Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_15-cv-00207/USCOURTS-caed-1_15-cv-00207-4/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 550
Nature of Suit: Prisoner - Civil Rights (U.S. defendant)
Cause of Action: 28:1441 Petition for Removal- Civil Rights Act

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

BRIAN C. APPLEGATE,

 Plaintiff,

 vs.

N. CLARK, et al.,

 Defendants.

1:15-cv-00207-LJO-EPG-PC

ORDER RE PLAINTIFF’S NOTICE OF 

VOLUNTARY DISMISSAL

(ECF No. 21.)

ORDER VACATING SETTLEMENT 

CONFERENCE IN THIS CASE 

SCHEDULED BEFORE MAGISTRATE 

JUDGE BARBARA A. MCAULIFFE ON 

SEPTEMBER 29, 2016 AT 9:00 A.M.

(ECF No. 19.)

ORDER VACATING JULY 28, 2016 

ORDER AND WRIT OF HABEAS 

CORPUS AD TESTIFICANDUM TO 

TRANSPORT INMATE WITNESS BRIAN 

C. APPLEGATE, CDCR# F-66552 ON 

SEPTEMBER 29, 2016 AT 9:00 A.M. 

(ECF No. 20.)

ORDER DIRECTING CLERK TO CLOSE 

FILE 

Brian C. Applegate (“Plaintiff”) is a state prisoner proceeding pro se in this civil rights 

action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. ' 1983 and related state law claims. This action was initiated by 

civil complaint filed by Plaintiff in the Kings County Superior Court on December 1, 2014

(Case #14-C0325). On February 4, 2015, defendants Clark, Graves, Robicheaux-Smith, and 

Caviness removed the case to federal court under 28 U.S.C. § 1441(a). (ECF No. 1.) 

Case 1:15-cv-00207-LJO-EPG Document 22 Filed 08/17/16 Page 1 of 3
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This case is scheduled for a Settlement Conference on September 29, 2016 at 9:00 a.m.

before Magistrate Judge Barbara A. McAuliffe in Courtroom 8 at the United States District 

Court in Fresno, California, and a Writ of Habeas Corpus ad Testificandum was issued on July 

28, 2016, to transport Plaintiff to attend the settlement conference in person. (ECF Nos. 19, 

20.)

On August 15, 2016, Plaintiff filed a notice of voluntary dismissal of the Complaint. 

(ECF No. 21.) Plaintiff also requests the Court to vacate the Settlement Conference and the 

Writ of Habeas Corpus ad Testificandum. (Id.)

The Court construes Plaintiff’s notice of voluntary dismissal as a notice of dismissal 

under Rule 41(a)(1). In Wilson v. City of San Jose, the Ninth Circuit explained:

Under Rule 41(a)(1), a plaintiff has an absolute right to voluntarily 

dismiss his action prior to service by the defendant of an answer or a motion for 

summary judgment. Concha v. London, 62 F.3d 1493, 1506 (9th Cir. 1995) 

(citing Hamilton v. Shearson-Lehman American Express, 813 F.2d 1532, 1534 

(9th Cir. 1987)). A plaintiff may dismiss his 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. Id. The plaintiff may dismiss some or all of the defendants, or some 

or all of his claims, through a Rule 41(a)(1) notice. Id.; Pedrina v. Chun, 987 

F.2d 608, 609-10 (9th Cir. 1993). 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. Concha, 62 F.2d at 1506. Unless otherwise stated, 

the dismissal is ordinarily without prejudice to the plaintiff's right to commence 

another action for the same cause against the same defendants. Id. (citing 

McKenzie v. Davenport-Harris Funeral Home, 834 F.2d 930, 934-35 (9th Cir. 

1987)). Such a dismissal leaves the parties as though no action had been 

brought. Id.

Wilson v. City of San Jose, 111 F.3d 688, 692 (9th Cir. 1997). In this case, no defendant has 

filed an answer or motion for summary judgment. Therefore, Plaintiff=s notice of dismissal is 

effective on the date it was filed. Accordingly, the Settlement Conference and the Writ of

Habeas Corpus ad Testificandum shall be vacated, and this case shall be closed.

Based on the foregoing, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that:

1. Plaintiff’s notice of voluntary dismissal, filed on August 15, 2016, is effective as 

of the date it was filed;

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2. The Settlement Conference scheduled for September 29, 2016 at 9:00 a.m. in 

this case before Magistrate Judge Barbara A. McAuliffe in Courtroom 8 is 

HEREBY VACATED from the Court’s calendar;

3. The Court’s order of July 28, 2016, ordering that a Writ of Habeas Corpus ad 

Testificandum issue, and the Writ of Habeas Corpus ad Testificandum issued on 

July 28, 2016, commanding the production of inmate Brian C. Applegate, 

CDCR# F-66552, are HEREBY VACATED; 

4. This action is DISMISSED in its entirety without prejudice; 

and 

5. The Clerk of the Court is DIRECTED to close the file in this 

case and adjust the docket to reflect voluntary dismissal of this 

action pursuant to Rule 41(a). 

IT IS SO ORDERED. 

Dated: August 16, 2016 /s/ Lawrence J. O’Neill _____ 

 UNITED STATES CHIEF DISTRICT JUDGE 

Case 1:15-cv-00207-LJO-EPG Document 22 Filed 08/17/16 Page 3 of 3