Opinion
1:21-cv-00385-SKO (PC)
07-02-2021
GILBERT FERNANDO HERNANDEZ, Plaintiff, v. BOLT, et al., Defendants.
FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS TO DISMISS ACTION FOR FAILURE TO OBEY COURT ORDERS AND TO PAY FILING FEE
SHEILA K. OBERTO UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE
Plaintiff Gilbert Fernando Hernandez, a state prisoner proceeding pro se, has not paid the filing fee for this action or submitted an application to proceed in forma pauperis (IFP) pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915. On March 16, 2021, the Court ordered Plaintiff to submit a court-provided application to proceed IFP or to pay the filing fee in full. (Doc. 4.) Plaintiff has failed to comply with this order.
On May 11, 2021, the Court issued an order to show cause, within 21 days, why this action should not be dismissed. (Doc. 5.) The Court allowed Plaintiff, within that same time, to submit an application to proceed IFP or to pay the filing fee. (Id. at 2.) The Court cautioned Plaintiff that “[f]ailure to comply with this order w[ould] result in a recommendation that this action be dismissed.” (Id.) Although more than the allowed time has passed, Plaintiff has failed to file an IFP application, pay the filing fee, or respond to the order to show cause.
The Local Rules, corresponding with Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 11, provide that “[f]ailure of counsel or of a party to comply with . . . any order of the Court may be grounds for the imposition by the Court of any and all sanctions . . . within the inherent power of the Court.” Local Rule 110. “District courts have inherent power to control their dockets” and, in exercising that power, may impose sanctions, including dismissal of an action. Thompson v. Housing Auth., City of Los Angeles, 782 F.2d 829, 831 (9th Cir. 1986). A court may dismiss an action based on a party's failure to prosecute an action, obey a court order, or comply with local rules. See, e.g., Ferdik v. Bonzelet, 963 F.2d 1258, 1260-61 (9th Cir. 1992) (dismissal for failure to comply with a court order to amend a complaint); Malone v. U.S. Postal Service, 833 F.2d 128, 130-31 (9th Cir. 1987) (dismissal for failure to comply with a court order); Henderson v. Duncan, 779 F.2d 1421, 1424 (9th Cir. 1986) (dismissal for failure to prosecute and to comply with local rules).
It appears that Plaintiff has abandoned this action. Whether he has done so intentionally or mistakenly is inconsequential. It is Plaintiff's responsibility to comply with the Court's orders. The Court declines to expend its limited resources on a case that Plaintiff has chosen to ignore.
Based on the foregoing, the Court RECOMMENDS that this action be DISMISSED for failure to obey court orders and to pay the filing fee. The Court DIRECTS the Clerk of the Court to assign a district judge to this action.
These Findings and Recommendations will be submitted to the United States District Judge assigned to this case, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1). Within 14 days of the date of service of these Findings and Recommendations, Plaintiff may file written objections with the Court. The document should be captioned, “Objections to Magistrate Judge's Findings and Recommendations.” Plaintiff's failure to file objections within the specified time may result in waiver of his rights on appeal. Wilkerson v. Wheeler, 772 F.3d 834, 839 (9th Cir. 2014) (citing Baxter v. Sullivan, 923 F.2d 1391, 1394 (9th Cir. 1991)).
IT IS SO ORDERED.