Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_13-cv-02031/USCOURTS-caed-1_13-cv-02031-3/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

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

DWAIN ALAN PETERS,

Plaintiff,

v.

MUNOZ, et al.,

Defendants.

Case No. 1:13-cv-02031-JLT (PC)

ORDER REQUIRING RESPONSE TO 

PLAINTIFF'S MOTIONS REGARDING 

DISMISSAL OF JOSE MUNOZ LVN AND 

SERVICE ON JOSE MUNOZ RN 

(Docs. 22, 23) 

15-DAY DEADLINE

Plaintiff, Dwain Alan Peters, is a state prisoner proceeding pro se and informa pauperis in 

this civil action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. Plaintiff filed this action on December 12, 2013. 

(Doc. 1.) The Court screened Plaintiff=s Complaint pursuant to 28 U.S.C. ' 1915A and found that 

it states a cognizable claim for relief under section 1983 against defendant "Jose Munoz, 

Registered Nurse" for deliberate indifference in violation of the Eighth Amendment. Fed. R. Civ. 

P. 8(a); Swierkiewicz v. Sorema N. A., 534 U.S. 506, 512-15 (2002); Austin v. Terhune, 367 F.3d 

1167, 1171 (9th Cir. 2004); Jackson v. Carey, 353 F.3d 750, 754 (9th Cir. 2003); Galbraith v. 

County of Santa Clara, 307 F.3d 1119, 1125-26 (9th Cir. 2002). 

Thus, an order issued requiring Plaintiff to either file an amended complaint, or notify the 

Court of his willingness to proceed on the only cognizable claim. (Doc. 8.) On February 26, 

2014, Plaintiff filed a notice that he is willing to proceed only on the claim found to be cognizable

against "Jose Munoz, Registered Nurse." (Doc. 10.) Thus, an order finding service on "Jose 

Case 1:13-cv-02031-LJO-JLT Document 24 Filed 08/06/14 Page 1 of 2
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Munoz, Registered Nurse" to be appropriate issued on March 5, 2014. (Doc. 12.) On March 31, 

2014, an order issued directing the United States Marshal to serve "Jose Munoz." (Doc. 14.) 

Unfortunately, apparently "Jose Munoz, Licensed Vocational Nurse ("LVN")" was 

errantly served instead of "Jose Munoz, Registered Nurse ("RN")." (Docs. 16, 17.) Thus, on 

August 1, 2014, Plaintiff filed two motions notifying the Court that the wrong "Jose Munoz" had 

been served and requesting that "Jose Munoz, LVN" be dismissed from this action and that "Jose 

Munoz, RN " be served. (Docs. 22, 23.)

Rule 41(a)(1)(A) allows a Plaintiff to Adismiss an action without a court order by filing: 

(i) a notice of dismissal before the opposing party serves either an answer or a motion for 

summary judgment; or (ii) a stipulation of dismissal signed by all parties who have appeared.@ 

Subsection (B) of Rule 41 provides that, A[u]nless the notice or stipulation states otherwise, the 

dismissal is without prejudice. But if the plaintiff previously dismissed any federal- or state-court 

action based on or including the same claim, a notice of dismissal operates as an adjudication on 

the merits.@ Subsection (2) of Rule 41provides in pertinent part that, A[e]xcept 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. . . .@ Thus, at this stage in the litigation, Plaintiff may not simply 

dismiss "Jose Munoz, LVN" from the action of his own accord. 

Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that defense counsel is directed: 

(1) to advise the Court within 15 days from the date of service of this order 

whether Defendant "Jose Munoz, LVN" stipulates to Plaintiff’s motion to 

dismiss this defendant (Doc. 22) from this action under Federal Rule of Civil 

Procedure 41with each party bearing his own costs, and;

(2) to advise the Court whether counsel will accept service on behalf of "Jose 

Munoz, RN" in this action.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: August 5, 2014 /s/ Jennifer L. Thurston 

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

Case 1:13-cv-02031-LJO-JLT Document 24 Filed 08/06/14 Page 2 of 2