Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_19-cv-01196/USCOURTS-caed-1_19-cv-01196-2/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

PETER STROJNIK, SR.,

Plaintiff,

v.

1309 WEST SHAW, LLC,

Defendant.

Case No. 1:19-cv-01196-BAM

ORDER CLOSING CASE IN LIGHT OF 

UNOPPOSED REQUEST TO DISMISS

(Doc. No. 15)

Plaintiff Peter Strojnik, Sr., (“Plaintiff”) proceeding pro se, initiated this Americans with 

Disabilities Act action on August 30, 2019. (Doc. No. 1.) Defendant 1309 West Shaw, LLC 

(“Defendant”) answered the complaint on December 11, 2019. (Doc. No. 12) The parties have 

consented to the jurisdiction of a United States Magistrate Judge for all purposes. (Doc. Nos. 4, 

12-1.) 

On January 9, 2020, Plaintiff filed a notice of voluntary dismissal of this action with 

prejudice pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 41(a). (Doc. No. 15.) The Court construed 

the notice as a motion to dismiss the action pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 41(a)(2)

and directed Defendant to file a response or statement of non-opposition to the motion or, 

alternatively, for the parties to file a stipulation of dismissal. (Doc. No. 16.) On January 10, 

Case 1:19-cv-01196-BAM Document 18 Filed 01/14/20 Page 1 of 3
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2020, Defendant filed a statement of non-opposition. (Doc. No. 17.) Defendant affirmed that it 

does not oppose Plaintiff’s motion to dismiss this action with prejudice. (Id.)

Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 41(a)(1) “allows plaintiffs voluntarily to dismiss some or 

all of their claims against some or all defendants.” Romoland Sch. Dist. v. Inland Empire Energy 

Ctr., LLC, 548 F.3d 738, 748 (9th Cir. 2008). Under Rule 41(a)(1)(A)(i), “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” by filing a notice of dismissal. Wilson v. City of San Jose, 111 

F.3d 688, 692 (9th Cir. 1999). Where a defendant has served an answer or a motion for summary 

judgment, the plaintiff may no longer voluntarily dismiss by filing a notice of dismissal under 

Rule 41(a)(1)(A)(i) and must file either a stipulation of dismissal signed by all parties who have 

appeared under Rule 41(a)(1)(A)(ii) or a motion for voluntary dismissal under Rule 41(a)(2). Id.; 

see also Fed. R. Civ. P. 41(a). Rule 41(a)(2) provides in relevant part: “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. . .. Unless the order states otherwise, a dismissal under this 

paragraph (2) is without prejudice.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 41(a)(2); Hargis v. Foster, 312 F.3d 404, 412 

(9th Cir. 2003). “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.” 

Smith v. Lenches, 263 F.3d 972, 975 (9th Cir. 2001).

In this instance, Defendant filed and served an answer before Plaintiff’s notice of 

voluntary dismissal was filed and Plaintiff did not submit a stipulation of dismissal signed by 

Defendant. As such, the action may not be automatically dismissed under Rule 41(a)(1). See

Fed. R. Civ. P. 41(a)(1). However, Defendant has not opposed Plaintiff’s request for dismissal of 

this action with prejudice. Given Defendant’s non-opposition, the Court finds no reason to deny 

Plaintiff’s request for voluntary dismissal under Rule 41(a)(2). Therefore, the Court shall grant 

the motion and close this action. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 41(a)(2); Hargis, 312 F.3d at 412; Smith, 

263 F.3d at 975.

Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that:

1. Plaintiff’s motion for voluntary dismissal with prejudice under Rule 41(a)(2) (Doc. 

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No. 15) is GRANTED; 

2. The action is terminated in its entirety; 

3. All pending dates and matters are VACATED; and

4. The Clerk of the Court is directed to CLOSE this case.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: January 13, 2020 /s/ Barbara A. McAuliffe _

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

Case 1:19-cv-01196-BAM Document 18 Filed 01/14/20 Page 3 of 3