Hines v. State of Minnesota et al

Filing 139

ORDER granting 138 Plaintiff's Motion to Dismiss Defendants' from Civil Lawsuit. The claims alleged against Defendants the State of Minnesota; Lori Swanson, Attorney General; John Hoffman, Judge of the Tenth Judicial District; the Commissioner of Human Services (John or Jane Doe); Mike Dayton, Governor; and Jessica Buberl, Esq., are DISMISSED WITHOUT PREJUDICE. Signed by Judge Eric C. Tostrud on 10/8/2019. (RMM)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
DISTRICT OF MINNESOTA

Fredrick DeWayne Hines,

File No. 18-cv-3250 (ECT/BRT)

Plaintiff,
v.
State of Minnesota; Minnesota Department
of Corrections; Lori Swanson; Mike Dayton;
Tom Roy; John Hoffman; Shane E.
Wernsing; Lon Augdahl; Stephan Cranna;
Jessica Buberl; James Clint Zuleger;
“Commissioner of Human Services (John or
Jane Doe)”; Michelle Smith; David Rheisus;
Sherilinda Wheeler; Deborah MacNeill; Eric
Nelson; Hannah Lindeman; Elizabeth (Beth)
Strunk; Mary Spaniol; Lindsey Jennelle;
Cynthia Herme; Diane Medchill; Carlirae
Ronning; Mary A. Bergstad; Matthew
Marsh; Jenny MacNeill; Andy DuBois;
Nanette Larson; Mike Hermerding; John
Melvin; Barb Manor; Amber Swanson;
Elaine Crowern; “Jane Doe (Skinny Minnie),
RN (MCF–OPH)”; Carla Thompson; Kathy
Reid; Brenda Smith; Katherine Uhl; Jamie
Peterson; “John Doe, RN (MCF-OPH)”;
Coleen Loucks; Danielle Kenyon; Truman
Clate; Dana Hill; Bronson Austrenge; Brian
Bradley; “Lt. Unknown Hagen (CX-5 &
MHU-CX-4) (PREA Investigator)”; “Lt.
Unknown Monfur (CX-5 & MHU-CX-4)
(PREA Investigator)”; Chad Oye; “Lt. N.
Witter (PREA Investigator)”; Jeffrey
Gutzmer; “Sgt. S. Swanson (CX-5)”; Tim
Farmer; Matthew Johnson; Glen Lisowy;
“Sgt. Unknown Bikney (CX-5)”; “Sgt.
Unknown Grandstand (CX-5)”; “Sgt.
Unknown Foster (CX-4)”; Lon Hovak; Craig
Thacker; Christopher Ewald; Matthew Cash;
“Unknown Speilman (CX-5 & MHU-CX4)”; “D. Strickland (CX-5)”; “B. Lor (CX-

ORDER

5)”; “Unknown Giraud (CX-5 & MHU-CX4)”; “Unknown Uhl (CX-5)”; Bret Rangstich;
“S. Stanley (CX-5 & MHU-CX-4)”;
“Unknown Kosh (CX-5 & MHU-CX-4)”;
Victor Torres; “Unknown Jackson (CX-5 &
CX-4)”; Jerry Thor; Adam Perry; “Unknown
Berts (CX-5 & MHU-CX-4)”; “J. Priase
(CX-5; CX-4)”; Briah Rhor; Carlton Perry;
“J. Fredrick (CX-5 & MHU-CX-4)”;
“Unknown Minke (CX-5 & MHU-CX-4)”;
“F. Wilson (CX-5 & MHU-CX-4)”;
“Unknown Antilla (CX-5 & MHU-CX-4)”;
“Unknown Minneto (CX-5 & MHU-CX-4)”;
“Unknown Graves (CX-5 & MHU-CX-4)”;
“K. Fisher (CX-5 & MHU-CX-4)”; “C.
Smith (CX-5, CX-4)”; Mic Klin; Brandon
Huynh; “J. Smith (CX-5, CX-4)”; Anthony
Crea; “Unknown O’Neill (ACU, CX-5 &
CX-4)”; Doug Witte; Todd Bergstad;
“Unknown O’Neill (CX-5-MHU, CX-4 &
ACU-Unit)”; “A. Yates (CX-5 & CX-4)”;
James Toughy; and “Inmate (Drama) CX-4”,
Defendants.
________________________________________________________________________
Plaintiff Frederick Dewayne Hines filed a Motion to Dismiss Defendants’ From
Civil Suit on The Court on October 3, 2019. ECF No. 138. In that filing, Hines stated that
seven Defendants—the State of Minnesota, Lori Swanson, John Hoffman, James Clint
Zuleger, the Commissioner of Human Services, Mike Dayton, and Jessica Buberl—“will
be voluntarily dismissed.” Id. at 1. Although Hines captioned his filing as a motion, the
Court construes it liberally as a notice of voluntary dismissal under Federal Rule of Civil
Procedure 41(a)(1)(A)(i). See Erickson v. Pardus, 551 U.S 89, 94 (2007) (applying liberal
pleading construction to pro se filings). That rule provides that a plaintiff may voluntarily
“dismiss an action without a court order by filing: a notice of dismissal before the opposing
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party serves either an answer or a motion for summary judgment.” Although all of the
Defendants against whom Hines wishes to dismiss his claims have moved to dismiss, none
have answered or filed a summary-judgment motion in this case. Accordingly, Hines’
filing effectively dismisses his claims against the seven Defendants he identified.
Based on the foregoing, and on all of the files, records, and proceedings herein, IT
IS ORDERED that Plaintiff Frederick Dewayne Hines’s Motion to Dismiss Defendants’
From Civil Suit [ECF No. 138] is GRANTED, and the claims alleged against Defendants
the State of Minnesota; Lori Swanson, Attorney General; John Hoffman, Judge of the
Tenth Judicial District; the Commissioner of Human Services (John or Jane Doe); Mike
Dayton, Governor; and Jessica Buberl, Esq., are DISMISSED WITHOUT PREJUDICE.

Dated: October 8, 2019

s/ Eric C. Tostrud
Eric C. Tostrud
United States District Court

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