Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_16-cv-00035/USCOURTS-caed-1_16-cv-00035-1/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 446
Nature of Suit: Americans with Disabilities Act - Other
Cause of Action: 42:12101 Americans with Disabilities Act

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

ARTHUR OWENS,

Plaintiff,

v.

GENOVA MANAGEMENT GROUP 

LLC, d/b/a ME-N-ED’S PIZZERIA; 

HALLAIAN BROTHERS 

INVESTMENTS NO. 2, a California 

general partnership,

Defendants.

No. 1:16-cv-00035-DAD-SMS

ORDER DISMISSING ACTION WITH

PREJUDICE AND CLOSING CASE

(Doc. No. 18)

On April 13, 2016, the parties filed a notice of settlement in the matter. (Doc. No. 14.) 

On the same date, the court issued a minute order vacating all pending deadlines and hearings. 

(Doc. No. 15.) The court also set a deadline of May 13, 2016 for receipt of the appropriate 

dismissal documents. (Id.) On May 13, 2016, plaintiff filed a request for additional time to file 

dispositional documents or set the matter for a scheduling conference. (Doc. No. 16.) The court 

granted the request and ordered that, on or before May 27, 2016, plaintiff should either dismiss 

the action with prejudice or file a request that the case be set for a scheduling conference. (Doc. 

No. 17.) On May 27, 2016, plaintiff filed a motion for voluntary dismissal of the entire action, 

with prejudice and with each party to bear their own costs and attorney’s fees. (Doc. No. 18.) In 

the motion, plaintiff represents that:

Case 1:16-cv-00035-DAD-SMS Document 19 Filed 06/15/16 Page 1 of 2
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Plaintiff received the fully-executed settlement agreement signed by 

Defendants from Defendants’ counsel, Nathan S. Miller, on May 

16, 2016 . . . Plaintiff has been unable to obtain authorization since 

May 16 to electronically sign a joint stipulation to dismiss the entire 

action from Defendants’ counsel, pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil 

Procedure 41(a)(1)(A)(ii).

(Id. at 1–2.)

Defendants have previously filed an answer in the action. (Doc. No. 12.) Accordingly, 

plaintiff may no longer voluntarily dismiss under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 41(a)(1)(A)(i), 

but rather has brought the motion under Rule 41(a)(2). Unlike a Rule 41(a)(1) notice of 

dismissal, a Rule 41(a)(2) motion requires court approval. See FED. R. CIV. P. 41(a); Wilson v. 

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

A district court should grant a motion for voluntary dismissal under Rule 41(a)(2) unless a 

defendant can show that it will suffer some plain legal prejudice as a result. Waller v. Fin. Corp. 

of Am., 828 F.2d 579, 583 (9th Cir. 1987); see also Hamilton v. Firestone Tire & Rubber Co., 679 

F.2d 143, 145–46 (9th Cir. 1982). “Legal prejudice” means “prejudice to some legal interest, 

some legal claim, some legal argument.” Westlands Water Dist. v. United States, 100 F.3d 94, 97

(9th Cir. 1996). A dismissal under Rule 41(a)(2) normally is without prejudice, as explicitly 

stated in that rule. However, a dismissal with prejudice so that claims cannot be reasserted in 

another federal suit strengthens the conclusion that the dismissal causes no legal prejudice and is

not an abuse of discretion. See Smith v. Lenches, 263 F.3d 972, 976 (9th Cir. 2001). In this 

matter, defendant will suffer no discernable legal prejudice in light of the fully executed 

settlement agreement resolving this action and plaintiff furthermore requests that the dismissal be 

with prejudice. The court therefore finds that dismissal of the action with prejudice is appropriate

under the circumstances. Accordingly, the action is dismissed with prejudice and the Clerk of the 

Court is directed to close the case. The court issues no order as to costs or attorney’s fees.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: June 14, 2016 

UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

Case 1:16-cv-00035-DAD-SMS Document 19 Filed 06/15/16 Page 2 of 2