Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-5_05-cv-04974/USCOURTS-cand-5_05-cv-04974-2/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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Order of Dismissal Without Prejudice; Granting in Part and Denying in Part Plaintiff’s Motion

P:\pro-se\sj.jf\cr.05\ Bradford974dis 1

NOT FOR CITATION

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

DARRELL L. BRADFORD,

Plaintiff,

 vs.

N. GRANNIS, et al., 

Defendants. 

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No. C 05-4974 JF (PR)

ORDER OF DISMISSAL

WITHOUT PREJUDICE;

GRANTING IN PART AND

DENYING IN PART

PLAINTIFF’S MOTION 

(Docket No. 15)

Plaintiff, a state prisoner proceeding pro se, filed a civil rights complaint pursuant

to 42 U.S.C. § 1983 concerning his classification score within the California Department

of Corrections and Rehabilitation ("CDCR"). The Court granted Plaintiff leave to

proceed in forma pauperis and dismissed the complaint with leave to amend. Plaintiff has

filed a motion requesting permanent leave from his original complaint and that the Court

transfer his in forma pauperis status to the United States District Court for the Eastern

District of California. Plaintiff states that he intends to proceed with a habeas petition in

the Kern County Superior Court to exhaust his claims. 

The Court construes Plaintiff’s motion as a motion to voluntarily dismiss the

instant complaint without prejudice. A plaintiff has the absolute right to dismiss his or

her action by filing a notice of dismissal at any time before service by the adverse party of

**Original filed 5/1/07**

Case 5:05-cv-04974-JF Document 16 Filed 05/01/07 Page 1 of 3
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Order of Dismissal Without Prejudice; Granting in Part and Denying in Part Plaintiff’s Motion

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an answer or of a motion for summary judgment." Fed. R. Civ. P. 41(a)(1)(i). Said

dismissal may be with or without prejudice, but unless plaintiff's notice of dismissal states

otherwise, it is deemed to be "without prejudice." See Fed. R. Civ. P. 41(a)(1);

Humphreys v. United States, 272 F.2d 411, 412 (9th Cir. 1959). No court order is

required. Plaintiff's notice of dismissal is effective by itself to terminate the action: "[A]n

action may be dismissed by the plaintiff without order of the court . . . by filing a notice

of dismissal." Fed. R. Civ. P. 41(a)(1); see also Hamilton v. Shearson-Lehman American

Exp. Inc., 813 F.2d 1532, 1534-1536 (9th Cir. 1987) (Rule 41(a)(1)(i) does not require

leave of court to dismiss the action). 

The Court notes that Plaintiff may raise his classification claims in the Eastern

District of California by filing a new civil rights complaint or habeas petition in that

court, however the Court cannot transfer Plaintiff's in forma pauperis status in this action

to the Eastern District Court. Plaintiff may file a new application to proceed in forma

pauperis in the Eastern District.

Accordingly, Plaintiff's motion to voluntarily dismiss the instant action without

prejudice (docket no. 15-1) is GRANTED and his motion to transfer his in forma pauperis

status (docket no. 15-2) is DENIED. The Clerk shall terminate any pending motions and

close the file. 

IT IS SO ORDERED.

DATED: JEREMY FOGEL 

United States District Judge

4/30/07

Case 5:05-cv-04974-JF Document 16 Filed 05/01/07 Page 2 of 3
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Order of Dismissal Without Prejudice; Granting in Part and Denying in Part Plaintiff’s Motion

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A copy of this ruling was mailed to the following:

Darrell L. Bradford

T-49982

Kern Valley State Prison

P.O. Box 5104

Delano, CA 93216

Case 5:05-cv-04974-JF Document 16 Filed 05/01/07 Page 3 of 3