(PC) Flow-Sunkett v. T. Redmon ( 2024 )

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 9 FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 10 11 GLENN S. SUNKETT, Case No. 1:21-cv-01137-HBK (PC) 12 Plaintiff, ORDER NOTING VOLUNTARY DISMISSAL UNDER FED. R. CIV. P. 13 v. 41(a)(1)(A)(i) AND FED. R. CIV. P. 15(a) OF 14 T. REDMON and T. BOERUM, CERTAIN CLAIMS 15 Defendants. (Doc. No. 40) 16 ORDER DIRECTING CLERK TO REVISE DOCKET 17 18 Plaintiff Glenn S. Sunkett, a state prisoner, is proceeding pro se in this action filed under 19 42 U.S.C. § 1983. On January 22, 2024, this Court issued a screening order on Plaintiff’s Third 20 Amended Complaint (“TAC”). (Doc. No. 39). As discussed in the Court’s screening order, the 21 TAC states cognizable Fourteenth Amendment due process claims against Defendants Redmon 22 and Boerum but fails to state any other cognizable claim. (Id. at 10). The Screening Order 23 afforded Plaintiff the opportunity to either (1) file a notice under Rule 41 and Federal Rule of 24 Civil Procedure 15 that he is willing to proceed only on the claims the court found cognizable in 25 its screening order; or (2) stand on his TAC subject to the undersigned issuing Findings and 26 Recommendations to dismiss the claims not deemed cognizable. (Id.). 27 On February 22, 2024, Plaintiff filed a Notice to Proceed on Cognizable Claims. (Doc. 28 No. 40). In his signed and dated Notice, Plaintiff states, “Plaintiff hereby gives notice that 1 | Plaintiff requests to proceed only on the claims deemed cognizable by this court, specifically 2 | Plaintiff's fourteenth amendment due process claim against defendant Redmon and Boerum. 3 | Plaintiff voluntarily dismisses any other remaining claims in this case.” (Ud. at 1). 4 A plaintiff may voluntarily dismiss any defendant or claim without a court order by filing 5 | anotice of dismissal before the opposing party answers the complaint or moves for summary 6 | judgment. Fed. R. Civ. P. 41 (a)(1)(A)(i). Here, no party has answered or moved for summary 7 | judgment. (See docket). Further, the Ninth Circuit recognizes a party has an absolute right prior 8 | to an answer or motion for summary judgment to dismiss fewer than all named defendants or 9 | claims without a court order. Pedrina v. Chun, 987 F.2d 608, 609-10 (9th Cir. 1993). 10 | Alternatively, the Court construes Plaintiff's Notice as a motion to amend the Complaint under 11 | Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 15(a). Hells Canyon Pres. Council v. U.S. Forest Serv., 403 F.3d 12 | 683, 687 (9th Cir. 2005) (Rule 15(a) “is appropriate mechanism” when party is eliminating an 13 | issue or one or more claims but not completely dismissing a defendant). 14 In accordance with Plaintiffs Notice, Plaintiff's TAC will proceed only on his Fourteenth 15 || Amendment due process claims against Defendants Redmon and Boerum based on their failure to 16 | notify Plaintiff and afford him an opportunity to be heard before classifying him an escape risk, 17 || affixing an escape administrative determinant, and adding 19 points to his classification score. 18 | GSee Doc. No. 38 at 9). 19 Accordingly, it is ORDERED: 20 1. This action proceeds on Plaintiff’s Fourteenth Amendment due process claims against 21 Defendants Redmon and Boerum only. 22 2. The Clerk of Court shall correct the docket to add T. Boerum as a defendant. 23 3. The Court will direct service upon Defendants Redmon and Boerum by separate order. 24 | Dated: _ February 23,2024 Mile. Wh. foareh fackte 6 HELENA M. BARCH-KUCHTA 4 UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE 28