Opinion ID: 169708
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Voluntary Dismissal: Effect Thereof.

Text: (1) By Plaintiff; by Stipulation. [A]n action may be dismissed by the plaintiff without order of court (i) 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, whichever first occurs, or (ii) by filing a stipulation of dismissal signed by all parties who have appeared in the action. Unless otherwise stated in the notice of dismissal or stipulation, the dismissal is without prejudice . . . . (2) By Order of Court. Except as provided in paragraph (1) . . . , an action shall not be dismissed at the plaintiff’s instance save upon order of the court and upon such terms and conditions as the court deems proper . . . . U nless otherw ise specified in the order, a dismissal under this paragraph is without prejudice. -8- 28, 2005, Shamrock filed a notification of its intent to file a voluntary dismissal without prejudice of its counterclaim, which the court construed as a voluntary dismissal of the counterclaim. The same day, the court dismissed USF’s complaint and Shamrock’s counterclaim without prejudice. Subsequently, Shamrock filed an application for costs and attorneys’ fees under the Protocol’s fee-shifting provision. In essence, Shamrock asserted that because it had been “totally vindicated” by USF’s voluntary dismissal, it was the “prevailing part(ies)” under the Protocol. (App. at 287-88.) Shamrock sought attorneys’ fees and costs totaling $40,034.00, for the representation of Shamrock, Joseph, Ayotte and Meiris. The court denied Shamrock’s application, concluding “[USF’s] voluntary dismissal without prejudice does not provide grounds for determining that [Shamrock] is the prevailing party within the terms of the [Protocol] . . . .” (R. App. at 314.)