Opinion
1:19-cv-01249-HBK
06-11-2021
JOHN HUGHES, Plaintiff, v. DONNY YOUNGBLOOD and SARAH GONZALEZ, Defendants.
FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS THAT THIS CASE BE DISMISSED WITHOUT PREJUDICE
This matter was referred to the undersigned pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)(B) and Local Rule 302 (E.D. Ca. 2019).
OBJECTIONS DUE WITHIN TWENTY-ONE DAYS
ORDER DIRECTING CLERK TO ASSIGN DISTRICT JUDGE
HELENA M. BARCH-KUCHTA UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE
This matter sua sponte comes before the court. As more fully set forth below, the undersigned recommends the court dismiss this case without prejudice due to Plaintiff's failure to prosecute this action and failure to update his address of record, to the extent he has been transferred or released.
I. FACTS AND BACKGROUND
Plaintiff John Hughes is a current or former state prisoner proceeding pro se and in forma pauperis on his civil rights complaint filed under 42 U.S.C. § 1983. (Doc. Nos. 1, 5). On February 19, 2020, the court issued a screening order under 28 U.S.C. § 1915A and determined Plaintiff's complaint failed to state a claim. (Doc. No. 6 at 1). The court ordered Plaintiff to file an amended complaint within thirty (30) days and warned him that if he failed to comply with the court's order his case would be dismissed. (Id. at 5, ¶¶ 4-6). Plaintiff sought and received multiple extensions to amend his complaint. (Doc. Nos. 8, 9, 10, 12, 13, 14). Despite these extensions Plaintiff failed to file an amended complaint. On March 15, 2021, the court afforded Plaintiff a final twenty-one-day period within which to file his amended complaint before recommending dismissal of the action. (Doc. No. 18). On March 22, 2021, that order was returned as “Undeliverable, Refused/Paroled.” On March 24, 2021, a second attempt to reserve the order was made. On April 2, 2021, that order also was returned as “Undeliverable, Refused.” As of the date of these findings and recommendations, Plaintiff has not filed an amended complaint nor filed a notice of change of address, to the extent he has been transferred or released as required by Local Rule 182(f). (See docket).
II. APPLICABLE LAW
This court's Local Rules require litigants to keep the court apprised of their current address and permits dismissal when the litigant fails to comply. Specifically:
“[a] party appearing in propria persona shall keep the Court and opposing parties advised as to his or her current address. If mail directed to a plaintiff in propria persona by the Clerk is returned by the U.S. Postal Service, and if such plaintiff fails to notify the Court and opposing parties within sixty-three (63) days thereafter of a current address, the Court may dismiss the action without prejudice for failure to prosecute.”E.D. Cal. Loc. R. 183(b) (2019); see also Local Rule 182(f) (all parties are “under a continuing duty” to notify the clerk of “any change of address.” Precedent supports a dismissal of a case when a litigant fails to keep the court appraised on his address. Carey v. King, 856 F.2d 1439 (9th Cir. 1988) (affirming lower court and finding no abuse of discretion when district court dismissed case without prejudice after pro se plaintiff did not comply with local rule requiring pro se plaintiffs keep court apprised of addresses at all times); Hanley v. Opinski, No. 1:16-cv-391-DAD-SAB, 2018 WL 3388510 (E.D. Ca. July 10, 2018) (dismissing action for failure to prosecute and failure to provide court with current address).
Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 41(b) permits the court to involuntarily dismiss an action when a litigant fails to prosecute an action or fails to comply with other Rules or with a court order. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 41(b); see Applied Underwriters v. Lichtenegger, 913 F.3d 884, 889 (9th Cir. 2019) (citations omitted); Hells Canyon Pres. Council v. U.S. Forest Serv., 403 F.3d 683, 689 (9th Cir. 2005) (“[T]he consensus among our sister circuits, with which we agree, is that courts may dismiss under Rule 41(b) sua sponte, at least under certain circumstances.”). Local Rule 110 similarly permits the court to impose sanctions on a party who fails to comply with the court's Rules or any order of court.
Involuntary dismissal is a harsh penalty, but it “is incumbent upon the Court to manage its docket without being subject to routine noncompliance of litigants.” Pagtalunan v. Galaza, 291 F.3d 639, 642 (9th Cir. 2002). Before dismissing an action under Fed.R.Civ.P. 41, the court must consider: (1) the public interest in expeditious resolution of litigation; (2) the court's need to manage a docket; (3) the risk of prejudice to defendant; (4) public policy favoring disposition on the merits; and (5) the availability of less drastic sanctions. See Applied Underwriters, 913 F.3d at 889 (noting that these five factors “must” be analyzed before a Rule 41 involuntary dismissal) (emphasis added); Malone v. U.S. Postal Service, 833 F.2d 128, 130 (9th Cir. 1987) (reviewing five factors and independently reviewing the record because district court did not make finding as to each factor); but see Bautista v. Los Angeles County, 216 F.3d 837, 841 (9th Cir. 2000) (listing the same five factors, but noting the court need not make explicit findings as to each) (emphasis added); Ferdik v. Bonzelet, 963 F.2d 1258, 1260 (9th Cir. 1992) (affirming dismissal of pro se § 1983 action when plaintiff did not amend caption to remove “et al” as the court directed and reiterating that an explicit finding of each factor is not required by the district court).
III. ANALYSIS
The undersigned considers each of the above-stated factors and concludes dismissing this case is warranted. The expeditious resolution of litigation is deemed to be in the public interest, satisfying the first factor. Yourish v. California Amplifier, 191 F.3d 983, 990-91 (9th Cir. 1999). Turning to the second factor, the court's need to efficiently manage its docket cannot be overstated. This court has “one of the heaviest caseloads in the nation, ” and due to unfilled judicial vacancies, which is further exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic, operates under a declared judicial emergency. See Amended Standing Order in Light of Ongoing Judicial Emergency in the Eastern District of California. The court's time is better spent on its other matters than needlessly consumed managing a case with a recalcitrant litigant. Indeed, “trial courts do not have time to waste on multiple failures by aspiring litigants to follow the rules and requirements of our courts.” Pagtalunan, 291 F.3d at 644 (Trott, J., concurring in affirmance of district court's involuntary dismissal with prejudice of habeas petition where petitioner failed to timely respond to court order and noting “the weight of the docket-managing factor depends upon the size and load of the docket, and those in the best position to know what that is are our beleaguered trial judges.”). Delays have the inevitable and inherent risk that evidence will become stale or witnesses' memories will fade or be unavailable and can prejudice a defendant, thereby satisfying the third factor. See Sibron v. New York, 392 U.S. 40, 57 (1968). Attempting a less drastic action, such as issuing another order to show cause, would be futile because Plaintiff has failed to update his address or is refusing any orders from the court. Thus, any correspondence sent to him will be returned. Additionally, the instant dismissal is a dismissal without prejudice, which is a lesser sanction than a dismissal with prejudice, thereby addressing the fifth factor.
The court first directed Plaintiff to file an amended complaint over a year ago. The court granted Plaintiff numerous extensions of time to file an amended complaint. The court warned Plaintiff repeatedly that failure to file an amended complaint would be cause for dismissal. And contrary to Local Rule 183(b), more than 63 days have passed since mail was returned as undeliverable and Plaintiff has not updated his mailing address or otherwise contacted the court. Considering these factors and those set forth supra, as well as binding case law, the undersigned recommends dismissal, without prejudice, under Fed.R.Civ.P. 41(b) and Local Rules 110 and 183(b).
Accordingly, it is ORDERED:
The Clerk shall assign this case to a district judge.
Further, it is RECOMMENDED:
This case be dismissed without prejudice.
NOTICE TO PARTIES
These findings and recommendations will be submitted to the United States district judge assigned to the case, pursuant to the provisions of Title 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1). Within twenty-one (21) days after being served with these findings and recommendations, a party may file written objections with the Court. The document should be captioned “Objections to Magistrate Judge's Findings and Recommendations.” Parties are advised that failure to file objections within the specified time may result in the waiver of rights on appeal. Wilkerson v. Wheeler, 772 F.3d 834, 838-39 (9th Cir. 2014) (citing Baxter v. Sullivan, 923 F.2d 1391, 1394 (9th Cir. 1991)).
IT IS SO ORDERED.