USCA1 Opinion

        October 3, 1994         [NOT FOR PUBLICATION]

                            UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
                                FOR THE FIRST CIRCUIT


                                 ____________________

        No. 93-2351

                                MARTHA MARRERO-RIVERA,

                                Plaintiff, Appellant,

                                          v.

                              THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE,
                       THE COMMONWEALTH OF PUERTO RICO, ET AL.,

                                Defendants, Appellees.


                                 ____________________

                     APPEAL FROM THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

                           FOR THE DISTRICT OF PUERTO RICO


                    [Hon. Jose Antonio Fuste, U.S. District Judge]
                                              ___________________

                                 ____________________

                                        Before

                                 Selya, Circuit Judge,
                                        _____________
                            Coffin, Senior Circuit Judge,
                                    ____________________
                              and Stahl, Circuit Judge.
                                         _____________

                                 ____________________

            Francisco M. Dolz-Sanchez for appellant.
            _________________________
            Carlos Lugo  Fiol, Deputy Solicitor  General, with  whom Pedro  A.
            _________________                                        _________
        Delgado-Hernandez, Solicitor General, was on brief for appellee.
        _________________


                                 ____________________


                                 ____________________























               Per  curiam.    The  district court  dismissed  this  action
               ___________

          because  of appellant's  failure  to comply  with specific  court

          orders and discovery deadlines.  We have carefully considered the

          arguments  raised on appeal, but find no basis for disturbing the

          district court's discretionary decision  to dismiss the case with

          prejudice.  See HMG Property Investors, Inc. v. Parque Industrial
                      ___ ____________________________    _________________

          Rio  Canas, 847  F.2d 908,  916 (1st  Cir. 1988)  ("Courts cannot
          __________

          function if litigants may,  with impunity, disobey lawful orders.

          It has long  been the  rule that federal  courts possess  plenary

          authority  `to  manage their  own affairs  so  as to  achieve the

          orderly and expeditious disposition of cases.'")  Accordingly, we

          affirm its judgment. 






























                                         -2-