Opinion
Civil Case No. 5:18-cv-504-JMH-MAS
06-14-2019
JEFFREY M. STAPLETON, et al., Plaintiffs, v. SEVILLA VICENTE, et al., Defendants.
MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER
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Plaintiffs Jeffrey and Beatrice Stapleton, through counsel, filed a Notice of Voluntary Dismissal pursuant to Rule 41 indicating that all claims against Defendant TQL, Inc. ("TQL") may be dismissed because TQL has not filed an answer, and "[a]ll Defendants agree TQL, Inc. was not the broker to the subject transaction as was previously represented to the Plaintiffs." [DE 42]. The claims against all other Defendants will remain.
Here, because dismissal of claims against a single party is not appropriate under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 41, the Court construes the notice of dismissal under Rule 41 as a motion to dismiss under Rule 21. Accordingly, Plaintiffs' Notice of Voluntary Dismissal under Rule 41 [DE 42], which the Court construes as a Motions to Dismiss under Rule 21, will be GRANTED, and the claims against Defendant TQL will be DISMISSED WITHOUT PREJUDICE.
A. DISCUSSION
Here, Plaintiffs notify the Court of their voluntary dismissal of TQL pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 41(a). But, as this Court has previously explained, Rule 41(a) does not allow a court to dismiss some, but not all, of the defendants in a single case. See United States ex rel. Doe v. Preferred Care, Inc., 326 F.R.D. 462 (E.D. Ky. 2018). In the Sixth Circuit, a plaintiff may only dismiss an "action" using Rule 41(a) and an "action" is interpreted to mean the "entire controversy." Philip Carey Manufacturing Company v. Taylor, 286 F.2d 782, 785 (6th Cir. 1961). While some Circuits disagree with the Sixth Circuit's interpretation of Rule 41(a), this Court is bound by Sixth Circuit precedent. See Preferred Care, 326 F.R.D. at 464; see, e.g., Van Leeuwen v. Bank of Am., N.A., 304 F.R.D. 691, 693-94 (D. Utah 2015) (discussing the circuit split and citing cases).
But this does not end the analysis because the Court construes filings "by their substantive content and not by their labels," and, as such, this Court will consider the Voluntary Notice of Dismissal [DE 42] as a motion to dismiss a party under Rule 21. See Coleman v. Ohio State Univ. Med. Ctr., No. 2:11-cv-0049, 2011 WL 3273531, at *3 (S.D. Ohio Aug. 1, 2011).
Rule 21 may be used for the dismissal of a single defendant. See Taylor, 286 F.2d at 785 ("[W]e think that [Rule 21] is the one under which any action to eliminate" a single defendant should be taken); see also Letherer v. Alger Grp., LLC, 328 F.3d 262, 266 (6th Cir. 2003), overruled on other grounds by Blackburn v. Oaktree Capital Mgmt., LLC, 511 F.3d 633, 636 (6th Cir. 2008); Wilkerson v. Brakebill, No. 3:15-CV-435-TAV-CCS, 2017 WL 401212 (E.D. Tenn. Jan. 30, 2017) ("Rule 21 is the more appropriate rule"); Lester v. Wow Car Co., Ltd., No. 2:11-cv-850, 2012 WL 1758019, at *2 n.2 (S.D. Ohio May 16, 2012) ("the Sixth Circuit has suggested that dismissal of an individual party, as opposed to an entire action, is properly conducted pursuant to Rule 21, not Rule 41"); Warfel v. Chase Bank USA, N.A., No. 2:11-cv-699, 2012 WL 441135, at *2 (S.D. Ohio Feb. 10, 2012). Thus, the Court construes Plaintiffs' Notice of Voluntary Dismissal [DE 42] as a motion to dismiss a single party under Rule 21.
"On motion or on its own, the court may at any time, on just terms, add or drop a party." Fed. R. Civ. P. 21. The rule applies where "no relief is demanded from one or more of the parties joined as defendants." Letherer, 328 F.3d at 267. Normally, under the rule, Courts must consider prejudice to the nonmoving party. See Wilkerson, 2017 WL 401212, at *2; Arnold v. Heyns, No. 13-14137, 2015 WL 1131767, at *4 (E.D. Mich. Mar. 11, 2015). The inquiry overlaps with Rule 41 standards "as guidance in evaluating potential prejudice to the non-movant." Wilkerson, 2017 WL 401212, at *2. Courts determine whether the nonmoving party would suffer "plain legal prejudice" and consider: (1) defendant's effort and expense of preparation for trial; (2) excessive delay and lack of diligence on plaintiff's part in prosecuting the case; (3) insufficient explanation for the need for dismissal; and (4) whether a motion for summary judgment is pending." Grover v. Eli Lily & Co., 33 F.3d 716, 718 (6th Cir. 1994). The Court considers the relevant factors below.
First, seeing as TQL has not answered, it has likely expended little time and few resources, if any, preparing for trial in this matter. As a result, the first factor supports dismissal.
Second, there is no indicia of any delay or lack of due diligence on the part of the Plaintiffs in this matter. It appears that Plaintiffs are engaging in a good faith attempt to resolve the dispute in a timely manner, which supports dismissal.
Third, Plaintiffs have provided an explanation for the dismissal. Specifically, Plaintiffs assert, "All Defendants agree TQL, Inc. was not the broker to the subject transaction as was previously represented to the Plaintiffs." [DE 42, at 1]. As such, this factor weighs in favor of dismissal under Rule 21.
Fourth, and finally, there is no pending motion for summary judgment in this matter. Thus, the fourth factor weighs in favor of dismissal.
Here, all four of the relevant factors to be considered before dismissal under Rule 21 weigh in favor of dismissal of the claims against TQL. Accordingly,
IT IS ORDERED as follows:
(1) The Court construes Plaintiffs' Notice of Voluntary Dismissal [DE 42] as to Defendant TQL, Inc. as a motion to dismiss pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 21;
(2) Plaintiffs' Motion to Dismiss TQL, Inc. [DE 42] is GRANTED;
(3) All claims against Defendant TQL, Inc. are DISMISSED WITHOUT PREJUDICE; and
(4) This dismissal does not apply to the other Defendants in this matter
This the 14th day of June, 2019.
Signed By:
Joseph M . Hood
Senior U.S. District Judge