Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_16-cv-01114/USCOURTS-caed-1_16-cv-01114-0/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

JEFFREY E. WALKER,

Plaintiff,

v.

WECHSLER, et al.,

Defendants.

Case No. 1:16-cv-01114-SKO (PC)

ORDER CLOSING THE CASE DUE TO 

VOLUNTARY DISMISSAL WITHOUT 

PREJUDICE

(Doc. 1, 3, 5, 6)

Plaintiff, Jeffrey E. Walker, is a civil detainee proceeding pro se in this civil rights action 

pursuant to 42 U.S.C. ' 1983. On August 22, 2016, Plaintiff filed a motion requesting dismissal 

of this case without prejudice. (Doc. 6.) 

Although not stated in the notice, the Court construes it as one made pursuant to Federal 

Rule of Civil Procedure 41(a)(1)(i). 

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 

Case 1:16-cv-01114-SKO Document 7 Filed 08/29/16 Page 1 of 2
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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).

Neither answers to Plaintiff's action, nor motions for summary judgment have been filed 

in this case and it appears that no such answers or summary judgment motions have been served

since this action has not been served on any of the defendants. Because Plaintiff has exercised his 

right to voluntarily dismiss the action under Rule 41(a)(1), this case has terminated. See Wilson, 

111 F.3d at 692.

Therefore, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that the Clerk is ordered to close this case in light 

of Plaintiff's Rule 41(a)(1)(i) requested dismissal without prejudice (Doc. 6) and all pending 

motions (Docs. 1, 3, 5) are DISREGARDED as moot.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: August 29, 2016 /s/ Sheila K. Oberto .

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

Case 1:16-cv-01114-SKO Document 7 Filed 08/29/16 Page 2 of 2