Opinion
CASE NO. 1:14-cv-00320-AWI-MJS (PC)
05-15-2015
YOUNG YIL JO, Plaintiff, v. SIX UNKNOWN AGENTS or MR PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES BARACK OBAMA, Defendant.
ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE WHY ACTION SHOULD NOT BE DISMISSED FOR FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH A COURT ORDER AND FAILURE TO FILE APPLICATION TO PROCEED IN FORMA PAUPERIS OR PAY FILING FEE
(ECF No. 2)
FOURTEEN (14) DAY OBJECTION DEADLINE
Plaintiff is a federal detainee proceeding pro se in this purported civil rights action brought pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983.
On March 13, 2014, the Court struck Plaintiff's complaint because it was unsigned, and noted, also, that the complaint failed to state a cognizable claim. (ECF No. 2.) Plaintiff was ordered to file a signed complaint within thirty days. Plaintiff simultaneously was ordered to file an application to proceed in forma pauperis or pay the $400 filing fee for this action. Plaintiff was warned that failure to comply would result in dismissal of the action. (Id.)
Plaintiff appealed. (ECF Nos. 3 & 5.) His appeals were not processed by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, and a search of the Ninth Circuit's docket does not reveal any pending appeal by Plaintiff relating to the instant action. Presumably, Plaintiff's appeal was not processed because of the Ninth Circuit's May 13, 2014 order enjoining Plaintiff from filing further civil actions naming the same defendants and/or raising the same allegations as those in actions previously filed and dismissed in the district courts, and directing this court to reject any related notices of appeal. See In re: Young Yil Jo, No. 13-80149 (9th Cir. May 13, 2014).
The action has been pending for over a year without any operative complaint and without Plaintiff submitting an application to proceed in forma pauperis or paying the applicable filing fee.
Local Rule 110 provides that "failure of counsel or of a party to comply with these Rules or with any order of the Court may be grounds for imposition by the Court of any and all sanctions . . . within the inherent power of the Court." District courts have the inherent power to control their dockets and "in the exercise of that power, they may impose sanctions including, where appropriate, default or dismissal." Thompson v. Housing Auth., 782 F.2d 829, 831 (9th Cir. 1986). A court may dismiss an action, with prejudice, based on a party's failure to prosecute, failure to obey a court order, or failure to comply with local rules. See, e.g., Ghazali v. Moran, 46 F.3d 52, 53-54 (9th Cir. 1995) (dismissal for noncompliance with local rule); Ferdik v. Bonzelet, 963 F.2d 1258, 1260-61 (9th Cir. 1992) (dismissal for failure to comply with an order requiring amendment of a complaint); Carey v. King, 856 F.2d 1439, 1440-41 (9th Cir. 1988) (dismissal for failure to comply with local rule requiring pro se plaintiffs to keep court apprised of address); Malone v. U.S. Postal Service, 833 F.2d 128, 130 (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 lack of prosecution and failure to comply with local rules).
In determining whether to dismiss an action for lack of prosecution, failure to obey a court order, or failure to comply with local rules, the 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 the defendants, (4) the public policy favoring disposition of cases on their merits, and (5) the availability of less drastic alternatives. Thompson, 782 F.2d at 831; Henderson, 779 F.2d at 1423-24; Malone, 833 F.2d at 130; Ferdik, 963 F.2d at 1260-61; Ghazali, 46 F.3d at 53.
In the instant case, the public's interest in expeditiously resolving this litigation and the Court's interest in managing its docket weigh in favor of dismissal. 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 this action. Anderson v. Air West, 542 F.2d 522, 524 (9th Cir. 1976). The fourth factor -- public policy favoring disposition of cases on their merits -- is greatly outweighed by the factors in favor of dismissal discussed herein. Finally, as for the availability of lesser sanctions, at this stage in the proceedings there is little available which would constitute a satisfactory lesser sanction while preserving scarce Court resources. Plaintiff has not paid the filing fee for this action and is likely unable to pay, making monetary sanctions of little use.
Accordingly, it is HEREBY ORDERED THAT:
1. Within fourteen (14) days of service of this Order, Plaintiff shall file an amended complaint or show cause as to why this action should not be dismissed without prejudice for failure to comply with the Court's order (ECF No. 2);
2. Within fourteen (14) days of service of this Order, Plaintiff also shall either file an application to proceed in forma pauperis, pay the $400 filing fee in full, or show cause as to why this action should not be dismissed without prejudice for failure to comply with the Court's order (ECF No. 2); and
3. If Plaintiff fails to show cause, file an amended complaint, file an application to proceed in forma pauperis, or pay the $400 filing fee in full, the undersigned will recommend that the action be dismissed without
4. prejudice for failure to obey a court order and failure to pay the applicable filing fee.IT IS SO ORDERED.
Dated: May 15, 2015
/s/ Michael J. Seng
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE