Meghan Cole v. Shanndah Burkholder

Summary

The United States District Court for the Eastern District of California orders plaintiff Meghan Cole to show cause why her case should not be dismissed. The order states that plaintiff apparently failed to submit service documents to the U.S. Marshal as previously directed and warns that failure to respond within fourteen days will result in a recommendation of dismissal for failure to prosecute and failure to comply with court orders.

Holdings

1. The court may exercise its inherent power to control its docket and impose appropriate sanctions, including dismissal, when a party fails to prosecute an action, obey a court order, or comply with applicable local rules.
2. Plaintiff must show cause within fourteen days why the action should not be dismissed for failure to prosecute and failure to comply with court orders.

Questions Presented

1. Whether the court should require plaintiff to show cause why the action should not be dismissed for failure to prosecute and failure to comply with a court order.
2. Whether the court possesses inherent authority to impose sanctions, including dismissal, for failure to prosecute or obey court orders.

Disposition

other