Ransom v. Scribner, et al.

Filing 48

ORDER REQUIRING Plaintiff to SHOW CAUSE Within Thirty Days Why Defendants Luna, Kaylor, Williams and Munoz Should Not Be Dismissed for Failure to Provide Information Sufficient to Effect Service, signed by Magistrate Judge Dennis L. Beck on 4/22/09. (Show Cause Response due by 5/26/2009) (Hellings, J)

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 1 Plaintiff Bryan E. Ransom ("Plaintiff") is a state prisoner proceeding pro se and in forma pauperis in this civil rights action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. This action is proceeding on Plaintiff's amended complaint, filed on January 22, 2007. On November 27, 2007, the Court issued an order directing the United States Marshal to initiate service of process on six defendants. (Doc. 18.) Defendants A. K. Scribner and Duncan waived service and made an appearance in the action. However, the Marshal was unable to locate and serve Defendants Luna, Kaylor, Williams and Munoz, and on January 2, 2008, the Marshal returned the USM-285 forms to the Court. (Docs. 19, 20, 21 and 22.) Rule 4(m) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure provides, in relevant part: If a defendant is not served within 120 days after the complaint is filed, the court on motion or on its own after notice to the plaintiff - must dismiss the action without prejudice against that defendant or order that service be made within a specified time. But if the plaintiff shows good cause for the failure, the court must extend the time for service for an appropriate period. v. A. K. SCRIBNER, et al., Defendants. (Docs. 19, 20, 21 and 22) / BRYAN E. RANSOM, Plaintiff, CASE NO. 1:06-cv-00208-LJO-DLB PC ORDER REQUIRING PLAINTIFF TO SHOW CAUSE WITHIN THIRTY DAYS WHY DEFENDANTS LUNA, KAYLOR, WILLIAMS AND MUNOZ SHOULD NOT BE DISMISSED FOR FAILURE TO PROVIDE INFORMATION SUFFICIENT TO EFFECT SERVICE

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

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Fed. R. Civ. P. 4(m). In cases involving a plaintiff proceeding in forma pauperis, the Marshal, upon order of the Court, shall serve the summons and the complaint. Fed. R. Civ. P. 4(c)(2). "`[A]n incarcerated pro se plaintiff proceeding in forma pauperis is entitled to rely on the U.S. Marshal for service of the summons and complaint and ... should not be penalized by having his action dismissed for failure to effect service where the U.S. Marshal or the court clerk has failed to perform his duties.'" Walker v. Sumner, 14 F.3d 1415, 1422 (9th Cir. 1994) (quoting Puett v. Blandford, 912 F.2d 270, 275 (9th Cir. 1990)), abrogated on other grounds by Sandin v. Connor, 515 U.S. 472 (1995). "So long as the prisoner has furnished the information necessary to identify the defendant, the marshal's failure to effect service is `automatically good cause . . . .'" Walker, 14 F.3d at 1422 (quoting Sellers v. United States, 902 F.2d 598, 603 (7th Cir.1990)). However, where a pro se plaintiff fails to provide the Marshal with accurate and sufficient information to effect service of the summons and complaint, the Court's sua sponte dismissal of the unserved defendants is appropriate. Walker, 14 F.3d at 142122. In this instance, Plaintiff has not provided sufficient information to identify and serve Defendants Luna, Kaylor, Williams and Munoz. (Docs. 19, 20, 21, 22.) If Plaintiff is unable to provide the Marshal with information to effect service of the summons and complaint, these defendants shall be dismissed from the action, without prejudice. Pursuant to Rule 4(m), the Court will provide Plaintiff with the opportunity to show cause why Defendants Luna, Kaylor, Williams and Munoz should not be dismissed from the action at this time. Accordingly, based on the foregoing, it is HEREBY ORDERED that: 1. Within thirty (30) days from the date of service of this order, Plaintiff shall show cause why Defendants Luna, Kaylor, Williams and Munoz should not be dismissed from this action; and /// /// /// /// 2

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2.

The failure to respond to this order or the failure to show cause will result in a recommendation that Defendants Luna, Kaylor, Williams and Munoz be dismissed from this action.

IT IS SO ORDERED. Dated:

April 22, 2009

/s/ Dennis L. Beck UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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