Moreno v. United States of America ( 2024 )

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 9 EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 10 11 JUANA MORENO, et al. Case No. 1:23-cv-00449-SAB 12 Plaintiff, ORDER DENYING NOTICE OF VOLUNTARY DISMISSAL AS 13 v. PROCEDURALLY IMPROPER 14 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, (ECF No. 21) 15 Defendant. FOURTEEN DAY DEADLINE 16 17 On March 24, 2023, Plaintiffs Juana Moreno, Veronica Moreno, George Moreno, Diega 18 Moreno, Cristina Moreno, Nancy Moreno, and Gabriel Moreno filed this action against 19 Defendants United States of America, United Health Centers of the San Joaquin Valley, and 20 Amarjot Rai, M.D. (ECF No. 1.) On May 31, 2023, the United States filed a motion to dismiss 21 Defendants United Health Centers of the San Joaquin Valley and Amarjot Rai, M.D. for lack of 22 subject matter jurisdiction. (ECF No. 12.) On June 7, 2023, Defendant United States filed an 23 answer to the complaint. (ECF No. 14.) Following Plaintiffs’ non-opposition to Defendant 24 United States’ motion to dismiss, the Court granted the motion on July 11, 2023. (ECF No. 16.) 25 On February 13, 2024, Plaintiff George Moreno filed a notice of dismissal requesting the Court 26 dismiss him from the action without prejudice. (ECF No. 13.) The filing does not cite any 27 Federal Rule of Civil Procedure, is only signed by Plaintiff George Moreno and his counsel. Under Rule 41(a)(1)(A)(i) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, “a plaintiff has an 1 | absolute right to voluntarily dismiss his action prior to service by the defendant of an answer or a 2 | motion for summary judgment.” Commercial Space Mgmt. Co., Inc. v. Boeing Co., Inc., 193 3 | F.3d 1074, 1077 (9th Cir. 1999) (quoting Wilson v. City of San Jose, 111 F.3d 688, 692 (9th Cir. 4 | 1997)). Here, Defendant United States of America has filed an answer, so Plaintiff George 5 | Moreno cannot voluntarily dismiss himself from this action simply by “notice” pursuant to Rule 6 | 41(a)(1)(A)@). 7 Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 41(a)(1)(A)(ii) provides that a “plaintiff may dismiss an 8 | action without a court order by filing a stipulation of dismissal signed by all parties who have 9 | appeared.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 41(a)(1)(A)Gii). A party may also dismiss an action by filing a 10 | motion requesting the Court to dismiss the action. Fed. R. Civ. P. 41(a)(2).. A motion for 11 | voluntary dismissal under Rule 41(a)(2) is addressed to the sound discretion of the district court. 12 | Hamilton v. Firestone Tire & Rubber Co. Inc., 679 F.2d 143, 145 (9th Cir. 1982). 13 Plaintiff's notice of voluntary dismissal is defective because it is not a signed stipulation 14 | by all parties who have appeared, and it is not a motion under Rule 41(a)(2). If Plaintiff wishes 15 | to dismiss this action, he is required to comply with the procedures set forth in Rule 41 by filing 16 | a stipulation that complies with Rule 41(a)(1)(A)Gi) or a motion under Rule 41(a)(2). 17 Accordingly, Plaintiffs notice of voluntary dismissal is HEREBY DENIED without 18 | prejudice as procedurally improper. Plaintiff shall file a request for dismissal that complies with 19 | Rule 41 within fourteen (14) days from the date of entry of this order. 20 IT IS SO ORDERED. DAM Le 22 | Dated: _February 14, 2024 _ Of 33 UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE 24 25 26 27 28