I.

BACKGROUND

On October 14, 2021, Plaintiff Christopher S. (“Plaintiff”) filed a Complaint challenging the denial of his application for Title II Disability Insurance Benefits and/or Title XVI Supplemental Security Income by the Commissioner of the Social Security Administration (“Defendant”). ECF Docket No. (“Dkt.”) 1.

On October 18, 2021, the Court issued a Case Management Order (“CMO”) instructing Plaintiff to “promptly serve the summons and complaint on the Commissioner,” and to “electronically file a proof of service” within thirty (30) days after the filing of the Complaint, i.e. no later than November 15, 2021. Dkt. 9 at 1-2. The CMO warned Plaintiff that failure to follow those instructions “may result in dismissal of this case.” Id. at 2.

1 Partially redacted in compliance with Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 5.2(c)(2)(B) and the recommendation of the Committee on Court Administration and Case Management of the Judicial Conference of the United States. As of the date of this Order, Plaintiff still has not filed a proof of service, per the Court’s

CMO.2

II.

DISCUSSION

Under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 41(b) (“Rule 41(b)”), the Court may dismiss an action with prejudice for failure to prosecute or failure to comply with any court order. See FED. R. CIV. P. 41(b).

Here, Plaintiff has failed to file a proof of service of the Complaint, and thus failed to comply with the Court’s CMO. Pursuant to Rule 41(b), the Court may, therefore, dismiss the instant action without prejudice for failure to prosecute and comply with a court order. Bennett v. Colvin, No. CV 12-10317-PA (PJW), 2013 WL 3233420, at *1 (C.D. Cal. June 26, 2013) (dismissing pro se social security action under Rule 41(b) where plaintiff failed to file proof of service on defendant despite court order). However, before dismissing this action, the Court will afford Plaintiff an opportunity to explain his failure to file a proof of service as directed by the CMO.

III.

ORDER

Accordingly, Plaintiff is ORDERED TO SHOW CAUSE, in writing, why this action should not be dismissed for failure to prosecute and/or comply with court orders. Plaintiff shall have up to and including November 29, 2021, to respond to this Order. Plaintiff is cautioned that failure to timely file a response to this Order will be deemed by the Court consent to the dismissal of this action without prejudice.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

2 The Court notes Defendant has appeared in the action by filing a Consent to Proceed before Magistrate Judge, dkt. 10. See dkt. 9, CMO at 2 n.2 (“The filing of consent to proceed before the Magistrate Judge will serve as a notice of appearance”). Nevertheless, Plaintiff must still file a proof of service as required by the CMO.