Opinion
Case No. 3:19-cv-00734-APG-WGC
08-28-2020
CRYSTAL M. SASHINGER, Plaintiff, v. RENOWN MEDICAL STAFF, et. al., Defendants.
ORDER
This action began with a pro se civil rights complaint filed under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 by a state prisoner. On July 22, 2020, Magistrate Judge Cobb ordered plaintiff Crystal Sashinger to file her updated address with the court within 30 days. ECF No. 3. The 30-day period has now expired, and Sashinger has not filed her updated address or otherwise responded to the order.
District courts have the inherent power to control their dockets and "[i]n the exercise of that power, they may impose sanctions including, where appropriate . . . dismissal" of a case. Thompson v. Hous. Auth. of City of Los Angeles, 782 F.2d 829, 831 (9th Cir. 1986). A court may dismiss an action, with prejudice, based on a party's failure to prosecute an action, failure to obey a court order, or failure to comply with local rules. See 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 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 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 first two factors (the public's interest in expeditiously resolving this litigation and my interest in managing the docket) weigh in favor of dismissal. The third factor (risk of prejudice to the defendants) also weighs in favor of dismissal, since a presumption of injury arises from the occurrence of unreasonable delay in filing a pleading ordered by the court or prosecuting an action. See 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, a court's warning to a party that his failure to obey the court's order will result in dismissal satisfies the "consideration of alternatives" requirement. Ferdik, 963 F.2d at 1262; Malone, 833 F.2d at 132-33; Henderson, 779 F.2d at 1424. Judge Cobb's order expressly stated: "It is further ordered that, if Plaintiff fails to timely comply with this order, the Court shall dismiss this case without prejudice." ECF No. 3 at 2. Thus, Sashinger had adequate warning that dismissal would result from her noncompliance with the order.
I therefore order that this action is dismissed without prejudice based on the plaintiff's failure to file an updated address in compliance with Judge Cobb's July 22, 2020 order. If the plaintiff wishes to pursue any claims, she must do so in a new case.
I further order the Clerk of Court enter judgment accordingly and close this case. No further documents shall be filed in this closed case.
DATED THIS 28th day of August, 2020.
/s/_________
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE