Thomas v. Valley State Prison

Full title: MELVIN HIRAM THOMAS, Plaintiff, v. VALLEY STATE PRISON, et al., Defendants.

Court: UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

Date published: Apr 17, 2020

1:20-cv-00021-DAD-GSA-PC (E.D. Cal. Apr. 17, 2020)

Opinion

1:20-cv-00021-DAD-GSA-PC

04-17-2020

MELVIN HIRAM THOMAS, Plaintiff, v. VALLEY STATE PRISON, et al., Defendants.

Gary S. Austin UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

ORDER RE PLAINTIFF'S NOTICE OF VOLUNTARY DISMISSAL UNDER RULE 41
(ECF No. 7.)

ORDER DIRECTING CLERK TO CLOSE FILE

Melvin Hiram Thomas ("Plaintiff") is a state prisoner proceeding pro se with this civil rights action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. The Complaint commencing this action was filed on December 26, 2019, by fifteen plaintiffs, as case number 1:19-cv-1797-GSA-PC; Gann v. Valley State Prison. (ECF No. 2.) On January 7, 2020, the court issued an order severing the fifteen plaintiffs' claims and opening this new case for Plaintiff, case number 1:20-cv-00021-DAD-GSA-PC; Thomas v. Valley State Prison. (ECF No. 1.)

On March 30, 2020, Plaintiff filed a notice of voluntary dismissal of this case. (ECF No. 7.) Plaintiff has a right to voluntarily dismiss this case under Rule 41 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. 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 defendant has filed an answer or motion for summary judgment in this case. Therefore, Plaintiff's notice of dismissal is effective and this case shall be closed.

Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that:

1. Plaintiff's notice of dismissal is effective as of the date it was filed;

2. This case is DISMISSED in its entirety without prejudice; and

3. The Clerk of the Court is DIRECTED to close the file in this case and adjust the docket to reflect voluntary dismissal of this action pursuant to Rule 41(a).

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: April 17 , 2020

/s/ Gary S. Austin

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE