of Michelle Bertsch v. Discover Financial Services, et al. (2:18-cv-00290-GMN-EJY). On March 11, 2020, the Court issued an Order dismissing Plaintiff Michelle Bertsch's ("Plaintiff") Amended Complaint. (Order, ECF No. 79). In that Order, the Court granted leave for Plaintiff to file a second amended complaint on or before April 1, 2020, to correct deficiencies in her claims. (See id. at 10-11). However, Plaintiff has since failed to file a second amended complaint or request an extension of time to do so. For the reasons set forth below, the Court will dismiss Plaintiff's claims with prejudice.
I. DISCUSSION
In its March 11, 2020 Order, the Court ruled that Plaintiff failed to state a claim upon which relief could be granted as to each of Plaintiff's eight claims. (See id. at 49). Despite the Court granting leave for Plaintiff to support seven of her claims with additional factual allegations in order to establish valid causes of action, Plaintiff has failed to take any action whatsoever in this case.
The Court is at a loss in cases, such as this one, in which a plaintiff fails to participate in the judicial process and does not pursue her claims or even request an extension. However, the Court has an obligation to promote justice by allocating judicial resources to cases with ongoing disputes and active parties.
Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 41(b) allows for the dismissal of an action based on a party's failure to obey an order of the Court. The Ninth Circuit has specifically held that this rule may be applied when a plaintiff fails to file an amended complaint pursuant to a court-ordered deadline. See, e.g., Ferdik v. Bonzelet, 963 F.2d 1258, 1260 (9th Cir. 1992). "In determining whether to dismiss a case for failure to comply with a court order the district court must weigh five factors including: (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." Id. at 1260-61; see also Thompson v. Housing Auth. of City of Los Angeles, 782 F.2d 829, 831 (9th Cir. 1986); Henderson v. Duncan, 779 F.2d 1421, 1423 (9th Cir. 1986). The Court will consider each of these factors in turn.
Although Rule 41(b) refers to a defendant's motion for dismissal, the U.S. Supreme Court has long held that district courts have the power to dismiss actions sua sponte based on a plaintiff's failure to comply with a court order. See, e.g., Link v. Wabash R. Co., 370 U.S. 626, 630-31 (1962). --------
1. Public Interest
The Ninth Circuit has consistently held that "the public's interest in expeditious resolution of litigation always favors dismissal." Pagtalunan v. Galaza, 291 F.3d 639, 642 (9th Cir. 2002) (quoting Yourish v. California Amplifier, 191 F.3d 983, 990 (9th Cir. 1999). In this case, Plaintiff has not only failed to file a second amended complaint pursuant to the Court's explicit deadline, but has also failed to request an extension or explain her failure to the Court. Therefore, this factor weighs in favor of dismissal.
2. The Court's Need to Manage its Docket
The delays caused by Plaintiff's failure to amend her claims have already consumed time and resources that the Court could have devoted to other cases. The Court's resources are best allocated to actions with active parties seeking to resolve their claims under the law. Thus, this factor also weighs in favor of dismissal.
3. Risk of Prejudice to Defendant
The Ninth Circuit recognizes that the risk of prejudice must be considered with reference to "the plaintiff's reason for defaulting." Pagtalunan, 291 F.3d at 642. However, in this matter, Plaintiff has not offered any explanation for her failure to comply with the Court's Order.
In its prior Order, the Court clearly identified numerous deficiencies in Plaintiff's claims that she could attempt to correct in a second amended complaint. Rather than simply revise her Amended Complaint to correct these deficiencies, Plaintiff has taken no action in this case whatsoever.
"Unnecessary delay inherently increases the risk that witnesses' memories will fade and evidence will become stale." Pagtalunan, 291 F.3d at 643. Considering Plaintiff's ongoing failure to file a second amended complaint without offering an explanation, the Court finds that the delay in this matter is unreasonable, and therefore this factor weighs in favor of dismissal.
4. Public Policy Favoring Disposition on the Merits
Public policy and the preferences of this Court hold that legal claims should be resolved on their merits whenever possible. This factor weighs against dismissal.
5. Availability of Less Drastic Alternatives
In an attempt to avoid dismissal with prejudice, the Court granted Plaintiff twenty-one (21) days in which to file a second amended complaint, but warned that failure to file prior to this deadline would result in dismissal of Plaintiff's claims with prejudice. (Order at 11, ECF No. 79). Additionally, in the time that elapsed since the Court issued its Order, Plaintiff could have requested an extension or otherwise clarified her position with the Court. Despite the Court's admonishment, Plaintiff has not filed a second amended complaint or taken any other action in this matter. Therefore, the Court has exercised less drastic alternatives without success, and this factor weighs in favor of dismissal. ///
Accordingly, as four of the Ferdik factors weigh in favor of dismissal, the Court will dismiss Plaintiff's claims with prejudice.
II. CONCLUSION
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that Plaintiff's claims are DISMISSED with prejudice.
The Clerk of Court shall enter judgment accordingly and close the case.
DATED this 7 day of April, 2020.
/s/_________
Gloria M. Navarro, District Judge
United States District Court