Wheeler v. Alison et al

Filing 63

ORDER Providing Defendant Ross With the Opportunity to SHOW GOOD CAUSE for Failing to Waive Service, signed by Magistrate Judge Dennis L. Beck on 2/19/14: Thirty-Day Deadline. (Hellings, J)

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

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EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

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ERIC WHEELER,

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Plaintiff,
vs.
ALISON, et al.,
Defendants.

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1:12cv00861 LJO DLB PC
ORDER PROVIDING DEFENDANT ROSS
WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHOW
GOOD CAUSE FOR FAILING TO WAIVE
SERVICE

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Plaintiff Eric Wheeler (“Plaintiff”), a state prisoner proceeding pro se and in forma
pauperis, filed this civil rights action filed on May 25, 2012.
On March 11, 2013, the Court ordered the United States Marshal to serve process upon
Defendants in this case. The Marshal was directed to attempt to secure a waiver of service
before attempting personal service on Defendants. If a waiver of service was not returned by a
Defendant within sixty days, the Marshal was directed to effect personal service on the

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Defendant in accordance with the provisions of Rule 4 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure
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and 28 U.S.C. § 566(c), without prepayment of costs, and to file the return of service with
evidence of any attempt to secure a waiver of service and with evidence of all costs subsequently
incurred in effecting personal service.

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On February 10, 2014, the United States Marshal filed a return of service with a USM285 form showing charges of $128.30 for effecting personal service on Defendant Michael Alan
Ross, P.A. ECF No. 55. The form shows that a waiver of service form was mailed to Defendant
Ross on April 3, 2013.
Pursuant to the Court’s order, Defendants are required to return the waivers to the United

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States Marshal and the filing of an answer or a motion does not relieve them of this obligation.
Defendant Ross did not return a waiver, which resulted in the execution of personal service on
January 23, 2014.

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Defendant Ross filed his answer on February 18, 2014.

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Rule 4 provides that “[a]n individual, corporation, or association that is subject to service

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under Rule 4(e), (f), or (h) has a duty to avoid unnecessary expenses of serving the summons.”

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Fed. R. Civ. P. 4(d)(1). “If a defendant located within the United States fails, without good

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cause, to sign and return a waiver requested by a plaintiff located within the United States, the

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court must impose on the defendant . . . the expenses later incurred in making service. . . .” Fed.

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R. Civ. P. 4(d)(2)(A).
It appears that Defendant Ross was given the opportunity required by Rule 4(d)(1) to
waive service, but he failed to return his waiver to the United States Marshal, although he did

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make an appearance in the action. The Court shall provide Defendant Ross with the opportunity
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to show good cause for failing to waive service. If Defendant either fails to respond to this order
or responds but fails to show good cause, the costs incurred in effecting service shall be imposed
on Defendant Ross.

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Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that:

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1.

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Defendant Ross may, within thirty (30) days from the date of this order, show

good cause for failing to waive service; and

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2.

If Defendant Ross either fails to respond to this order or responds but fails to

show good cause, the Court shall impose upon Defendant Ross the costs incurred in effecting
service.

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IT IS SO ORDERED.

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Dated:

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/s/ Dennis

February 19, 2014

L. Beck

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE
DEAC_Signature-END:

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