Caranchini v. Bank of America National Association et al

Filing 93

ORDER denying 79 Plaintiff's motion to dismiss without prejudice. The previously filed motions 72 78 are denied as moot. Signed on 10/18/11 by District Judge Greg Kays. (Francis, Alexandra)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE
WESTERN DISTRICT OF MISSOURI
WESTERN DIVISION
GWENDOLYN G. CARANCHINI
Plaintiff,
v.
BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., et al.
Defendants.

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Case No. 4:10-CV-00672-DGK

ORDER DENYING MOTION TO DISMISS WITHOUT PREJUDICE
This case arises out of a dispute over the mortgage on pro se Plaintiff Gwendolyn
Caranchini’s home. Plaintiff alleges that after receiving a mortgage through Aegis Lending
Corporation, her note was passed to several different entities, none of whom correctly recorded
their interest in the property or properly communicated with her, leaving Plaintiff as the sole
lawful owner of the property securing the mortgage. Plaintiff seeks injunctive relief precluding
foreclosure on her home.
Now before the Court is Plaintiff’s “(Corrected) Amended Motion to Dismiss Second
Amended Complaint” (doc. 79).1

Plaintiff seeks to dismiss without prejudice her Second

Amended Complaint. In support of her motion, Plaintiff argues that the Court erred in denying
her two previous motions to remand, and that this Court lacks jurisdiction to hear the issues
raised in this case. In their joint response, Defendants argue that Plaintiff has not set forth any
valid grounds for the Court to allow dismissal without prejudice at this stage of the litigation;
that the Court has jurisdiction over the declaratory judgment and quiet title claims in this case;
that Kozeny & McCubbin (the law firm Plaintiff has unsuccessfully sought to join in this

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The previously filed versions of this motion, “Plaintiff’s Motion to Dismiss Second Amended Complaint” (doc.
72) and “Plaintiff’s Amended Motion to Dismiss Second Amended Complaint” (doc. 78), are DENIED AS MOOT.

litigation) is not a necessary party; and that Defendants will be prejudiced if the Court grants the
motion to dismiss.
Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 41(a)(2) provides that at this stage of the litigation the
lawsuit may be dismissed at the plaintiff’s request only with court approval, and only on such
terms as the Court considers proper.

The primary purpose of Rule 41(a)(2) is to prevent

voluntary dismissals which unfairly affect the other side. Paulucci v. City of Duluth, 826 F.2d
780, 782 (8th Cir. 1987).
The decision whether to allow a party to voluntarily dismiss a case rests with the sound
discretion of the district court. Hamm v. Rhone-Poulenc Rorer Pharm., Inc., 187 F.3d 941, 950
(8th Cir. 1999). In exercising this discretion, the court considers such factors as whether the
plaintiff has presented a proper explanation of her desire to dismiss; whether dismissal would
result in a waste of judicial time and effort; and whether dismissal will prejudice the defendants.
Id. Prejudice includes effort and expense in defending a case and also uncertainty over title to
land. Paulucci, 826 at 783.
Here these factors weigh against granting the motion. It is clear that Defendants will be
prejudiced if Plaintiff is permitted to dismiss without prejudice. Defendants have invested a
considerable amount of time and effort litigating in this forum by filing answers to multiple
complaints, flying-in individuals to participate in mediation, and briefing multiple jurisdictional
issues. These expenses would be wasted if Plaintiff were permitted to dismiss without prejudice.
Furthermore, Plaintiff has not provided any valid reason for the Court to allow dismissal without
prejudice. Although Plaintiff stridently insists the Court’s previous rulings were incorrect, this is
not grounds for allowing dismissal without prejudice at this stage of the litigation. If it were,

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every plaintiff would seek to dismiss his or her case without prejudice once a court issued a
disappointing ruling, thereby thwarting the timely and efficient administration of justice.
Plaintiff’s motion is DENIED.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
Date: October 18, 2011

/s/ Greg Kays
GREG KAYS, JUDGE
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

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