Littlejohn v. Roser

Full title: TERRI E. LITTLEJOHN, Plaintiff, v. JOHN KEITH ROSER, Defendant.

Court: UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

Date published: Jul 31, 2012

NO. 1:12-CV-00974 AWI GSA (E.D. Cal. Jul. 31, 2012)

Opinion

NO. 1:12-CV-00974 AWI GSA

07-31-2012

TERRI E. LITTLEJOHN, Plaintiff, v. JOHN KEITH ROSER, Defendant.

ORDER CLOSING THE CASE

DUE TO VOLUNTARY

DISMISSAL WITHOUT

PREJUDICE

On July 30, 2012, Plaintiff filed a request for dismissal of this case without prejudice. Although not stated in the notice, the Court construes it as one made pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 41(a)(1)(i).

In Wilson v. City of San Jose, the Ninth Circuit explained:

Under Rule 41(a)(1), a plaintiff has an absolute right to voluntarily dismiss his action prior to service by the defendant of an answer or a motion for summary judgment. Concha v. London, 62 F.3d 1493, 1506 (9th Cir. 1995) (citing Hamilton v. Shearson-Lehman American Express, 813 F.2d 1532, 1534 (9th Cir. 1987)). A plaintiff may dismiss his action so long as the plaintiff files a notice of dismissal prior to the defendant's service of an answer or motion for summary judgment. The dismissal is effective on filing and no court order is required. Id. The plaintiff may dismiss some or all of the defendants, or some or all of his claims, through a Rule 41(a)(1) notice. Id.; Pedrina v. Chun, 987 F.2d 608, 609-10 (9th Cir. 1993). The filing of a notice of voluntary dismissal with the court automatically terminates the action as to the defendants who are the subjects of the notice. Concha, 62 F.2d at 1506. Unless otherwise stated, the dismissal is ordinarily without prejudice to the plaintiff's right to commence another action for the same cause against the same defendants. Id. (citing McKenzie v. Davenport-
Harris Funeral Home, 834 F.2d 930, 934-35 (9th Cir. 1987)). Such a dismissal leaves the parties as though no action had been brought. Id.

Wilson v. City of San Jose, 111 F.3d 688, 692 (9th Cir. 1997).

No answers to Plaintiff's complaint and no motions for summary judgment have been filed in this case and it appears that no such answers or summary judgment motions have been served. Because Plaintiff has exercised her right to voluntarily dismiss the complaint under Rule 41(a)(1), this case has terminated. See Wilson, 111 F.3d at 692.

Therefore, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that the Clerk is ordered to close this case in light of Plaintiff's Rule 41(a)(1)(i) requested dismissal without prejudice. IT IS SO ORDERED.

______________________________

CHIEF UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE