The opinion
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8 IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
9 FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
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11 THERON KENNETH HOLSTON, No. 2:20-CV-2466-KJM-DMC-P
12 Plaintiff,
13 v. FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
14 BROWN, et al.,
15 Defendants.
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17 Plaintiff, who is proceeding pro se, brings this civil rights action under 42 U.S.C.
18 § 1983. On August 9, 2021, the Court determined that Plaintiff’s complaint was appropriate for
19 service and directed Plaintiff to submit documents for service by the United States Marshal within
20 30 days. Plaintiff was warned that failure to submit the required documents may result in
21 dismissal of this action for lack of prosecution and failure to comply with court rules and orders.
22 See Local Rule 110. To date, Plaintiff has not complied.
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 comply with an
6 | order to file an amended complaint. See Ferdik v. Bonzelet, 963 F.2d 1258, 1260-61 (9th Cir.
7 | 1992).
8 Having considered these factors, and in light of Plaintiff's failure to submit service
9 | documents as directed, 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)(). 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).
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19 | Dated: September 29, 2021
20 DENNIS M. COTA
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE
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