Maldonado v. United States

• Court: District Court, E.D. Texas
• Decided: June 26, 2023
• Docket: 4:23-cv-00525
• Status: Unknown

Opinion

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS SHERMAN DIVISION CATRINA WITHERS MALDONADO § § VS. § CIVIL ACTION NO. 4:23cv525 § CRIMINAL ACTION NO. 4:12cr4(1) UNITED STATES OF AMERICA § MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER Pro se Movant Catrina Withers Maldonado filed a motion, which was construed as a Motion to Vacate, Set Aside, or Correct Sentence pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2255 (Dkt. #1). On June 9, 2023, the United States Magistrate Judge ordered Movant to either (1) notify the Court she does not wish to have her motion construed as a § 2255 motion, or (2) complete the § 2255 form fully and legibly, and submit it to the Court should she wish to proceed with a § 2255 motion. In response, Movant stated that she “do[es] not wish to have [her] motion construed as a § 2255 motion” (Dkt. #5 at 2). Accordingly, the Court construes her response as a motion to voluntarily dismiss the case. Voluntary dismissals are governed by Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 41(a) that provides, in pertinent part, the movant “may dismiss an action without a court order by filing: (i) a notice of dismissal before the opposing party serves either an answer or a motion for summary judgment.” FED. R. CIV. P. 41(a)(1)(A)(i); Carter v. United States, 547 F.2d 258, 259 (5th Cir. 1977) (party has absolute right to dismiss his legal action under Rule 41(a) prior to the filing of an answer or motion for summary judgment). “Unless the notice … states otherwise, the dismissal is without prejudice.” FED. R. CIV. P. 41(a)(1)(B). “The notice of dismissal is self-effectuating and terminates the case in and of itself; no order or other action of the district court is required.” In re Amerijet Int’l, Inc., 785 F.3d 967, 973 (5th Cir. 2015) (per curiam). Thus, once a movant has moved to dismiss under Rule 41(a)(1)(A)(i), “the case [i]s effectively terminated,” and “[t]he court has no power or discretion to deny plaintiffs’ right to dismiss or to attach any condition or burden to that right.” Bechuck v. Home Depot U.S.A., Inc., 814 F.3d 287, 291 (5th Cir. 2016) (citing Williams v. Ezell, 531 F.2d 1261, 1263-64 (5th Cir. 1976)).

In the present case, no answer or motion for summary judgment has been filed; thus, Movant is entitled to the voluntary dismissal of the case without prejudice. Movant’s case was dismissed the moment the notice was filed with the Clerk. Moreover, after a notice of voluntary dismissal is filed, the district court loses jurisdiction over the case. In re Amerijet Int’l, Inc., 785 F.3d at 973. Accordingly, it is ORDERED that Movant’s notice of dismissal (Dkt. #5) is self-effectuating and terminates the case in and of itself, and the case is DISMISSED without prejudice pursuant to FED. R. CIV. P. 41(a)(1)(A)(i). All motions by any party not previously ruled upon are

DENIED. IT IS SO ORDERED.