Trevor Piotrowski v. Unknown

United States District Court for the Central District of California

Trevor Piotrowski v. Unknown

Trial Court Opinion

1 JS-6 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 9 CENTRAL DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 10 WESTERN DIVISION 11 12 TREVOR PIOTROWSKI, ) No. CV 21-2222-CAS (PLA) ) 13 Plaintiff, ) ORDER DISMISSING ACTION WITHOUT ) PREJUDICE 14 v. ) ) 15 UNKNOWN, ) ) 16 Defendant. ) ) 17 18 On March 10, 2021, Trevor Piotrowski (“Piotrowski”) filed a Civil Rights Complaint. He did not 19 submit the filing fee, or a request to proceed without payment of the filing fee. (ECF Nos. 1, 2). On 20 March 18, 2021, the Magistrate Judge in this action dismissed the Complaint with leave to amend 21 for the following reasons: (1) the allegations in the Complaint challenged the legality of Piotrowski’s 22 pretrial confinement, not the conditions of his confinement, and therefore the claims should have 23 been brought in a habeas petition; (2) there was no indication that Piotrowski had exhausted his state 24 court remedies; and (3) because Piotrowski’s state criminal prosecution was ongoing, the abstention 25 doctrine set forth in Younger v. Harris,

401 U.S. 37, 43-54

,

91 S. Ct. 746

,

27 L. Ed. 2d 669

(1971), 26 applied. (ECF No. 4). The Magistrate Judge explained that Piotrowski had two options: if he chose 27 to pursue habeas relief, he may file a habeas petition; or alternatively, he may voluntarily dismiss this 28 action pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 41(a)(1). Piotrowski was provided copies of a blank habeas petition and a blank Central District Rule 41 dismissal form, and was ordered to file a habeas petition or notice of dismissal by April 14, 2021. (ECF Nos. 4, 4-1, 4-2). 4 Instead of filing either of the required forms, on April 6, 2021, Piotrowski submitted to the Court 5|| handwritten letter, in which he states, “I’m abandoning the Complaint, but | do want to tell you ‘why’ 6] | was writing it.” (ECF No. 5 at 1). Piotrowski explains that he was convicted in a prior trial so “this 7] is not [his] first rodeo,” that he is “not money driven to any measure whatsoever,” and that he is 8] currently preparing a separate complaint against a state court judge. (Id, at 1-3). As Piotrowski 9] unequivocally states in his letter he is “abandoning the Complaint,” and makes no reference to 10] habeas relief, the Court construes the letter as a notice of voluntary dismissal pursuant to Rule 11] 41(a)(1) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. 12 Piotrowski’s request for dismissal is granted, and this action is hereby dismissed without 13] prejudice. 14 , DATED: April 8, 2021 Abeba Lf fy iw A. HONORABLE CHRISTINA & SVR 16 SENIOR UNITED STATES DISTRIGA JUDGE Tf 18 12 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 Zr 28

Reference

Status
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