Shafer v. Valley State Prison Investigative Services Unit et al

Filing 5

ORDER Re Plaintiff's Notice of Voluntary Dismissal Under Rule 41 4 ; ORDER DIRECTING Clerk to Close File, signed by Magistrate Judge Gary S. Austin on 4/27/2018.: 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). (CASE CLOSED)(Hellings, J)

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

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EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

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CLIFTON RAY SHAFER,

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Plaintiff,
vs.
VALLEY STATE PRISON
INVESTIGATIVE SERVICES UNIT,
et al.,

1:18-cv-00498-GSA-PC
ORDER RE PLAINTIFF’S NOTICE OF
VOLUNTARY DISMISSAL UNDER
RULE 41
(ECF No. 4.)
ORDER DIRECTING CLERK TO CLOSE
FILE

Defendants.

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Clifton Ray Shafer (“Plaintiff”) is a state prisoner proceeding pro se with this civil

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rights action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. On April 12, 2018, Plaintiff filed the Complaint

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commencing this action. (ECF No. 1.)

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On April 26, 2018, Plaintiff filed a notice of voluntary dismissal of this case. (ECF No.

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10.) Plaintiff has a right to voluntarily dismiss this case under Rule 41 of the Federal Rules of

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

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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)
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(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.

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Wilson v. City of San Jose, 111 F.3d 688, 692 (9th Cir. 1997). No defendant has filed an

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answer or motion for summary judgment in this case. Therefore, Plaintiff’s notice of dismissal

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is effective, and this case shall be closed.

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Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that:

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1.

Plaintiff’s notice of dismissal is effective as of the date it was filed;

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2.

This case is DISMISSED in its entirety without prejudice; and

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3.

The Clerk of the Court is DIRECTED to close the file in this case and adjust the

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docket to reflect voluntary dismissal of this action pursuant to Rule 41(a).

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IT IS SO ORDERED.
Dated:

April 27, 2018

/s/ Gary S. Austin
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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