Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-5_05-cv-03502/USCOURTS-cand-5_05-cv-03502-4/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 Granting Plaintiff’s Motion to Dismiss; Order of Dismissal

P:\pro-se\sj.jf\cr.05\Bennett502dis 1

NOT FOR CITATION

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

MARIO K. BENNETT,

Plaintiff,

 vs.

JEANNE WOODFORD, et al.,

Defendants.

 

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No. C 05-3502 JF (PR)

ORDER GRANTING

PLAINTIFF’S MOTION TO

DISMISS; ORDER OF

DISMISSAL

(Docket No. 93)

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

to 42 U.S.C. § 1983 against Pelican Bay State Prison (“PBSP”) officials and the Director

of the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. Plaintiff has been

granted leave to proceed in forma pauperis in a separate written order. The Court initially

dismissed Plaintiff’s claims in the original complaint and the amended complaint with

leave to amend. Plaintiff filed a second amended complaint on April 16, 2007. On

March 20, 2008, the Court issued an order addressing Plaintiff’s pending motions and

stated it would review the amended complaint in a separate written order. On April 16,

2008, Plaintiff filed a motion to dismiss stating that he would like to withdraw and

dismiss all of his civil rights cases pending in this Court. See Pl.’s Mot. at 1. 

Case 5:05-cv-03502-JF Document 94 Filed 04/21/08 Page 1 of 2
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Order Granting Plaintiff’s Motion to Dismiss; Order of Dismissal

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DISCUSSION

Plaintiff moves the Court to withdraw and dismiss the instant civil rights action. 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 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). 

Accordingly, the instant civil rights action is DISMISSED without prejudice. The

Clerk shall terminate any pending motions and close the file. 

IT IS SO ORDERED.

DATED: 

 JEREMY FOGEL 

 United States District Judge

4/18/08

Case 5:05-cv-03502-JF Document 94 Filed 04/21/08 Page 2 of 2