Opinion
CV 18-00074-GF-BMM-JTJ
06-11-2019
ADAM CLARK YOUNG, Plaintiff, v. CPT. DAN O'FALLON and RUSS DANAHER, Defendants.
FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE
Plaintiff Adam Young is proceeding in forma pauperis and without counsel. On January 9, 2019, this Court issued a Scheduling Order requiring the parties to file an initial disclosure statement within 60 days and to exchange documents which may be used in proving or denying any party's claims or defenses. (Doc. 21 at 1-3, ¶ I(A), (B).) Mr. Young did not comply and on April 8, 2019, the Court issued an Order requiring Mr. Young to file a disclosure statement within 30 days. (Doc. 30.) On April 5, 2019, Defendant Danaher filed a Motion for Summary Judgment. (Doc. 26.) On April 22, 2019, Mr. Young filed a motion for appointment of counsel and a notice of change of address. (Docs. 31, 32.) In light of Mr. Young's change of address, the Court issued an Order denying the request for counsel and requiring Mr. Young to file his disclosure statement and a response to Defendant Danaher's Motion for Summary Judgment on or before May 28, 2019. (Doc. 34.) He did not respond.
Based upon Mr. Young's failure to comply with the Court's January 9, 2019 Scheduling Order (Doc. 21) and his failure to respond to Defendant Danaher's Motion for Summary Judgment (Doc. 26), this matter should be dismissed pursuant to Rule 41(b) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.
The Court has the inherent power to sua sponte dismiss a case for lack of prosecution or failure to comply with a court order. Henderson v. Duncan, 779 F.2d 1421, 1423 (9th Cir. 1986); see also Fed.R.Civ.P. 41(b); Ferdik v. Bonzelet, 963 F.2d 1258, 1260 (9th Cir. 1992). Dismissal, however, is a harsh penalty and should be imposed as a sanction only in extreme circumstances. Henderson, 779 F.2d at 1423.
The following factors must be considered before dismissal is imposed as a sanction for failure to prosecute or failure to comply with a court order: (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/respondents; (4) the availability of less drastic alternatives; and (5) the public policy favoring disposition of cases on their merits. Pagtalunan v. Galaza, 291 F.3d 639 (9th Cir. 2002) (citing Ferdik, 963 F.2d at 1260-61).
"The public's interest in expeditious resolution of litigation always favors dismissal." Yourish v. California Amplifier, 191 F.3d 983, 990 (9th Cir. 1999). This case is at a critical stage in that it is the beginning of the discovery process and Mr. Young has failed to comply with Court imposed discovery obligations and failed to respond to a motion. This factor weighs in favor of dismissal.
For much the same reasons, the second factor supports dismissal. The Ninth Circuit has noted that "[i]t is incumbent upon us to preserve the district courts' power to manage their docket without being subject to the endless vexatious noncompliance of litigants. . . ." Ferdik, 963 F.2d at 1261. "The trial judge is in the best position to determine whether the delay in a particular case interferes with docket management and the public interest." Pagtalunan, 291 F.3d 639 (citing Yourish, 191 F.3d 983). The Court must be able to manage its docket. It cannot do so if Mr. Young refuses to comply with Court imposed deadlines. Therefore, this factor favors dismissal.
The third factor requires the Court to weigh the risk of prejudice to the Defendants. "To prove prejudice, a defendant must establish that plaintiff's actions impaired defendant's ability to proceed to trial or threatened to interfere with the rightful decision of the case." Malone v. United States Postal Service, 833 F.2d 128, 131 (9th Cir. 1987). Mr. Young's refusal to litigate this matter makes prejudice a foregone conclusion. The longer this matter sits, the more prejudice to Defendants.
The Court has considered and provided less drastic alternatives. Alternatives may include "allowing further amended complaints, allowing additional time, or insisting that appellant associate experienced counsel." Nevijel v. North Coast Life Insurance Co., 651 F.2d 671, 674 (9th Cir. 1981). Although less drastic alternatives to dismissal should be considered, the court is not required to exhaust all such alternatives prior to dismissal. Id. Mr. Young was made aware of his disclosure obligations in the Court's January 9, 2019 Scheduling Order (Doc. 21), the Court's April 8, 2019 Order (Doc. 30), and the Court's April 24, 2019 Order (Doc. 34.) He was served with Defendant Danaher's Motion for Summary Judgment on April 5, 2019 (Doc. 26) and given an extension of time to respond on April 24, 2019 (Doc. 34.) Mr. Young did not comply with his disclosure obligations or respond to Defendant Danaher's motion despite several opportunities to do so. The Court can envision no further alternatives to dismissal.
The last factor weighs against dismissal because public policy favors the disposition of cases on their merits. Pagtalunan, 291 F.3d 639 (citing Hernandez v. City of El Monte, 138 F.3d 393, 399 (9th Cir. 1998)). But in light of the other four factors favoring dismissal, the Court finds that this matter should be dismissed for failure to prosecute and failure to comply with the Court's order.
Based upon the foregoing, the Court issues the following:
RECOMMENDATIONS
1. This matter should be DISMISSED WITHOUT PREJUDICE pursuant to Rule 41(b) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. The Clerk of Court should be directed to close this matter, enter judgment pursuant to Rule 58 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, and terminate all pending motions.
2. The Clerk of Court should be directed to have the docket reflect that the Court certifies pursuant to Rule 24(a)(3)(A) of the Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure that any appeal of this decision would not be taken in good faith.
NOTICE OF RIGHT TO OBJECT TO FINDINGS &
RECOMMENDATIONS AND CONSEQUENCES OF FAILURE TO OBJECT
The parties may file objections to these Findings and Recommendations within fourteen (14) days after service (mailing) hereof. 28 U.S.C. § 636. Failure to timely file written objections may bar a de novo determination by the district judge and/or waive the right to appeal.
Rule 6(d) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure provides that "[w]hen a party may or must act within a specified time after being served and service is made under Rule 5(b)(2)(C) (mail) . . . 3 days are added after the period would otherwise expire under Rule 6(a)." Therefore, since Mr. Young is being served by mail, he is entitled an additional three (3) days after the period would otherwise expire. --------
This order is not immediately appealable to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. Any notice of appeal pursuant to Fed.R.App.P. 4(a), should not be filed until entry of the District Court's final judgment.
DATED this 11th day of June, 2019.
/s/ John Johnston
John Johnston
United States Magistrate Judge