Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_14-cv-01932/USCOURTS-caed-1_14-cv-01932-7/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 560
Nature of Suit: Prisoner Petitions - Civil Detainee - Conditions of Confinement
Cause of Action: 42:1983 Prisoner Civil Rights

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

BARRY BARTLETT,

 Plaintiff,

 vs.

ALLENBY,

 Defendant.

1:14-cv-01932-LJO-GSA-PC

ORDER FOR DEFENDANT ALLENBY TO 

RESPOND TO PLAINTIFF’S MOTION TO 

VOLUNTARY DISMISS THIS CASE, 

WITHIN TWENTY (20) DAYS 

(ECF No. 67.)

Barry Bartlett (“Plaintiff”) is a civil detainee proceeding pro se in this civil rights action

pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. Plaintiff filed this action on December 4, 2014, and it proceeds 

against Defendant Allenby for violation of the Eighth Amendment. 

On November 3, 2016, Plaintiff filed a motion to voluntarily dismiss this case pursuant 

to Rule 41(a) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, without prejudice. (ECF No. 67.) 

Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 41(a) “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). Where a defendant has served an answer 

or a motion for summary judgment but has not signed a stipulation to dismiss, a plaintiff’s 

voluntary dismissal must be effected through Rule of Civil Procedure 41(a)(2). See Fed. R. 

Civ. P. 41(a); Wilson v. City of San Jose, 111 F.3d 688, 692 (9th Cir. 1999). Rule 41(a)(2) 

provides in pertinent 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 

Case 1:14-cv-01932-LJO-GSA Document 68 Filed 11/14/16 Page 1 of 2
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will suffer some plain legal prejudice as a result.” Smith v. Lenches, 263 F.3d 972, 975 (9th 

Cir. 2001).

In this case, defendant Allenby filed an answer on April 29, 2016, (ECF No. 55), and a 

motion for judgment on the pleadings on October 11, 2016, (ECF No. 66), but has not filed a 

stipulation to dismiss this case. Therefore, defendant Allenby shall be required to file a 

response to Plaintiff’s motion to dismiss, showing whether he will suffer some plain legal 

prejudice as a result of the dismissal.

Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that within twenty (20) days of the date of 

service of this order, defendant Allenby shall respond in writing to Plaintiff’s motion to 

dismiss.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: November 12, 2016 /s/ Gary S. Austin 

 UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

Case 1:14-cv-01932-LJO-GSA Document 68 Filed 11/14/16 Page 2 of 2