(PC) Calvin L. Sharp Jr v. Kathleen Allison ( 2023 )

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 9 EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 10 11 CALVIN L. SHARP, JR., Case No. 1:21-cv-00099-HBK (PC) 12 Plaintiff, ORDER TO ASSIGN A DISTRICT JUDGE 13 v. FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATION TO 14 KATHLEEN ALLISON, STUART DISMISS ACTION FOR FAILURE TO PROSECUTE ACTION1 SHERMAN, 15 14-DAY DEADLINE Defendants. 16 17 Plaintiff Calvin Sharp is a state prisoner proceeding pro se and in forma pauperis (Doc. 18 No. 9) in this civil rights action. For the reasons set forth below, the undersigned recommends 19 the District Court dismiss this action without prejudice for Plaintiff’s failure to prosecute this 20 action. 21 BACKGROUND 22 Plaintiff Sharp, a state prisoner, is proceeding pro se on his second amended civil rights 23 complaint under 42 U.S.C. § 1983. (Doc. No. 27, “SAC”). On May 8, 2023, the Court issued a 24 screening order finding the SAC, which named 97 Defendants and comprised 105 pages, violated 25 Rule 8 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. (Doc. No. 32 at 5-6). Additionally, the May 8, 26 2023 Screening Order advised Plaintiff that the SAC failed to allege a causal connection between 27 1 This matter was referred to the undersigned pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)(B) and Local Rule 302 1 each of the Defendants, who were from different prisons, and the alleged violations of Plaintiff’s 2 civil rights. (Id. at 6). Plaintiff was given three options to exercise within twenty-one (21) days 3 from receipt of the May 8, 2023 Order: (1) file a Third Amended Complaint (“TAC”); (2) file a 4 notice that he intends to stand on his initial complaint subject to the undersigned recommending 5 the district court dismiss for reasons stated in the May 8, 2023 Screening Order; or (3) file a 6 notice to voluntarily dismiss this action, without prejudice, under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 7 41(a)(1) because no defendant had yet been served. (Id. at 7, ¶ 1). The Court expressly warned 8 Plaintiff that if he “fails to timely respond to this Court Order or seek an extension of time to 9 comply” the undersigned “will recommend that the district court dismiss this case as a sanction 10 for Plaintiff’s failure to comply with a court order and prosecute this action.” (Id. ¶ 2). On May 11 30, 2023, Plaintiff belatedly requested a fifteen-day extension of time to comply with the May 8, 12 2023 Screening Order. (Doc. No. 33). Plaintiff was granted an extension of time and ordered to 13 deliver his amended complaint to correctional officials no later than June 21, 2023. (Doc. No. 14 34). As of the date of this order, Plaintiff has failed to comply with the May 8, 2023 Screening 15 Order and the time to do so has expired.2 (See generally docket). 16 APPLICABLE LAW AND ANALYSIS 17 A. Legal Standard 18 Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 41(b) permits the court to involuntarily dismiss an action 19 when a litigant fails to prosecute an action or fails to comply with other Rules or with a court 20 order. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 41(b); see Applied Underwriters v. Lichtenegger, 913 F.3d 884, 889 21 (9th Cir. 2019) (citations omitted). Similarly, the Local Rules, corresponding with Federal Rule 22 of Civil Procedure 11, provide, “[f]ailure of counsel or of a party to comply with … any order of 23 the Court may be grounds for the imposition by the Court of any and all sanctions … within the 24 inherent power of the Court.” E.D. Cal. L.R. 110. “District courts have inherent power to control 25 their dockets” and, in exercising that power, may impose sanctions, including dismissal of an 26 action. Thompson v. Housing Auth., City of Los Angeles, 782 F.2d 829, 831 (9th Cir. 1986). A 27 2 The undersigned notes that as of the date of these Findings and Recommendation 16 days has passed since the June 21, 2023 mailing deadline, affording more than sufficient time to account for any delays in 1 court may dismiss an action based on a party’s failure to prosecute an action, obey a court order, 2 or comply with local rules. See, e.g., Ferdik v. Bonzelet, 963 F.2d 1258, 1260-61 (9th Cir. 1992) 3 (dismissal for failure to comply with a court order to amend a complaint); Malone v. U.S. Postal 4 Service, 833 F.2d 128, 130-31 (9th Cir. 1987) (dismissal for failure to comply with a court order); 5 Henderson v. Duncan, 779 F.2d 1421, 1424 (9th Cir. 1986) (dismissal for failure to prosecute and 6 to comply with local rules). In determining whether to dismiss an action, the Court must 7 consider several factors: (1) the public’s interest in expeditious resolution of litigation; (2) the 8 Court’s need to manage its docket; (3) the risk of prejudice to the defendants; (4) the public 9 policy favoring disposition of cases on their merits; and (5) the availability of less drastic 10 sanctions. Henderson, 779 F.2d at 1423; Carey v. King, 856 F.2d 1439, 1440 (9th Cir. 1988). 11 B. Analysis 12 The undersigned considers each of the above-stated factors and concludes dismissal is 13 warranted in this case. As to the first factor, the expeditious resolution of litigation is deemed to 14 be in the public interest, satisfying the first factor. Yourish v. California Amplifier, 191 F.3d 983, 15 990-91 (9th Cir. 1999). Turning to the second factor, the Court’s need to efficiently manage its 16 docket cannot be overstated. This Court has “one of the heaviest caseloads in the nation,” and 17 due to the delay in filling judicial vacancies, which was further exacerbated by the Covid-19 18 pandemic, operates under a declared judicial emergency. See Amended Standing Order in Light 19 of Ongoing Judicial Emergency in the Eastern District of California. The Court’s time is better 20 spent on its other matters than needlessly consumed managing a case with a recalcitrant litigant. 21 The Court cannot effectively manage its docket if a plaintiff ceases to litigate his case. Thus, the 22 Court finds that both the first and second factors weigh in favor of dismissal. 23 Delays inevitably have the inherent risk that evidence will become stale or witnesses’ 24 memories will fade or be unavailable and can prejudice a defendant, thereby satisfying the third 25 factor. See Sibron v. New York, 392 U.S. 40, 57 (1968). Thus, the third factor, risk of prejudice 26 to defendant, also weighs in favor of dismissal since a presumption of injury arises from the 27 occurrence of unreasonable delay in prosecuting an action. Anderson v. Air W., 542 F.2d 522, 1 action, weighing in favor of dismissal for a risk of prejudice to defendants. 2 Finally, the fourth factor usually weighs against dismissal because public policy favors 3 disposition on the merits. Pagtalunan v. Galaza, 291 F.3d 639, 643 (9th Cir. 2002). However, 4 “this factor lends little support to a party whose responsibility it is to move a case toward 5 disposition on the merits but whose conduct impedes progress in that direction,” which is the case 6 here. In re Phenylpropanolamine (PPA) Products Liability Litigation, 460 F.3d 1217, 1228 (9th 7 Cir. 2006) (citation omitted). Indeed, “trial courts do not have time to waste on multiple failures 8 by aspiring litigants to follow the rules and requirements of our courts.” Pagtalunan v. Galaza, 9 291 F.3d 639, 644 (9th Cir. 2002) (Trott, J., concurring in affirmance of district court’s 10 involuntary dismissal with prejudice of habeas petition where petitioner failed to timely respond 11 to court order and noting “the weight of the docket-managing factor depends upon the size and 12 load of the docket, and those in the best position to know what that is are our beleaguered trial 13 judges.”). Notably, the Court has already screened the SAC, and found it failed to state a 14 meritorious claim as plead. 15 Finally, the Court’s warning to a party that failure to obey the court’s order will result in 16 dismissal satisfies the “considerations of the alternatives” requirement. Ferdik, 963 F.2d at 1262; 17 Malone, 833 F.2d at 132-33; Henderson, 779 F.2d at 1424. The Court’s May 8, 2023 Screening 18 Order expressly warned Plaintiff that his failure to comply with the Court’s order would result in 19 a recommendation for dismissal of this action. Thus, Plaintiff had adequate warning that 20 dismissal could result from his noncompliance. Further, the Court granted Plaintiff’s belated 21 request for an extension of time to comply with the May 8, 2023 Screening Order, yet he still 22 remains non-complaint. Therefore, less drastic measures will be futile. And the instant dismissal 23 is a dismissal without prejudice, which is a lesser sanction than a dismissal with prejudice, 24 thereby addressing the fifth factor. 25 After considering the factors set forth supra and binding case law, the undersigned 26 recommends dismissal, without prejudice, under Fed. R. Civ. P. 41 and Local Rule 110. 27 Accordingly, it is ORDERED: 1 It is further RECOMMENDED: 2 This action be DISMISSED without prejudice for Plaintiff's failure to obey a court order 3 | and/or failure to prosecute this action. 4 NOTICE 5 These Findings and Recommendations will be submitted to the United States District 6 | Judge assigned to this case, pursuant to the provisions of 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(). Within 14 days 7 | of the date of service of these Findings and Recommendations, Plaintiff may file written 8 | objections with the Court. The document should be captioned, “Objections to Magistrate Judge’s 9 | Findings and Recommendations.” Plaintiff's failure to file objections within the specified time 10 | may result in waiver of his rights on appeal. Wilkerson v. Wheeler, 772 F.3d 834, 839 (9th Cir. 11 | 2014) (citing Baxter v. Sullivan, 923 F.2d 1391, 1394 (9th Cir. 1991)). 12 Dated: __Iuly 5. 2023 Wile. □□□ foareh Zack 14 HELENA M. BARCH-KUCHTA Is UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28