(PC) Gilbert v. Hearn ( 2022 )

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 9 FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 10 11 MICHAEL GILBERT, No. 2:20-CV-0384-TLN-DMC-P 12 Plaintiff, 13 v. FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 14 C. HEARN, 15 Defendant. 16 17 Plaintiff, who is proceeding pro se, brings this civil rights action pursuant to 42 18 U.S.C. § 1983. On February 10, 2022, mail directed to Plaintiff was returned by the United States 19 Postal Service as undeliverable. Pursuant to Eastern District of California Local Rule 183(b), any 20 party appearing pro se must file and serve a notice of change of address within 63 days of mail 21 being returned. To date, more than 63 days have elapsed since mail was returned and Plaintiff 22 has not notified the Court of a change of address. 23 The Court must weigh five factors before imposing the harsh sanction of dismissal. 24 See Bautista v. Los Angeles County, 216 F.3d 837, 841 (9th Cir. 2000); Malone v. U.S. Postal 25 Service, 833 F.2d 128, 130 (9th Cir. 1987). Those factors are: (1) the public's interest in 26 expeditious resolution of litigation; (2) the court's need to manage its own docket; (3) the risk of 27 prejudice to opposing parties; (4) the public policy favoring disposition of cases on their merits; 28 and (5) the availability of less drastic sanctions. See id.; see also Ghazali v. Moran, 46 F.3d 52, 1 | 53 (th Cir. 1995) (per curiam). A warning that the action may be dismissed as an appropriate 2 | sanction is considered a less drastic alternative sufficient to satisfy the last factor. See Malone, 3 | 833 F.2d at 132-33 & n.1. The sanction of dismissal for lack of prosecution is appropriate where 4 | there has been unreasonable delay. See Henderson v. Duncan, 779 F.2d 1421, 1423 (9th Cir. 5 | 1986). Dismissal has also been held to be an appropriate sanction for failure to inform the district 6 | court and parties of a change of address pursuant to local rules. See Carey v. King, 856 F.2d 7 | 1439, 1440-41 (9th Cir. 1988) (per curiam). 8 Having considered these factors, and in light of Plaintiff's failure to submit a 9 | notice of change of address, the Court finds that dismissal of this action is appropriate. 10 Based on the foregoing, the undersigned recommends that this action be dismissed, 11 | without prejudice, for lack of prosecution and failure to comply with court rules and orders. 12 These findings and recommendations are submitted to the United States District 13 | Judge assigned to the case, pursuant to the provisions of 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1). Within 14 days 14 | after being served with these findings and recommendations, any party may file written 15 | objections with the court. Responses to objections shall be filed within 14 days after service of 16 | objections. Failure to file objections within the specified time may waive the right to appeal. See 17 | Martinez v. Ylst, 951 F.2d 1153 (9th Cir. 1991). 18 19 | Dated: May 20, 2022 20 DENNIS M. COTA 21 UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE 22 23 24 25 26 27 28