Zavala v. Chrones et al

Filing 34

ORDER REQUIRING Plaintiff to SHOW CAUSE within Thirty Days why Defendant D. Smith should not be Dismissed for Failure to Provide Information Sufficient to Effect Service signed by Magistrate Judge Dennis L. Beck on 10/8/2010. Show Cause Response due by 11/12/2010.(Sant Agata, S)

(PC) Zavala v. Chrones et al

Doc. 34

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 Keith Zavala ("Plaintiff") is a California 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 second amended complaint, filed May 24, 2010. (Doc. 18.) On July 1, 2010, the Court issued an order directing the United States Marshal to initiate service of process on five defendants. (Doc. 21.) The Marshal was unable to locate and serve Defendant D. Smith, and on October 7, 2010, the USM-285 form was returned unexecuted. (Doc. 31.) 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

KEITH ZAVALA, Plaintiff, v. CHRIS CHRONES, et al., Defendants.

CASE NO. 1:09-CV-01352-DLB PC ORDER REQUIRING PLAINTIFF TO SHOW CAUSE WITHIN THIRTY DAYS WHY DEFENDANT D. SMITH SHOULD NOT BE DISMISSED FOR FAILURE TO PROVIDE INFORMATION SUFFICIENT TO EFFECT SERVICE (DOC. 31)

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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 by 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 information provided by Plaintiff is no longer accurate, as Defendant D. Smith has retired and is no longer employed at Kern Valley State Prison. (Doc. 31.) If Plaintiff is unable to provide the Marshal with further information so that Defendant D. Smith can be located, 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 D. Smith 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 D. Smith 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 dismissal of Defendant D. Smith from this action. IT IS SO ORDERED. Dated: 77e0d6

October 8, 2010

/s/ Dennis L. Beck UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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