(SS) John v. Commissioner of Social Security ( 2020 )

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 9 EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 10 11 JAMIE RACHELLE JOHN, ) Case No.: 1:19-cv-1148- JLT ) 12 Plaintiff, ) ORDER TO PLAINTIFF TO SHOW CAUSE ) WHY THE ACTION SHOULD NOT BE 13 v. ) ) DISMISSED FOR FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH 14 COMMISSIONER OF SOCIAL SECURITY, ) THE COURT’S ORDER AND FAILURE TO ) PROSECUTE 15 Defendant. ) ) 16 17 Plaintiff initiated this action by filing a complaint on August 22, 2019 seeking judicial review of 18 the decision to deny her application for Social Security benefits. (Doc. 1) On August 27, 2019, the 19 Court issued its Scheduling Order, setting forth the deadlines governing the action. (Doc. 5) 20 The Commissioner of Social Security filed the certified administrative record in the matter on 21 January 22, 2020. (Doc.10) The Scheduling Order requires Plaintiff to serve “a letter brief outlining 22 the reasons why he … contends that a remand is warranted” and file “proof of service reflecting that the 23 letter brief was served” within thirty days of the filing of the administrative record. (Doc. 5 at 2) Thus, 24 Plaintiff was to serve a confidential letter brief no later than February 21, 2020. However, Plaintiff has 25 not filed a proof of service and did not request an extension of time to comply with the deadline. 26 The Local Rules, corresponding with Fed. R. Civ. P. 11, provide: “Failure of counsel or of a 27 party to comply with . . . any order of the Court may be grounds for the imposition by the Court of any 28 and all sanctions . . . within the inherent power of the Court.” Local Rule 110. “District courts have 1 inherent power to control their dockets,” and in exercising that power, a court may impose sanctions 2 including dismissal of an action. Thompson v. Housing Authority of Los Angeles, 782 F.2d 829, 831 3 (9th Cir. 1986). A court may dismiss an action with prejudice, based on a party’s failure to prosecute 4 an action or failure to obey a court order, or failure to comply with local rules. See, e.g. Ferdik v. 5 Bonzelet, 963 F.2d 1258, 1260-61 (9th Cir. 1992) (dismissal for failure to comply with an order); 6 Malone v. U.S. Postal Service, 833 F.2d 128, 130 (9th Cir. 1987) (dismissal for failure to comply with 7 a court order); Henderson v. Duncan, 779 F.2d 1421, 1424 (9th Cir. 1986) (dismissal for failure to 8 prosecute and to comply with local rules). 9 Accordingly, within fourteen days, Plaintiff SHALL show cause why terminating sanctions 10 should not be imposed for failure to follow the Court’s order and failure to prosecute the action or to 11 serve a confidential letter brief and file proof of service with the Court. 12 13 IT IS SO ORDERED. 14 Dated: February 25, 2020 /s/ Jennifer L. Thurston 15 UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28