Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_19-cv-01660/USCOURTS-caed-2_19-cv-01660-10/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 550
Nature of Suit: Prisoner - Civil Rights (U.S. defendant)
Cause of Action: 42:1983 Prisoner Civil Rights

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

GARY C. HAMPTON,

Plaintiff,

v.

ALKIRE, et al.,

Defendants.

No. 2: 19-cv-1660 WBS KJN P

ORDER

Plaintiff is a state prisoner, proceeding without counsel, with a civil rights action pursuant 

to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. On February 27, 2020, plaintiff filed a motion for voluntary dismissal of 

this action. (ECF No. 52.) On March 5, 2020, the undersigned granted defendants seven days to 

notify the court if they had any objections to dismissal of this action. (ECF No. 53.) On March 9, 

2020, defendants filed objections. (ECF No. 54.) 

For the reasons stated herein, the undersigned finds that the order directing defendants to 

respond to plaintiff’s motion to dismiss was issued in error. This action is dismissed for the 

reasons stated herein.

Under Rule 41 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, “the plaintiff may dismiss an 

action without a court order by filing ... a notice of dismissal before the opposing party serves 

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Case 2:19-cv-01660-WBS-KJN Document 55 Filed 03/31/20 Page 1 of 2
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either an answer or a motion for summary judgment....” Fed. R. Civ. P. 41(a)(1)(A)(i). The 

Ninth Circuit has been clear that Rule 41 confers on the plaintiff

an absolute right to voluntarily dismiss his [or her] action prior to 

service by the defendant of an answer or a motion for summary 

judgment. A plaintiff may dismiss his [or her] 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....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....Such a dismissal leaves the parties as though no action had 

been brought.

American Soccer Co., Inc. v. Score First Enterprises, 187 F.3d 1108, 1110 (9th Cir. 1999) 

(quoting Wilson v. City of San Jose, 111 F.3d 688, 692 (9th Cir. 1997)).

“Further, because the language of Rule 41(a)(1)(A)(i) is unequivocal, the ‘”absolute right”

for a plaintiff voluntarily to dismiss an action when the defendant has not yet served an answer or 

a summary judgment motion leaves no role for the court to play.’” Pate v. Cheng, 2015 WL 

795061, at *1 (D. Ariz. Feb. 25, 2015) (quoting American Soccer Co., Inc., 187 F.3d at 1110.)

In the instant case, defendants filed neither an answer nor a summary judgment motion.1 

Therefore, the undersigned herein directs the Clerk of the Court to terminate this action.

Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that this action is dismissed.

Dated: March 31, 2020

Hamp1660.dis

1

 On February 27, 2020, defendants filed a motion to dismiss for failure to exhaust 

administrative remedies pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6). (ECF No. 51.) “If 

defendants ‘desire to prevent plaintiffs from invoking their unfettered right to dismiss actions 

under rule 41(1)(a) [they] may do so by taking the simple step of filing an answer.’” American 

Soccer Co., Inc., 187 F.3d at 1112 (quoting Carter v. United States, 547 F.2d 258, 259 (5th Cir.

1977)).

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