Lenares v. Salazar et al, No. 1:2012cv00186 - Document 9 (E.D. Cal. 2012)

Court Description: FINDINGS and RECOMMENDATIONS Dismissing the Action Without Prejudice, signed by Magistrate Judge Jennifer L. Thurston on 12/12/2012. Referred to Judge Ishii. Objections to F&R due by 12/26/2012. (Hall, S)

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1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 9 EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 10 11 FRANKIE VALLES LENARES, 12 Plaintiff, 13 14 v. KEN SALAZAR, et al., 15 Defendants. 16 ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) Case No.: 1:12-cv-00186-AWI-JLT FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS DISMISSING THE ACTION WITHOUT PREJUDICE Plaintiff Frankie Valles Lenares (“Plaintiff”) is proceeding pro se with a civil rights action 17 18 pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983, the American Procedures Act, and the Indian Reorganization Act. For 19 the following reasons, the Court recommends the action be DISMISSED WITHOUT PREJUDICE. 20 I. Relevant Procedural History On September 28, 2012, the Court dismissed Plaintiff’s complaint with leave to amend, and 21 22 attempted service at an address provided by Plaintiff. (Doc. 8). However, the order was returned as 23 undeliverable on October 9, 2012. Plaintiff failed to notify the Court of a change of address. 24 II. 25 Requirements of the Local Rules Pursuant to Local Rule 183(b), a party appearing in propria persona is required to keep the 26 Court apprised of his current address: “If mail directed to a plaintiff in propria persona by the Clerk is 27 returned by the U.S. Postal Service, and if such plaintiff fails to notify the Court and opposing parties 28 within sixty-three (63) days thereafter of a current address, the Court may dismiss the action without 1 1 prejudice for failure to prosecute.” LR 183(b). Because more than 63 days have passed since the 2 document was returned as undeliverable, Plaintiff has failed to comply with the Local Rules. 3 III. Discussion and Analysis 4 “District courts have inherent power to control their dockets,” and in exercising that power, a 5 court may impose sanctions including dismissal of an action. Thompson v. Housing Authority of Los 6 Angeles, 782 F.2d 829, 831 (9th Cir. 1986). A court may dismiss an action with prejudice, based on a 7 party’s failure to prosecute an action or failure to obey a court order, or failure to comply with local 8 rules. See, e.g., Ghazali v. Moran, 46 F.3d 52, 53-54 (9th Cir. 2995) (dismissal for failure to comply 9 with local rules); Ferdik v. Bonzelet, 963 F.2d 1258, 1260-61 (9th Cir. 1992) (dismissal for failure to 10 comply with an order requiring amendment of complaint); Henderson v. Duncan, 779 F.2d 1421, 1424 11 (9th Cir. 1986) (dismissal for failure to prosecute and to comply with local rules). 12 In determining whether to dismiss an action for failure to prosecute, failure to comply with the 13 Local Rules, or failure to obey a court order, the Court must consider several factors, including: “(1) 14 the public’s interest in expeditious resolution of litigation; (2) the court’s need to manage its docket; 15 (3) the risk of prejudice to the defendants; (4) the public policy favoring disposition of cases on their 16 merits; and (5) the availability of less drastic sanctions.” Henderson, 779 F.2d at 1423-24; see also 17 Ferdik, 963 F.2d at 1260-61; Thompson, 782 F.2d at 831. 18 In the case at hand, the public’s interest in expeditiously resolving this litigation and the 19 Court’s interest in managing the docket weigh in favor of dismissal. The risk of prejudice to the 20 defendants also weighs in favor of dismissal, since a presumption of injury arises from the occurrence 21 of unreasonable delay in prosecution of an action. See Anderson v. Air West, 542 F.2d 522, 524 (9th 22 Cir. 1976). The Court will not, and cannot, hold the case in abeyance based upon Plaintiff’s failure to 23 prosecute or notify the Court of a change in address. Further, the policy favoring disposition of cases 24 on their merits is outweighed by the factors in favor of dismissal. 25 On February 13, 2012, the Court warned Plaintiff: “Failure to comply with the Local Rules, 26 federal rules, or a court order . . . will be grounds for dismissal, entry of default, or other 27 appropriate sanctions.” (Doc. 3-2 at 1) (emphasis in original). Thus, Plaintiff had adequate warning 28 that dismissal would result from his noncompliance with the Local Rules, and this satisfies the 2 1 requirement that the Court consider less drastic measures than dismissal of the action. Ferdik, 963 2 F.2d at 1262; Henderson, 779 F.2d at 1424. Moreover, no lesser sanction is feasible given the Court’s 3 inability to communicate with Plaintiff. 4 IV. 5 6 Findings and Recommendations Plaintiff has failed to follow the requirements of the Local Rules or to prosecute this action. As set forth above, the factors set forth by the Ninth Circuit weigh in favor of dismissal of the matter. 7 Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY RECOMMENDED: 8 1. This action be DISMISSED WITHOUT PREJUDICE; and 9 2. The Clerk of Court be directed to close this action. 10 These Findings and Recommendations are submitted to the United States District Judge 11 assigned to the case, pursuant to the provisions of 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)(B) and Rule 304 of the Local 12 Rules of Practice for the United States District Court, Eastern District of California. Within fourteen 13 days after being served with these Findings and Recommendations, Plaintiff may file written 14 objections with the court. Such a document should be captioned “Objections to Magistrate Judge’s 15 Findings and Recommendations.” Plaintiff is advised that failure to file objections within the 16 specified time may waive the right to appeal the District Court’s order. Martinez v. Ylst, 951 F.2d 17 1153 (9th Cir. 1991). 18 19 20 21 22 IT IS SO ORDERED. Dated: December 12, 2012 /s/ Jennifer L. Thurston UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE DEAC_Signature-END: 9j7khijed 23 24 25 26 27 28 3

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