Janis, et al v. USA

Filing 106

ORDER Requiring Plaintiff to Furnish Further Information for Initiation of Service of Process signed by Magistrate Judge Sandra M. Snyder on 06/21/2010. Response due by 7/26/2010. (Flores, E)

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 Plaintiff Gust Marion Janis ("Plaintiff") is a federal prisoner proceeding pro se in this civil action pursuant to Bivens v. Six Unknown Named Agents of Federal Bureau of Narcotics, 403 U.S. 388 (1971), which provides a remedy for violation of civil rights by federal actors, and pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1346(b) (the Federal Tort Claims Act), which provides a limited remedy for torts committed by federal employees. Plaintiff filed the original Complaint in this action on June 10, 2004. Now pending before the Court is Plaintiff's Fourth Amended Complaint, filed January 18, 2008. Pursuant to U.S.C. § 1915A, the Court screened Plaintiff's Fourth Amended Complaint in conjunction with the limiting instructions set forth in the Court's order of May 11, 2007, and found that it states a cognizable claim for relief under the Federal Tort Claims Act against the United States, Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(a). In the Fourth Amended Complaint, Plaintiff named two Defendants with the same surname ­ "R. Johnson" and "Johnson." Service was found appropriate and the United States Marshal was ordered to initiate service of process on April 4, 2008. (Doc. 58.) While summonses (both executed and unexecuted) for a 1 v. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, et al., Defendants. / GUST MARION JANIS, Plaintiff, CASE NO. 1:04-cv-05812-SMS PC ORDER REQUIRING PLAINTIFF TO FURNISH FURTHER INFORMATION FOR INITIATION OF SERVICE OF PROCESS RESPONSE DUE WITHIN THIRTY DAYS

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

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number of Defendants have been filed, none has been returned as to Defendant "Johnson." The United States Attorney's Office has advised that they are representing Defendant "R. Johnson," but that their searches have indicated that no other prison personnel with the surname of "Johnson" were involved in Plaintiff's incarceration during the dates in question, and that absent further identifying information, their belief is that any mention to a defendant with the surname of "Johnson" in the Fourth Amended Complaint is intended to reference Defendant "R. Johnson." Accordingly, if Plaintiff intended to name a Defendant with the surname of "Johnson," separate and apart from Defendant "R. Johnson," within thirty days from the date of service of this order, Plaintiff shall provide the Court with further information to in identifying Defendant "Johnson." If Plaintiff can remember any details that might identify Defendant "Johnson," Plaintiff shall so inform the Court. For example, what title and/or rank was Defendant "Johnson?" What area of the prison did Defendant "Johnson" work on the date(s) in question? What hours did Defendant "Johnson" work on the date(s) in question? Can Plaintiff recall any physical attributes of Defendant "Johnson," such as age, gender, hair color, eye color, height, weight, and the like? Does Plaintiff remember anything that might differentiate Defendant "Johnson" from Defendant "R. Johnson?" If Plaintiff has any documents bearing the signature of Defendant "Johnson," he is directed to submit copies thereof to the Court. Likewise, Plaintiff shall advise the Court within thirty days from the date of service of this order if Plaintiff intended all references in the Fourth Amended Complaint to any Defendant by the surname of "Johnson" to implicate Defendant "R. Johnson." Based on the foregoing, it is HEREBY ORDERED that within thirty (30) days from the date of service of this order, Plaintiff shall provide the Court with any and all information he has that might help identify Defendant "Johnson," or alternatively advise the Court if Plaintiff intended all references, in the Fourth Amended Complaint, to a Defendant by the surname of "Johnson" to implicate Defendant "R. Johnson." IT IS SO ORDERED. Dated: icido3 June 21, 2010 /s/ Sandra M. Snyder UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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