Leslie v. Nash
Leslie v. Nash
Trial Court Opinion
1 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 2 DISTRICT OF NEVADA 3 4 Emerson Leslie Case No. 2:19-cv-01182-JAD-NJK 5 Plaintiff v. 6 Order Dismissing Jennifer Nash, et. al., and Closing Case 7 Defendants 8 9 PlaintiffEmerson Leslie brings this civil-rights lawsuit to redress constitutional violations 10 that he claims he suffered while in the custody of the Nevada Department of Corrections. 11 Although he submitted an application to proceed in forma pauperis for prisoners, he has since 12 been released from custody and the Court ordered him to file a new application to proceed IFP as 13 a non-prisoner or pay the $400 filing fee by April 3, 2020.1 That deadline expired without anew 14 application,payment of the filing fee, or any request to extend the deadline. Leslie was warned 15 that his failure to timely comply with that order may result in the dismissal of this case.2 16 District courts have the inherent power to control their dockets and “[i]n the exercise of 17 that power, they may impose sanctions including, where appropriate . . . dismissal” of a case.3 A 18 court may dismiss an action based on a party’s failure to prosecute an action, failure to obey a 19 court order, or failure to comply with local rules.4 In determining whether to dismiss an action 20 21 1 ECF No.6. 2 Id.at 2. 22 3 Thompson v. Hous. Auth. of City of Los Angeles,
782 F.2d 829, 831(9th Cir. 1986). 23 4 See Ghazali v. Moran,
46 F.3d 52,53–54 (9th Cir. 1995) (dismissal for noncompliance with local rule); Ferdik v. Bonzelet,
963 F.2d 1258, 1260–61 (9th Cir. 1992) (dismissal for failure to comply with an order requiring amendment of complaint); Carey v. King,
856 F.2d 1439, 1440– 1 on one of these grounds, the court must consider: (1) the public’s interest in expeditious 2 resolution of litigation; (2) the court’s need to manage its docket; (3) the risk of prejudice to the 3 defendants; (4) the public policy favoring disposition of cases on their merits; and (5) the 4 availability of less drastic alternatives.5 5 The first two factors, the public’s interest in expeditiously resolving this litigation and the
6 court’s interest in managing its docket, weigh in favor of dismissal of the plaintiff’s claims. The 7 third factor, risk of prejudice to defendants, also weighs in favor of dismissal because a 8 presumption of injury arises from the occurrence of unreasonable delay in filing a pleading 9 ordered by the court or prosecuting an action.6 A court’s warning to a party that its failure to 10 obey the court’s order will result in dismissal satisfies the fifth factor’s “consideration of 11 alternatives” requirement,7 and that warning was given here.8 The fourth factor—the public 12 policy favoring disposition of cases on their merits—is greatly outweighed by the factors 13 favoring dismissal. 14 IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that THIS ACTION IS DISMISSED without prejudice
15 based on the plaintiff’s failure to file anapplication to proceed in forma pauperis by a non- 16 prisoner or pay the filing fee as ordered. The Clerk of Court is directed to ENTER 17 18 41 (9th Cir. 1988) (dismissal for failure to comply with local rule requiring pro se plaintiffs to 19 keep court apprised of address); Malone v. U.S. Postal Service,
833 F.2d 128, 130(9th Cir. 1987) (dismissal for failure to comply with court order); Henderson v. Duncan,
779 F.2d 1421, 20 1424 (9th Cir. 1986) (dismissal for lack of prosecution and failure to comply with local rules). 5 Thompson,
782 F.2d at 831; Henderson, 779 F.2d at 1423–24; Malone,
833 F.2d at 130; 21 Ferdik, 963 F.2d at 1260–61; Ghazali,
46 F.3d at 53. 22 6 See Anderson v. Air West,
542 F.2d 522, 524(9th Cir. 1976). 7 Ferdik,
963 F.2d at 1262; Malone, 833 F.2d at 132–33; Henderson,
779 F.2d at 1424. 23 8 ECF No.6at 2(“if Plaintiff does not timely comply with this order, dismissal of this action may result.”). 1] JUDGMENT accordingly and CLOSE THIS CASE. No other documents may be filed in now-closed case. If Leslie wishes to pursue his claims, he must file a complaint in a new case, and he must either pay the $400 filing fee or file an in forma pauperis application for non- 4|| prisoners in that new case. 5 Dated: April 14, 2020
8 9 10 1] 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23
Reference
- Status
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