Missionary Benedictine Sisters, Inc. v. Hoffman, LLC

Filing 77

MEMORANDUM AND ORDER ON MOTIONS FOR VOLUNTARY DISMISSAL - Volkman's motion to dismiss, (ECF No. 72 ), is granted. Volkman's claims against Engineered Controls are dismissed with prejudice, and each party must bear its own costs. Hoffman's motion to dismiss, (ECF No. 73 ), is granted. Hoffman's claims against Fredericksen are dismissed with prejudice, and each party must bear its own costs. Ordered by Senior Judge Warren K. Urbom. (AOA)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF NEBRASKA
MISSIONARY BENEDICTINE SISTERS,
INC.,
Plaintiff,
v.
HOFFMAN, LLC,
Defendant an Third-Party
Plaintiff,
v.
FREDERICKSEN ENGINEERING, INC.,
and VOLKMAN PLUMBING &
HEATING, INC.,
Third-Party Defendants.
___________________________________
VOLKMAN PLUMBING & HEATING,
INC.,
Third-Party Plaintiff,
v.
ENGINEERED CONTROLS, INC., a
Nebraska corporation and LONNIE
ROBINSON d/b/a R & R MECHANICAL
INSULATION,
Third-Party Defendants.

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4:11CV3180

MEMORANDUM AND ORDER ON
MOTIONS FOR VOLUNTARY
DISMISSAL

Missionary Benedictine Sisters, Inc. (MBS) filed a three-count amended complaint against
Hoffman, LLC (Hoffman) on or about September 15, 2011. (See Notice of Removal, Ex. 1, Am.

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Compl., ECF No. 1-1.) On October 1, 2012, Hoffman answered MBS’s complaint and filed a thirdparty complaint against Fredericksen Engineering, Inc. (Fredericksen) and Volkman Plumbing &
Heating, Inc. (Volkman). (ECF No. 28.) Volkman answered Hoffman’s third-party complaint on
October 23, 2012, and filed its own third-party complaint against Engineered Controls, Inc.
(Engineered Controls) and Lonnie Robinson d/b/a R&R Mechanical Insulation (Robinson). (ECF
No. 39.)
Citing Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 41(a)(2), MBS moved to dismiss its claims against
Hoffman on February 1, 2013. (ECF No. 66.) All of the parties except Robinson consented to
MBS’s motion, (see ECF Nos. 66, 68), and on February 6, 2013, I granted the motion over
Robinson’s objection, (see ECF Nos. 68-69).
Now before me are Volkman’s motion to dismiss its claims against Engineered Controls,
(ECF No. 72), and Hoffman’s motion to dismiss its claims against Fredericksen, (ECF No. 73). Like
MBS before them, these movants invoke Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 41(a)(2), which “provides
for the voluntary dismissal of actions at the plaintiff's request.” Jaramillo v. Burkhart, 59 F.3d 78,
79 (8th Cir. 1995). Once again, only Robinson has objected to the motions. (Compare ECF No. 68
with ECF No. 74.)
“The purpose of Rule 41(a)(2) is primarily to prevent voluntary dismissals which unfairly
affect the other side.” Paulucci v. City of Duluth, 826 F.2d 780, 782 (8th Cir. 1987). When
determining whether to grant a Rule 41(a)(2) motion, a court should consider the plaintiff’s
explanation for the need to take a dismissal, the effort and expense put forth by the defendant in
preparing for trial, whether there has been excessive delay and a lack of diligence on the part of the
plaintiff in prosecuting the case, and whether the defendant has filed a motion for summary
judgment. Id. at 783. See also Wizman v. Gross, 148 F.3d 988, 992 (8th Cir. 1998). District courts
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routinely impose conditions when granting dismissals under Rule 41(a)(2), see, e.g., Belle-Midwest,
Inc. v. Missouri Property & Casualty Insurance Guarantee Association, 56 F.3d 977, 978-79 (8th Cir.
1995), and unless the district court’s order specifies otherwise, the dismissal is without prejudice,
see Fed. R. Civ. P. 41(a)(2); Jaramillo, 59 F.3d at 79.
As noted previously, Fredericksen and Engineered Controls do not object to the third party
plaintiffs’ motions to dismiss the claims against them. On the contrary, they each state that
dismissals are in order because Hoffman’s claims against Fredericksen and Volkman’s claims
against Engineered Controls have been resolved through settlement negotiations. (See generally
ECF Nos. 75-76.) Fredericksen and Engineered Controls add that Robinson was invited to
participate in the settlement negotiations, but he elected not to do so. (See generally id.) Robinson
states that he feels compelled to object to the dismissal of Fredericksen and Engineered Controls
because he has not been given a copy of the settlement agreement, and he wishes to preserve any
rights and claims that he may have “against any other parties to the pending litigation.” (See
Robinson’s Br. at 2, ECF No. 74.)
I am not persuaded that granting Volkman’s motion to dismiss its claims against Engineered
Controls and Hoffman’s motion to dismiss its claims against Fredericksen will unfairly affect any
party to this litigation, including Robinson. The requested dismissals are in order, and I shall
overrule Robinson’s objections to Volkman’s and Hoffman’s motions.
Volkman and Hoffman ask that their respective claims against Engineered Controls and
Fredericksen be dismissed with prejudice, with each party to bear its own costs. (See ECF Nos. 72,
73.) These conditions shall be imposed in accordance with the parties’ requests.

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IT IS ORDERED that:
1.

Volkman’s motion to dismiss, (ECF No. 72), is granted. Volkman’s claims against
Engineered Controls are dismissed with prejudice, and each party must bear its own
costs.

2.

Hoffman’s motion to dismiss, (ECF No. 73), is granted. Hoffman’s claims against
Fredericksen are dismissed with prejudice, and each party must bear its own costs.

Dated April 22, 2013.
BY THE COURT

____________________________________________
Warren K. Urbom
United States Senior District Judge

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