BROOKE v. SUNSTONE VON KARMAN LLC (2020)

MEMORANDUM **

Theresa Brooke appeals from the district court's order dismissing her action alleging violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act and California's Unruh Civil Rights Act. We have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291. We review for an abuse of discretion. Nascimento v. Dummer, 508 F.3d 905, 909 (9th Cir. 2007) (dismissal for failure to appear at a pretrial conference); Pagtalunan v. Galaza, 291 F.3d 639, 640 (9th Cir. 2002) (dismissal for failure to comply with a court order). We vacate and remand.

The district court dismissed Brooke's action following a hearing on an order to show cause issued after Brooke failed to appear at a scheduling conference. The district court, however, failed to explain why less drastic sanctions were inadequate. See Malone v. United States Postal Serv., 833 F.2d 128, 131-32 (9th Cir. 1987) (“The district court abuses its discretion if it imposes a sanction of dismissal without first considering the impact of the sanction and the adequacy of less drastic sanctions.” (citation and internal quotation marks omitted)); see also Ferdik v. Bonzelet, 963 F.2d 1258, 1260 (9th Cir. 1992) (“[D]ismissal is a harsh penalty and, therefore, it should only be imposed in extreme circumstances.”). Accordingly, we vacate and remand for further proceedings.

VACATED and REMANDED.