Opinion
Case No.: 2:14-cv-02118-GMN-CWH
06-03-2015
EVELYN ENRIQUEZ, an individual, Plaintiff, v. RED ROCK FINANCIAL SERVICES, LLC, Defendant.
ORDER
Pending before the Court is the Motion to Dismiss (ECF No. 18) filed by Defendant Red Rock Financial Services, LLC ("Defendant"). Plaintiff Evelyn Enriquez ("Plaintiff") has failed to file a Response to the Motion to Dismiss. For the reasons that follow, the Court GRANTS Defendant's Motion to Dismiss and Plaintiff's Complaint is hereby dismissed.
I. BACKGROUND
This case centers upon allegations that Defendant unlawfully foreclosed on Plaintiff's property and failed to respond to her debt verification request. (Compl. ¶¶ 12, 19). Plaintiff filed her Complaint on December 15, 2014, asserting the following causes of action: (1) negligent, wanton, and/or intentional hiring, supervision of incompetent employees or agents of Red Rock; and (2) violation of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (the "FDCPA"). (Compl. ¶¶ 13-26). Shortly thereafter, Defendant filed a Motion to Dismiss (ECF No. 4), which the Court granted (ECF No. 16). Moreover, the Court gave Plaintiff leave to file an amended complaint. (Order, ECF No. 16). Subsequently, Plaintiff filed an Amended Complaint (ECF No. 17), to which Defendant filed the instant Motion to Dismiss (ECF No. 18). Pursuant to Local Rule 7-2(b) of the Local Rules of Practice of the United States District Court for the District of Nevada, Plaintiff had fourteen days after service of the Motion to file a Response. Accordingly, Plaintiff had until April 27, 2015, to file a Response. Not only did Plaintiff fail to meet this deadline, Plaintiff has failed to file any Response at all.
II. DISCUSSION
Local Rule 7-2(d) provides that "[t]he failure of an opposing party to file points and authorities in response to any motion shall constitute a consent to the granting of the motion." D. Nev. R. 7-2(d). As the Ninth Circuit has held, "[f]ailure to follow a district court's local rules is a proper ground for dismissal." Ghazali v. Moran, 46 F.3d 52, 53 (9th Cir. 1995); see, e.g., Roberts v. United States of America, No. 2:01-cv-1230-RLH-LRL, 2002 WL 1770930 (D. Nev. June 13, 2002). However, before dismissing a case for failing to follow local rules or for failure to prosecute, the district court must weigh five 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/respondents; (4) the availability of less drastic sanctions; and (5) the public policy favoring disposition of cases on their merits." Pagtalunan v. Galaza, 291 F.3d 639, 642 (9th Cir. 2002).
Under this test, "the public's interest in expeditious resolution of litigation always favors dismissal." Yourish v. Cal. Amplifier, 191 F.3d 983, 990 (9th Cir. 1999). Also, the Court's need to manage its docket is manifest. See State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co. v. Ireland, No. 2:07-cv-01541-RCJ-RJJ, 2009 WL 4280282 (D. Nev. Nov. 30, 2009). Further, Plaintiff's failure to timely respond to Defendant's motion has unreasonably delayed the resolution of this case, and such unreasonable delay "creates a presumption of injury to the defense." Henderson v. Duncan, 779 F.2d 1421, 1423 (9th Cir. 1986). Less drastic sanctions available to the Court include dismissal of Plaintiff's Complaint without prejudice.
The fifth factor also does not weigh in favor of Plaintiff because it is not clear that this case was likely to be decided on the merits. Plaintiff has failed to take any action since the Motion to Dismiss was filed. Accordingly, the Court concludes that consideration of the five factors discussed above weighs in favor of dismissal.
III. CONCLUSION
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that Defendant's Motion to Dismiss (ECF No. 18) is GRANTED. Plaintiff's Amended Complaint is DISMISSED without prejudice.
The clerk shall enter judgment accordingly.
DATED this 3rd day of June, 2015.
/s/_________
Gloria M. Navarro, Chief Judge
United States District Judge