Miner v. Issaquah Police Department

          ORDER AND FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

          CAROLYN K. DELANEY UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

         On September 12, 2019, the court granted plaintiffs motion to proceed in forma pauperis, dismissed plaintiffs complaint with leave to amend, and provided plaintiff with 30 days to file a first amended complaint. (ECF No. 4.) Plaintiff was cautioned that failure to timely comply with the order would result in a recommendation that this action be dismissed. (Id.)

         Plaintiff ultimately failed to file an amended complaint as ordered. Nor did plaintiff file a notice of voluntary dismissal. As such, the court considered whether the action should be dismissed. However, the court first attempted lesser sanctions in light of plaintiff s pro se status and the court's desire to resolve the action on the merits. Accordingly, on October 21, 2019, the court ordered plaintiff, within 14 days, to: (1) show cause in writing why the action should not be dismissed with prejudice pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 41(b) based on her failure to comply with the court's orders and failure to prosecute the case; and (2) file a first amended complaint in compliance with the court's September 12, 2019 order. (ECF No. 5.) Plaintiff was expressly cautioned that failure to timely comply with the court's order would result in a recommendation that this action be dismissed with prejudice pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 41(b). (Id.)

         Although the applicable deadline has now passed, and despite the court's clear admonitions, plaintiff again entirely failed to respond to the court's order. Therefore, at this juncture, the court has little choice but to recommend dismissal of the action pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 41(b) for failure to comply with court orders and failure to prosecute the action.

         Eastern District Local Rule 110 provides that "[f]ailure of counsel or of a party to comply with these Rules or with any order of the Court may be grounds for imposition by the Court of any and all sanctions authorized by statute or Rule or within the inherent power of the Court." Moreover, Eastern District Local Rule 183(a) provides, in part:

Any individual representing himself or herself without an attorney is bound by the Federal Rules of Civil or Criminal Procedure, these Rules, and all other applicable law. All obligations placed on "counsel" by these Rules apply to individuals appearing in propria persona. Failure to comply therewith may be ground for dismissal, judgment by default, or any other sanction appropriate under these Rules.

See also King v. Atiyeh, 814 F.2d 565, 567 (9th Cir. 1987) (stating that "[p]ro se litigants must follow the same rules of procedure that govern other litigants"), overruled on other grounds. A district court may impose sanctions, including involuntary dismissal of a plaintiff s case pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 41(b), where that plaintiff fails to prosecute his or her case or fails to comply with the court's orders, the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, or the court's local rules. See Chambers v. NASCO, Inc., 501 U.S. 32, 44 (1991) (recognizing that a court "may act sua sponte to dismiss a suit for failure to prosecute"); Hells Canyon Pres. Council v. U.S. Forest Serv., 403 F.3d 683, 689 (9th Cir. 2005) (stating that courts may dismiss an action pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 41(b) sua sponte for a plaintiffs failure to prosecute or comply with the rules of civil procedure or the court's orders); Ghazali v. Moran, 46 F.3d 52, 53 (9th Cir. 1995) (per curiam) (stating that "[f]ailure to follow a district court's local rules is a proper ground for dismissal"); Ferdik v. Bonzelet, 963 F.2d 1258, 1260 (9th Cir. 1992) (explaining that, "[p]ursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 41(b), the district court may dismiss an action for failure to comply with any order of the court"); Thompson v. Housing Auth. of City of L.A., 782 F.2d 829, 831 (9th Cir. 1986) (per curiam) (stating that "[d]istrict courts have inherent power to control their dockets" and may impose sanctions that include dismissal).

         A court must weigh five factors in determining whether to dismiss a case for failure to prosecute, failure to comply with a court order, or failure to comply with a district court's local rules. See, e.g., Ferdik, 963 F.2d at 1260. Specifically, the court must consider:

(1) the public's interest in expeditious resolution of litigation; (2) the court's need to manage its docket; (3) the risk of prejudice to the defendants; (4) the public policy favoring disposition of cases on their merits; and (5) the availability of less drastic alternatives.

Id., at 1260-61; accord Pagtalunan v. Galaza. 291 F.3d 639, 642-43 (9th Cir. 2002).

         Here, the first two factors weigh in favor of dismissal, because this case has already been delayed by plaintiffs failure to take the steps necessary to move this case forward. The third factor also slightly favors dismissal because, at a minimum, defendant Issaquah Police Department has been deprived of an opportunity to be promptly notified of the lawsuit and prepare its defense. With the passage of time, witnesses' memories fade and evidence becomes stale.

         Furthermore, the fifth factor, availability of less drastic alternatives, favors dismissal, because the court has already attempted less drastic alternatives. More specifically, the court, cognizant of plaintiff s pro se status, declined to initially dismiss the case, but instead issued an order to show cause. (See ECF No. 5.) The court also clearly cautioned plaintiff regarding the potential consequences of any continued failure to comply with the court's orders. (Id.) Additionally, given plaintiffs initial request to proceed in forma pauperis and her complete failure to respond to the court's orders, the court is not convinced that plaintiff could or would pay any monetary sanctions if they were ordered.

         Finally, as to the fourth factor, the public policy favoring disposition of cases on their merits, that factor is outweighed by the other Ferdik factors. Indeed, it is plaintiffs own failure to prosecute the case and comply with court orders that precludes a resolution on the merits.

         Therefore, after carefully evaluating the Ferdik factors, the court ...