Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_16-cv-00083/USCOURTS-caed-1_16-cv-00083-2/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 530
Nature of Suit: Prisoner Petitions - Habeas Corpus
Cause of Action: 28:2254 Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus (State)

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

TYRONE JUSTIN COWAN,

Petitioner,

v.

J. SOTO,

Respondent.

No. 1:16-cv-00083-DAD-JLT

ORDER DISMISSING ACTION, CLOSING 

CASE, AND DENYING PENDING 

MOTIONS AS MOOT

(Doc. Nos. 11, 13, 14)

Petitioner Tyrone Justin Cowan is a state prisoner proceeding in propria persona with a 

petition for writ of habeas corpus pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2254. On May 20, 2016, the 

magistrate judge assigned to the case issued findings and recommendations recommending that 

respondent’s motion to dismiss the pending petition be granted on the grounds that petitioner had 

failed to exhaust any of his claims by first presenting them for review by the state high court. 

(Doc. No. 11.) These findings and recommendations were served upon all parties and contained 

notice that any objections thereto were to be filed within twenty-one days from the date of service 

of that order. While no party has yet filed objections to the findings and recommendation, on 

June 22, 2016, petitioner filed a request to voluntarily dismiss the petition without prejudice, 

presumably pursuant to Rule 41 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, so that he may exhaust 

his claims. (Doc. No. 17.)

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Case 1:16-cv-00083-DAD-JLT Document 18 Filed 09/15/16 Page 1 of 2
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A plaintiff may voluntarily dismiss a suit without a court order by filing a notice of 

dismissal before the opposing party serves either an answer or a motion for summary judgment. 

Fed. R. Civ. P. 41(a)(1)(A); Wilson v. City of San Jose, 111 F.3d 688, 692 (9th Cir. 1997).

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Here, petitioner does not require a court order to dismiss this petition, as respondent has neither 

served an answer or a motion for summary judgment on petitioner. Therefore, the request for 

voluntary dismissal will be deemed a notice of dismissal filed in accordance with Rule 

41(a)(1)(A) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, and the matter is dismissed without 

prejudice. All pending motions (Doc. Nos. 11, 13, 14) are denied as having been rendered moot 

by petitioner’s voluntary dismissal of his petition, and the Clerk of Court is directed to close the 

case. 

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: September 14, 2016 

UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

 

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Pursuant to Rule 11 of the Rules Governing Section 2254 Cases, the “Federal Rules of Civil 

Procedure, to the extent that they are not inconsistent with these rules, may be applied, when 

appropriate, to petitions filed under these rules.”

Case 1:16-cv-00083-DAD-JLT Document 18 Filed 09/15/16 Page 2 of 2