-KJN (PC) Gant v. McDonald et al, No. 2:2010cv01364 - Document 39 (E.D. Cal. 2012)
Court Description: FINDINGS and RECOMMENDATIONS signed by Magistrate Judge Kendall J. Newman on 1/4/2012 RECOMMENDING that this action be dismissed without prejudice pursuant to F.R.Civ.P. 41(b). Referred to Judge Lawrence K. Karlton; Objections due within 21 days. (Yin, K)
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-KJN (PC) Gant v. McDonald et al Doc. 39 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 9 FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 10 TONY AUSTIN GANT, 11 12 Plaintiff, No. 2: 10-cv-1364 LKK KJN P vs. 13 M.D. McDONALD, et al., 14 Defendants. 15 16 FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS / Plaintiff is a state prisoner, proceeding without counsel, with a civil rights action 17 pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. On October 19, 2011, defendants filed a motion for summary 18 judgment. On November 2, 2010, the court advised plaintiff of the requirements for opposing a 19 motion pursuant to Rule 56 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. See Rand v. Rowland, 154 20 F.3d 952, 957 (9th Cir. 1998) (en banc), and Klingele v. Eikenberry, 849 F.2d 409, 411-12 (9th 21 Cir. 1988). In that same order, plaintiff was advised of the requirements for filing an opposition 22 to the pending motion and that failure to oppose such a motion might be deemed a waiver of 23 opposition to the motion. 24 On November 23, 2011, plaintiff was ordered to file an opposition or a statement 25 of non-opposition to the pending motion within thirty days. In the same order, plaintiff was 26 informed that failure to file an opposition would result in a recommendation that this action 1 Dockets.Justia.com 1 be dismissed pursuant to Rule 41(b) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. The thirty day 2 period has now expired and plaintiff has not responded to the court’s order. 3 “Pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 41(b), the district court may dismiss 4 an action for failure to comply with any order of the court.” Ferdik v. Bonzelet, 963 F.2d 1258, 5 1260 (9th Cir. 1992). “In determining whether to dismiss a case for failure to comply with a 6 court order the district court must weigh five factors including: ‘(1) the public's interest in 7 expeditious resolution of litigation; (2) the court's need to manage its docket; (3) the risk of 8 prejudice to the defendants; (4) the public policy favoring disposition of cases on their merits; 9 and (5) the availability of less drastic alternatives.’” Ferdik, 963 F.2d at 1260-61 (quoting 10 Thompson v. Housing Auth., 782 F.2d 829, 831 (9th Cir. 1986)); see also Ghazali v. Moran, 46 11 F.3d 52, 53 (9th Cir. 1995). 12 In determining to recommend that this action be dismissed, the court has 13 considered the five factors set forth in Ferdik. Here, as in Ferdik, the first two factors strongly 14 support dismissal of this action. The action has been pending for 1 ½ years and has reached the 15 stage, set by the court’s scheduling order, for resolution of dispositive motions and, if necessary, 16 preparation for pretrial conference and jury trial. Plaintiff’s failure to comply with the Local 17 Rules and the court’s November 2, 2010, order suggests that he has abandoned this action and 18 that further time spent by the court thereon will consume scarce judicial resources in addressing 19 litigation which plaintiff demonstrates no intention to pursue. 20 Under the circumstances of this case, the third factor, prejudice to defendants 21 from plaintiff’s failure to oppose the motion, also favors dismissal. Plaintiff’s failure to oppose 22 the motion prevents defendants from addressing plaintiff’s substantive opposition, and would 23 delay resolution of this action, thereby causing defendants to incur additional time and expense. 24 The fifth factor also favors dismissal. The court has advised plaintiff of the 25 requirements under the Local Rules and granted ample additional time to oppose the pending 26 motion, all to no avail. The court finds no suitable alternative to dismissal of this action. 2 1 The fourth factor, public policy favoring disposition of cases on their merits, 2 weighs against dismissal of this action as a sanction. However, for the reasons set forth supra, 3 the first, second, third, and fifth factors strongly support dismissal. Under the circumstances of 4 this case, those factors outweigh the general public policy favoring disposition of cases on their 5 merits. See Ferdik, 963 F.2d at 1263. 6 7 For the foregoing reasons, IT IS HEREBY RECOMMENDED that this action be dismissed without prejudice pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 41(b). 8 These findings and recommendations are submitted to the United States District 9 Judge assigned to the case, pursuant to the provisions of 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(l). Within twenty- 10 one days after being served with these findings and recommendations, any party may file written 11 objections with the court and serve a copy on all parties. Such a document should be captioned 12 “Objections to Magistrate Judge’s Findings and Recommendations.” Any response to the 13 objections shall be filed and served within fourteen days after service of the objections. The 14 parties are advised that failure to file objections within the specified time may waive the right to 15 appeal the District Court’s order. Martinez v. Ylst, 951 F.2d 1153 (9th Cir. 1991). 16 DATED: January 4, 2012 17 18 _____________________________________ KENDALL J. NEWMAN UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE 19 20 gant1364.46 21 22 23 24 25 26 3
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