Douglas v. Johnson & Johnson Consumer, Inc. et al
Filing
50
MEMORANDUM OPINION: The Court will GRANT Plaintiff's motion for voluntary dismissal 46 , and the case will be DISMISSED WITHOUT PREJUDICE. AN APPROPRIATE JUDGMENT WILL ENTER.Signed by District Judge Travis R McDonough on 3/29/18. (aws, )
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
EASTERN DISTRICT OF TENNESSEE
AT CHATTANOOGA
SHAWNEE D. DOUGLAS,
Plaintiff,
v.
JOHNSON & JOHNSON CONSUMER,
INC. and IMERYS TALC AMERICA,
INC.,
Defendants.
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
Case No. 1:17-CV-270
Judge Travis R. McDonough
Magistrate Judge Christopher H. Steger
MEMORANDUM OPINION
Before the Court is Plaintiff Shawnee D. Douglas’s motion for voluntary dismissal
pursuant to Rule 41(a)(2) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. (Doc. 46.) Defendants
Johnson & Johnson Consumer, Inc. (“J&J”) and Imerys Talc America, Inc. (“Imreys”) filed
responses opposing Plaintiff’s motion. (Docs. 47, 48.)
In relevant part, Rule 41(a)(2) provides:
Except as provided in Rule 41(a)(1), an action may be dismissed at the plaintiff’s
request only by court order, on terms that the court considers proper. If a
defendant has pleaded a counterclaim before being served with the plaintiff’s
motion to dismiss, the action may be dismissed over the defendant’s objection
only if the counterclaim can remain pending for independent adjudication. Unless
the order states otherwise, a dismissal under this paragraph [ ] is without
prejudice.
“Whether dismissal should be granted under the authority of Rule 41(a)(2) is within the sound
discretion of the district court.” Grover by Grover v. Eli Lilly & Co., 33 F.3d 716, 718 (6th Cir.
1994). The purpose of requiring court approval for voluntary dismissals under Rule 41(a)(2) is
“to protect the nonmovant from unfair treatment.” Id. Therefore, as a general rule, courts should
grant voluntary dismissals without prejudice only in the absence of plain legal prejudice.
Matthews v. Tenn. Bd. of Prob. & Parole, No. 1:07-CV-46, 2008 WL 2609160, at *3 (E.D.
Tenn. June 26, 2008). The mere prospect of a second lawsuit alone does not constitute prejudice.
Grover, 33 F.3d at 718. The fact that a plaintiff may gain some tactical advantage by voluntarily
dismissing the case also does not rise to the level of prejudice contemplated by Rule 41(a)(2).
Matthews, 2008 WL 2609160, at *3. The Sixth Circuit considers four factors in determining
whether a defendant will suffer plain legal prejudice if the Court grants a voluntary dismissal
without prejudice:
(1) the amount of time, effort, and expense the defendant has incurred in trial
preparation; (2) any excessive delay or lack of diligence on the plaintiff’s part in
prosecuting the action; (3) insufficient explanation of the need to take a
voluntarily dismissal without prejudice; and (4) whether the defendant has filed a
motion for summary judgment under Rule 56.
Grover, 33 F.3d at 718. These factors “are not an exclusive or mandatory list.” Rosenthal v.
Bridgestone/Firestone, Inc., 217 F. App’x 498, 502 (6th Cir. 2007) (citing Ohlander v. Larson,
114 F.3d 1531, 1537 (10th Cir. 1997)). Instead, the factors are intended only to guide the district
court in exercising its discretion. Matthews, 2008 WL 2609160, at *4.
Here, Plaintiff asserts that voluntary dismissal will not prejudice Defendants, because:
(1) the case is still in its relatively early stages, with only limited discovery conducted; (2)
Plaintiff has elected to file a new lawsuit in Missouri based on her identification of a previously
unnamed joint tortfeasor domiciled in Missouri and her use and exposure to Defendants’
products in Missouri; (3) any work performed and discovery completed in this case “can and will
be used in the Missouri case”; and (4) the parties have not filed motions for summary judgment.
(Doc. 46, at 2.) Defendants oppose Plaintiff’s motion for voluntary dismissal, arguing that they
have already invested time, effort, and expense in conducting discovery, including taking the
2
depositions of Plaintiff and her family members on an expedited basis and that Plaintiff has
provided an insufficient explanation for the need to dismiss her action without prejudice. (Doc.
47, at 2–3; Doc. 48, at 2–3.) Defendants also note that Plaintiff’s complaint filed in Missouri
(the “Missouri Complaint”) does not allege that she purchased, used, or was injured by J&J’s
products while in Missouri and that the two corporate defendants added to the Missouri
Complaint are not Missouri corporations. (See Doc. 47, at 2–3; Doc. 47-1) Defendants argue
that these facts suggest Plaintiff is attempting to forum shop. (Doc. 47, at 1; Doc. 48, at 2.) In
reply, Plaintiff notes that her discovery responses in this case reflect that she previously lived in
Missouri and that at least one Missouri court has previously found that Missouri possesses
jurisdiction over at least one of the defendants added in the Missouri Complaint. (See Doc. 49, at
2–3.)
Defendants will not suffer plain legal prejudice from a dismissal without prejudice. The
parties have completed some discovery, but additional discovery remains, and any past discovery
in this case can be used in the Missouri litigation. Additionally, the mere prospect of litigating
this action in Missouri and the fact that Plaintiff may gain some tactical advantage by pursuing
her claims against Defendants in Missouri do not rise to the level of prejudice contemplated by
Rule 41(a)(2). Grover, 33 F.3d at 718; Matthews, 2008 WL 2609160, at *3. Finally, the parties
have not filed motions for summary judgment, and Defendants do not argue that Plaintiff
engaged in excessive delay or a lack of diligence in prosecuting this action. Accordingly, the
Court will GRANT Plaintiff’s motion for voluntary dismissal (Doc. 46), and the case will be
DISMISSED WITHOUT PREJUDICE.
3
AN APPROPRIATE JUDGMENT WILL ENTER.
/s/ Travis R. McDonough
TRAVIS R. MCDONOUGH
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
4
Disclaimer: Justia Dockets & Filings provides public litigation records from the federal appellate and district courts. These filings and docket sheets should not be considered findings of fact or liability, nor do they necessarily reflect the view of Justia.
Why Is My Information Online?