Filed: Aug. 30, 2013
Latest Update: Aug. 30, 2013
Summary: ORDER VACATING DISMISSAL, REOPENING ACTION, AND REMANDING ACTION TO STATE COURT SAUNDRA BROWN ARMSTRONG, District Judge. Plaintiffs Kisha Prince and Daryl Prince, along with their minor children, Justice Prince and Khloe Prince, filed the instant pro se civil rights action in state court against defendants City of Fremont Police Department, Detective Craig Gaches (erroneously sued as Detective Gaghes) and Detective Anthony Holguin (erroneously sued as Detective Hoquin), alleging that Defendant
Summary: ORDER VACATING DISMISSAL, REOPENING ACTION, AND REMANDING ACTION TO STATE COURT SAUNDRA BROWN ARMSTRONG, District Judge. Plaintiffs Kisha Prince and Daryl Prince, along with their minor children, Justice Prince and Khloe Prince, filed the instant pro se civil rights action in state court against defendants City of Fremont Police Department, Detective Craig Gaches (erroneously sued as Detective Gaghes) and Detective Anthony Holguin (erroneously sued as Detective Hoquin), alleging that Defendants..
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ORDER VACATING DISMISSAL, REOPENING ACTION, AND REMANDING ACTION TO STATE COURT
SAUNDRA BROWN ARMSTRONG, District Judge.
Plaintiffs Kisha Prince and Daryl Prince, along with their minor children, Justice Prince and Khloe Prince, filed the instant pro se civil rights action in state court against defendants City of Fremont Police Department, Detective Craig Gaches (erroneously sued as Detective Gaghes) and Detective Anthony Holguin (erroneously sued as Detective Hoquin), alleging that Defendants violated their rights under the federal and state constitutions. On March 27, 2013, Defendants removed the action under 28 U.S.C. § 1441(a) on the grounds that Plaintiffs' claims arise under federal law. Dkt. 1.
On June 20, 2013, the Court dismissed the Complaint with leave to amend and ordered Plaintiffs to file an Amended Complaint by July 11, 2013. Dkt. 21. Plaintiffs failed to file their Amended Complaint by the specified deadline. Thus, on August 9, 2013, the Court issued an Order to Show Cause re Dismissal (OSC), pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 41(b). Dkt. 28. Plaintiffs had until August 23, 2013, to file a response to the OSC and were warned that the failure to do so would result in the dismissal of the action. Plaintiffs filed nothing by the August 23rd deadline.
On August 26, 2013, Plaintiffs Kisha Prince and Daryl Prince filed a document styled as, "Extend Amended Complaint #2," in which they purport to explain their delay in filing their Amended Complaint. Dkt. 34. The following day, on August 27, 2013, Plaintiffs lodged their Amended Complaint, which alleges causes of action for violation of the California Unruh Act, Retaliation with Malicious Prosecution and General Negligence. Dkt. 35. Finally, on August 28, 2013, Plaintiffs submitted a letter in which they apologize for filing their Amended Complaint in an untimely manner. Dkt. 36. Plaintiffs explain that they had retained a paralegal to assist in the preparation of their Amended Complaint, but that she "disappeared and has not been heard from since." Id.1
Plaintiffs' responses to the OSC and their Amended Complaint are untimely and the explanation for their delay is questionable. At the same time, there is no indication that Defendants have been prejudiced by Plaintiffs' delay. As such, in light of the strong preference for cases to be resolved on the merits, see In re Hammer, 940 F.2d 524, 525 (9th Cir. 1991), the Court will permit and consider Plaintiffs' late filings, see Applied Information Sciences Corp., v. eBay, Inc., 511 F.3d 966, 969 n.1 (9th Cir. 2007) (district court has discretion to consider untimely papers); Balistreri v. Pacifica Police Dep't, 901 F.2d 696, 699 (9th Cir. 1990) (pro se submissions must be liberally construed). Therefore, the Court discharges the OSC, and, in its discretion, accepts Plaintiffs' Amended Complaint for filing. See Eminence Capital, LLC v. Aspeon, Inc., 316 F.3d 1048, 1051 (9th Cir. 2003) (noting that under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 15(a), leave to amend should be permitted with "extreme liberality.").
The Court notes that in their Amended Complaint, Plaintiffs no longer are pursuing any federal claims or claims arising under federal law against Defendants. Only state statutes are alleged in the Amended Complaint. A district court may decline to exercise supplemental jurisdiction if there are no longer any pending claims over which it has original jurisdiction. 28 U.S.C. § 1367(c)(3); Sanford v. MemberWorks, Inc., 625 F.3d 550, 561 (9th Cir. 2010). As such, the Court finds that the interests of judicial economy, convenience, fairness, and comity weigh in favor of remanding the action to state court. See Harrell v. 20th Century Ins. Co., 934 F.2d 203, 205 (9th Cir. 1991) ("it is generally preferable for a district court to remand remaining pendant claims to state court.").2
Accordingly,
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED THAT:
1. The Order of Dismissal (Dkt. 32) and Judgment (33) are VACATED, and the action shall be reopened.
2. The OSC (Dkt. 28) issued on August 9, 2013, is DISCHARGED.
3. The Amended Complaint (Dkt. 35) lodged by Plaintiffs on August 27, 2013, shall be filed and entered into the docket.
4. The instant action is REMANDED to the Alameda County Superior Court.
5. The Clerk shall close the file and terminate all pending matters.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
