EPPERSON v. WAL MART STORES INC 50 (2020)

MEMORANDUM ***

In this diversity slip-and-fall case, plaintiff-appellant Juanita Epperson claims that the district court abused its discretion in dismissing her case for failure to prosecute, pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 41(b). She asserts that the court should have imposed a less severe sanction for her conceded neglect of various pretrial scheduling requirements. We have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291, and we affirm.

When considering a motion to dismiss for lack of prosecution, a court must weigh 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.” 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)). We review for abuse of discretion a district court's dismissal of a case for lack of prosecution. Id. at 398.

The district court considered each of the five so-called Henderson factors. First, with respect to managing the docket (factor two), the court stated that Epperson had failed on multiple occasions to comply with court orders and the Local Rules. Then, after acknowledging the “policy favoring the disposition of cases on their merits” (factor four), the court noted the counterbalancing interest of the public and the parties in the expeditious resolution of disputes (factor one), and it stated that the delay had prejudiced Wal-Mart's ability “to adequately litigate this matter” (factor three). Finally, the court stated that it had considered lesser sanctions (factor five), but “lack[ed] any belief that Epperson will comply with any future orders,” as evidenced by her past conduct.

The court thus concluded: “After weighing the relevant factors and the record, dismissal for lack of prosecution is warranted and appropriate.” The court acted well within its discretion with this ruling.

AFFIRMED.