Avina v. Crondagar et al

Filing 23

ORDER Requiring Plaintiff to SHOW CAUSE within Thirty Days Why Defendant J. Cronjagar should not be Dismissed for Failure to Provide Information Sufficient to Effect Service signed by Magistrate Judge Dennis L. Beck on 08/30/2010. Show Cause Response due by 10/4/2010. (Flores, E)

(PC) Avina v. Crondagar et al

Doc. 23

1 2 3 4 5 6 EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 / 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 Plaintiff Jose Avina ("Plaintiff") is a prisoner in the custody of the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, 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 first amended complaint, filed on October 29, 2009. (Doc. 12.) On June 2, 2010, the Court issued an order directing the United States Marshal to initiate service of process on five Defendants. (Doc. 16.) The Marshal was unable to locate and serve Defendant J. Cronjager and on August 25, 2010, the USM-285 form was returned to the Court. (Doc. 21.) Pursuant to Rule 4(m), 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. 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 1
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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

JOSE AVINA, Plaintiff, v. J. CRONJAGAR, et al., Defendants.

CASE NO. 1:09-CV-00343-LJO-DLB (PC) ORDER REQUIRING PLAINTIFF TO SHOW CAUSE WITHIN THIRTY DAYS WHY DEFENDANT J. CRONJAGAR SHOULD NOT BE DISMISSED FOR FAILURE TO PROVIDE INFORMATION SUFFICIENT TO EFFECT SERVICE (DOC. 21)

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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 in part on other grounds, Sandin v. Conner, 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 1421-22. In this instance, the address provided by Plaintiff for Defendant J. Cronjager is no longer accurate, as Defendant J. Cronjager is no longer employed at Corcoran State Prison. (Doc. 21.) If Plaintiff is unable to provide the Marshal with a current address or other helpful information by which Defendant J. Cronjager can be located (such as time and place of employment, first name, badge number), the Defendant 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 Defendant J. Cronjager 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 Defendant J. Cronjager should not be dismissed from this action; and 2. The failure to respond to this order or the failure to show cause will result in a recommendation of dismissal of Defendant J. Cronjager from this action. IT IS SO ORDERED. Dated: 77e0d6

August 30, 2010

/s/ Dennis L. Beck UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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