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Voluntary dismissal is when a law suit is terminated by request of the plaintiff (the party originally bringing the suit to court).

In the United States, voluntary dismissal in Federal court is subject to Rule 41(a) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. Rule 41(a)'s full text can be found below. Simply, Rule 41(a) allows the plaintiff to make a dismissal as long as the defendant has not yet taken any formal court action on the case (ie made a motion or filed an answer).

If the defendant has taken such action, dismissal is only proper under two circumstances: a. the defendant signs an agreement with the plaintiff to dismiss the case b. the judge overseeing the case rules for the case to be dismissed

Once the case has been voluntarily dismissed, if it is brought to court again a dimissal in this second case will mean the case can never again be brought back to court.

If the defendant has a counterclaim, the case can only be dimissed if the counterclaim can still stand as its own case.

Full text of Rule 41 (a) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure:

(a) Voluntary Dismissal: Effect Thereof

(1) By Plaintiff; By Stipulation. Subject to the prvisions of Rule 23(e), of Rule 66, and of any statue of the United States, an action may be dismissed by the plaintiff without order of court (i) by filing 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 othersise stated in the notice of dismissal or stipulation, the dismissal is without prejudice, except that a notice of dismissal operaties as an adjudication upon the merits when filed by a plaintiff who has once dismissed in any court of the United States or of any state an action based on or including the same claim.

(2)By Order of Court. Except as provided in paragraph (1) of this subdivision of this rule, an action shall not be dismissed at the plaintff's instance save upon order of the court and upon such terms and conditions as the court deems proper. If a counterclaim has been pleaded by a defendant prior to the service upon the defendant of the plaintiff's motion to dismiss, the action shall not be dismissed against the defendant's objections unless the counterclaim can remain pending for independent adjudication by the court. Unless otherwise specified in the order, a dismissal under this paragraph is without prejudice.

• Involuntary dismissal.