Opinion
1:23-cv-00233-ADA-EPG
11-13-2023
ORDER RE: STIPULATION FOR DISMISSAL WITH PREJUDICE OF DEFENDANT EQUIFAX INFORMATION SERVICES, LLC ONLY (ECF No. 32)
On November 8, 2023, Plaintiff Cynthia Primavera and Defendant Equifax Information Services, LLC (Equifax) filed a stipulation of dismissal with prejudice of the claims against Equifax under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 41(a)(1)(A)(ii), with each party to bear its own costs and attorney fees. (ECF No. 32). However, because Rule 41(a)(1)(A)(ii) requires a stipulation of dismissal to be “signed by all parties who have appeared,” and only Plaintiff and Equifax have signed the stipulation, the Court will require the remaining Defendant in the case who has appeared-The Bank of Missouri-to submit a filing approving or opposing the stipulation of dismissal. See Thacker v. AT&T Corp., No. 2:20-CV-00255-KJM-CKD PS, 2021 WL 1784873, at *1 (E.D. Cal. May 5, 2021), report and recommendation adopted, 2021 WL 4168533 (E.D. Cal. Sept. 14, 2021) (noting that court was “unaware of any case waiving the requirement that the stipulation . . . must be made by all parties who have appeared” and that “[t]he requirement to obtain all parties' consent to voluntarily dismiss (without a court order) is intended to ensure that a voluntary dismissal of a party at later stages of the litigation does not cause plain legal prejudice to the party to be dismissed or to the remaining defendant(s)”).
Accordingly, IT IS ORDERED as follows:
1. By no later than November 20, 2023, Defendant Bank of Missouri shall file a signed document reflecting its approval of the stipulation of dismissal (ECF No. 32) or file a response opposing the stipulation of dismissal.
2. Alternatively, by no later than November 20, 2023, the parties may file a stipulation of dismissal signed by all parties who have appeared in this action in compliance with Rule 41(a)(1)(A)(ii).
IT IS SO ORDERED.