Andrew v. Doe et al

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF ALASKA
BASIL G. ANDREW,
Plaintiff,
v.
JOHN DOE, et al.,
Defendants.
Case No. 3:22-cv-00071-SLG-KFR
REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION TO DISMISS FOR FAILURE TO PROSECUTE
On March 31, 2022, Basil G. Andrew, a self-represented prisoner (hereinafter
“Plaintiff”), filed a Prisoner’s Complaint under the Civil Rights Act, 42 U.S.C. §
1983 (hereinafter “Complaint”), and a civil cover sheet.1 Subsequently, on May 2,
2022, Plaintiff filed an Affidavit, followed on June 7, 2022, by an Application to
Waive Prepayment of the Filing Fee.2
On September 21, 2022, this Court issued a Screening Order finding that
Plaintiff failed to state a claim upon which relief may be granted, but provided
guidance on the Complaint’s deficiencies, and granted leave to amend.3 The
Court’s Screening Order instructed: “If Plaintiff does not file either an Amended
Complaint or a Notice of Voluntary Dismissal by October 28, 2022, this case may be
dismissed with prejudice, and he risks receiving a strike.”4
I. 	Failure to Prosecute
As of the date of this Report and Recommendation, Plaintiff has not filed an
Amended Complaint or a Voluntary Notice of Dismissal, as ordered by the Court’s
1 Docs. 1 and 2.
2 Docs. 3 and 7.
3 Doc. 9.
4 Id.
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SCREENING ORDER
Andrew v. Doe et al.
3:22-cv-00071-SLG-KFR
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September 21, 2022, Screening Order.5 For that reason, this Court now recommends
that the District Court dismiss Plaintiff’s Complaint without prejudice for failure to
prosecute.
Rule 41(b) of Federal Rules of Civil Procedure permits dismissal due to a
plaintiff’s failure to prosecute or comply with a court order. In deciding whether to
dismiss for failure to prosecute or comply with court orders, a district court must
consider five factors: “(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 sanctions.”6
Here, the first two factors — the public’s interest in expeditious resolution of
litigation and the Court's need to manage its docket — weigh in favor of dismissal.
Plaintiff’s failure to file an amended complaint within the specified timeline suggests
Plaintiff does not intend to litigate this action diligently.7 Further, a presumption of
prejudice 	to 	a 	defendant 	arises 	when 	the 	plaintiff 	unreasonably
delays prosecution of an action.8 	Because Plaintiff has not offered any justifiable
reason for failing to meet the Court’s deadline, the third factor also favors dismissal.9
The fourth factor usually weighs against dismissal because public policy
favors disposition on the merits.10 	However, “this factor lends little support to a
party whose responsibility it is to move a case toward disposition on the merits but
5 Id.
6 Hernandez v. City of El Monte, 138 F.3d 393, 399 (9th Cir. 1998) (quoting Henderson v.
Duncan, 779 F.2d 1421, 1423 (9th Cir. 1986)).
7 Morris v. Morgan Stanley & Co., 942 F.2d 648, 652 (9th Cir. 1991) (a plaintiff has the burden
“to move toward... disposition at a reasonable pace, and to refrain from dilatory and evasive
tactics”).
8 Anderson v. Air West, 542 F.2d 522, 524 (9th Cir. 1976).
9 See Hernandez v. City of El Monte, 138 F.3d 393, 401 (9th Cir. 1998) (reiterating that the
burden of production shifts to the defendant to show at least some actual prejudice only
after the plaintiff has given a non-frivolous excuse for delay).
10 Pagtalunan v. Galaza, 291 F.3d 639, 643 (9th Cir. 2002).
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SCREENING ORDER
Andrew v. Doe et al.
3:22-cv-00071-SLG-KFR
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whose conduct impedes progress in that direction,”11 which is the case here. Thus,
although this factor typically weighs against 	dismissal, it does not overcome
Plaintiff’s failure to amend his complaint.
The fifth factor is comprised of three subparts, which include “whether the
court has considered lesser sanctions, whether it tried them, and whether it warned
the recalcitrant party about the possibility of case-dispositive sanctions.”12 	The
Court’s 	Screening 	Order 	provided 	Plaintiff 	guidance 	on 	relevant 	law 	and 	an
opportunity to amend his complaint.13 Further, the Court expressly warned Plaintiff
that his failure to comply with the Court’s order could result in a dismissal of this
action.14
The 	Court cannot move 	this 	case 	toward 	disposition without 	Plaintiff's
compliance 	with 	Court 	orders 	or 	participation 	in 	this 	litigation. 	Additionally,
Plaintiff had adequate warning that dismissal with prejudice could result from his
noncompliance. 	However, dismissal without prejudice is a less drastic alternative.
Dismissal without prejudice “minimizes prejudice to a defendant and preserves a
plaintiff's ability to seek relief.”15 	Accordingly, this Court recommends dismissal
without prejudice for failure to prosecute.
11 In re Phenylpropanolamine (PPA) Products Liability Litigation, 460 F.3d 1217, 1228
(9th Cir. 2006) (citing In re Exxon Valdez, 102 F.3d 429, 433 (9th Cir. 1996)).
12 Conn. Gen. Life Ins., 482 F.3d at 1096 (internal citation omitted).
13 Doc. 9 (providing guidance about Fed. R. Civ. P. 8 and the pleading requirements of a
§ 1983 claim).
14 Id. at 14.
15 See, e.g., Henderson, 779 F.2d at 1424 (a district court need not exhaust every sanction
short of dismissal before finally dismissing a case but must explore possible and meaningful
alternatives) (internal citation omitted); see also Adriana International Corp. v. Thoeren, 913
F.2d 1406, 1412 (9th Cir. 1990) (explaining despite all the elaboration of factors, it is not
always necessary for the court to impose less serious sanctions first, or to give any explicit
warning); Gleason v. World Sav. Bank, FSB, 2013 WL 3927799, at *2 (N.D. Cal. July 26, 2013).
(finding dismissal under Rule 41(b) appropriate where the court previously attempted the
lesser sanction of issuing an order to show cause and giving the plaintiff an additional
opportunity to re-plead); Alli v. City and County of San Francisco, 2022 WL 3099222 (N.D.
Cal. 2022) (internal citations omitted).
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SCREENING ORDER
Andrew v. Doe et al.
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This dismissal will count as a “strike” against Plaintiff under § 1915(g).16
After three strikes, Plaintiff will be unable to file lawsuits under in forma pauperis
status, unless he demonstrates “imminent danger of serious physical injury.”17 The
Court cautions Plaintiff as to his strike status.
IT IS THEREFORE RECOMMENDED:
1. 	This action should be DISMISSED WITHOUT PREJUDICE.
2. 	This dismissal should constitute a strike to Plaintiff under 28 U.S.C. §
1915(g). And the Court should instruct Plaintiff that if he receives three strikes, he
will be unable to file future lawsuits in federal court without paying the filing fee or
demonstrating he is in imminent danger of serious physical injury with any request
to waive prepayment of the filing fee.
3. 	The Clerk of Court should issue a final judgement.
DATED this 15th day of November, 2022, at Anchorage, Alaska.
s/ Kyle F. Reardon
KYLE F. REARDON
United States Magistrate Judge
District of Alaska
16 Lomax v. Ortiz-Marquez, 140 S. Ct. 1721, 1722 (2020) (holding that Section 1915(g)’s three-
strikes provision refers to any dismissal for failure to state a claim, whether with prejudice
or without prejudice.)
17 28 U.S.C. § 1915(g).
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SCREENING ORDER
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NOTICE OF RIGHT TO OBJECT
Under 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1), a district court may designate a magistrate
judge to hear and determine matters pending before the Court. For dispositive
matters, a magistrate judge reports findings of fact and provides recommendations
to the presiding district court judge.18 A district court judge may accept, reject, or
modify, in whole or in part, the magistrate judge’s order.19
A party may file written objections to the magistrate judge’s order within 14
fourteen days.20 Objections and responses are limited to five (5) pages in length
and should not merely reargue positions previously presented. Rather, objections
and responses should specifically identify the findings or recommendations
objected to, the basis of the objection, and any legal authority in support. Reports
and recommendations are not appealable orders. Any notice of appeal pursuant to
Fed. R. App. P. 4(a)(1) should not be filed until entry of the district court’s
judgment.21
18 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)(B).
19 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)(C).
20 Id.
21 See Hilliard v. Kincheloe, 796 F.2d 308 (9th Cir. 1986).
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