Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-casd-3_12-cv-00279/USCOURTS-casd-3_12-cv-00279-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 850
Nature of Suit: Securities, Commodities, Exchange
Cause of Action: 28:1331 Fed. Question: Securities Violation

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- 1 - 12cv279

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

JANET CARROL,

Plaintiff,

CASE NO. 12CV279 JLS (BLM)

ORDER RE: NOTICE OF

DISMISSAL WITHOUT

PREJUDICE THIRD CAUSE OF

ACTION ONLY

(ECF No. 3)

vs.

DAVID JENKINS, NEXT PROTEINS, INC.,

and DOES 1–10,

Defendant.

On February 3, 2012, Plaintiff Janet Carrol filed a notice of dismissal without prejudice

third cause of action only, pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 41(a)(1)(A)(i). (Notice,

ECF No. 3) 

Voluntary dismissal is governed by Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 41. Plaintiffs may

voluntarily dismiss actions without a court order before the opposing party serves an answer or

motion for summary judgment, or with the opposing party’s consent. Fed. R. Civ. P. 41(a)(1)(A). 

However, the Ninth Circuit has held that a voluntary dismissal may not be used to dismiss fewer

than all claims against a single defendant. Ethridge v. Harbor House Restaurant, 861 F.2d 1389,

1392 (9th Cir. 1988). Instead, Rule 15(a) is the appropriate mechanism by which a plaintiff may

eliminate an issue, or one or more but less than all of several claims, without dismissing as to any

of the defendants. Id. (citing 5 J. Moore, L. Lucas & J. Wicker, Moore’s Federal Practice

¶ 41.06-1 at 41-83 to -84 (1987)). 

Accordingly, the Court sua sponte denies Plaintiff’s notice of voluntary dismissal of the

third cause of action without prejudice to Plaintiff amending her complaint pursuant to Rule 15(a).

IT IS SO ORDERED.

DATED: February 6, 2012

Honorable Janis L. Sammartino

United States District Judge

Case 3:12-cv-00279-CAB-BLM Document 4 Filed 02/06/12 Page 1 of 1