(PC) Fields v. Voss et al, No. 1:2007cv00595 - Document 38 (E.D. Cal. 2010)
Court Description: FINDINGS and RECOMMENDATIONS recommending that this 1 Action be Dismissed based on Plaintiff's Failure to Obey a Court 34 Order and Failure to Prosecute; Objections, if any, Due in Thirty Days signed by Magistrate Judge Gary S. Austin on 10/25/2010. Referred to Judge Anthony W. Ishii. Objections to F&R due by 12/2/2010. (Sant Agata, S)
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(PC) Fields v. Voss et al Doc. 38 1 2 3 4 5 IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 6 FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 7 8 ALLEN L. FIELDS, 9 10 11 Plaintiff, vs. W. T. VOSS, et al., 12 Defendants. 13 ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) 1:07-cv-00595-AWI-GSA-PC FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS TO DISMISS CASE FOR FAILURE TO OBEY A COURT ORDER AND FAILURE TO PROSECUTE (Doc. 34.) OBJECTIONS, IF ANY, DUE IN THIRTY DAYS 14 15 On September 13, 2010, the court issued an order requiring plaintiff to file a response to the 16 Motion to Dismiss filed by defendants on June 18, 2010, within thirty days. (Doc. 34.) The thirty-day 17 period has now expired, and plaintiff has not filed a response to the Motion to Dismiss or otherwise 18 responded to the court's order. 19 In determining whether to dismiss this action for failure to comply with the directives set forth 20 in its order, “the Court must weigh the following factors: (1) the public’s interest in expeditious 21 resolution of litigation; (2) the court’s need to manage its docket; (3) the risk of prejudice to 22 defendants/respondents; (4) the availability of less drastic alternatives; and (5) the public policy favoring 23 disposition of cases on their merits.” Pagtalunan v. Galaza, 291 F.3d 639, 642 (9th Cir. 2002) (citing 24 Ferdik v. Bonzelet, 963 F.2d 1258, 1260-61 (9th Cir. 1992)). 25 “‘The public’s interest in expeditious resolution of litigation always favors dismissal,’” id. 26 (quoting Yourish v. California Amplifier, 191 F.3d 983, 990 (9th Cir. 1999)), and here, the action has 27 been pending for more than three years. Plaintiff's failure to respond to the Court's order may reflect 28 1 Dockets.Justia.com 1 Plaintiff's disinterest in prosecuting this case. In such an instance, the Court cannot continue to expend 2 its scarce resources assisting a litigant who will not help himself by defending his case against 3 defendants' Motion to Dismiss. Thus, both the first and second factors weigh in favor of dismissal. 4 Turning to the risk of prejudice, “pendency of a lawsuit is not sufficiently prejudicial in and of 5 itself to warrant dismissal.” Id. (citing Yourish at 991). However, “delay inherently increases the risk 6 that witnesses’ memories will fade and evidence will become stale,” id., and it is Plaintiff's failure to 7 prosecute his case which is causing delay. Therefore, the third factor weighs in favor of dismissal. 8 As for the availability of lesser sanctions, at this stage in the proceedings there is little available 9 to the Court which would constitute a satisfactory lesser sanction while protecting the Court from further 10 unnecessary expenditure of its scarce resources. Plaintiff is proceeding in forma pauperis in this action, 11 making monetary sanctions of little use, and given the early stage of these proceedings, the preclusion 12 of evidence or witnesses is not available. However, inasmuch as the dismissal being considered in this 13 case is without prejudice, the Court is stopping short of issuing the harshest possible sanction of 14 dismissal with prejudice. 15 16 Finally, because public policy favors disposition on the merits, this factor will always weigh against dismissal. Id. at 643. 17 Accordingly, the court HEREBY RECOMMENDS that this action be dismissed based on 18 plaintiff's failure to obey the court’s order of September 13, 2010, and failure to prosecute this action. 19 These findings and recommendations are submitted to the United States District Judge assigned 20 to the case, pursuant to the provisions of Title 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(l). Within thirty days after being 21 served with these findings and recommendations, plaintiff may file written objections with the court. 22 Such a document should be captioned "Objections to Magistrate Judge's Findings and 23 Recommendations." Plaintiff is advised that failure to file objections within the specified time may 24 waive the right to appeal the District Court's order. Martinez v. Ylst, 951 F.2d 1153 (9th Cir. 1991). 25 IT IS SO ORDERED. 26 Dated: 6i0kij October 25, 2010 /s/ Gary S. Austin UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE 27 28 2
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