Brookins v. Hernandez et al
Filing
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FINDINGS and RECOMMENDATIONS Recommending Dismissal of Defendant Salvado Pursuant to Rule 4(M) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure signed by Magistrate Judge Stanley A. Boone on 12/17/2018. Referred to Judge Anthony W. Ishii. Objections to F&R due within Fourteen (14) Days. (Sant Agata, S)
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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
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EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
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BARRY LEE BROOKINS,
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Plaintiff,
v.
M. HERNANDEZ, et al.,
Defendants.
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Case No. 1:17-cv-01675-AWI-SAB (PC)
FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATION
RECOMMENDING DISMISSAL OF
DEFENDANT SALVADO PURSUANT TO RULE
4(M) OF THE FEDERAL RULES OF CIVIL
PROCEDURE
[ECF Nos. 20, 21, 24, 26, 27, 28]
Plaintiff Barry Lee Brookins is appearing pro se and in forma pauperis in this civil rights action
pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983.
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I.
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DISCUSSION
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This action is proceeding on Plaintiff’s claim for cruel and unusual punishment against
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Defendants officer M. Hernandez, lieutenant E. Williams, captain Williams, officer L. Sanchez, officer
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Galvenson, officer Schleesman, sergeant Crane, sergeant Salvado, and S. Marsh.
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The United States Marshal was not able to locate or identify Defendant Salvado, and service
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was returned un-executed on October 29, 2018. On November 1, 2018, the Court issued an order to
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show cause why Defendant Salvado should not be dismissed pursuant to Rule 4(m) of the Federal
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Rules of Civil Procedure. (ECF No. 21.) Plaintiff filed a response to the order on November 26,
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2018, and provided additional information to assist in identifying Defendant Salvado. (ECF No. 22.)
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On November 28, 2018, the Court issued a second order directing service on Defendant Salvado with
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the additional information provided by Plaintiff. (ECF No. 24.) On November 28, 2018, the
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summons was returned unexecuted with a notation that Substance Abuse and Treatment Facility and
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Stater Prison, Corcoran was unable to identify an employee with the name Salvado even with the
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additional information. (ECF No. 26.) On December 4, 2018, the Court issued a second order to
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show cause why Defendant Salvado should not be dismissed. (ECF No. 27.) Plaintiff filed a response
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on December 14, 2018. (ECF No. 28.)
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Rule 4(m) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure provides:
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If a defendant is not served within 90 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.
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In cases involving a plaintiff proceeding in forma pauperis, the Marshal, upon order of the Court,
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shall serve the summons and the complaint. 28 U.S.C. § 1915(d); Fed. R. Civ. P. 4(c)(3). “[A]n
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incarcerated pro se plaintiff proceeding in forma pauperis is entitled to rely on the U.S. Marshal for
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service of the summons and complaint and [he] should not be penalized by having his action dismissed
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for failure to effect service where the U.S. Marshal or the court clerk has failed to perform his duties.”
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Walker v. Sumner, 14 F.3d 1415, 1422 (9th Cir. 1994) (internal quotations and citation omitted),
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abrogated on other grounds by Sandin v. Connor, 515 U.S. 472 (1995). “So long as the prisoner has
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furnished the information necessary to identify the defendant, the marshal’s failure to effect service is
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automatically good cause. . . .” Walker, 14 F.3d at 1422 (internal quotations and citation omitted).
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However, where a pro se plaintiff fails to provide the Marshal with accurate and sufficient information
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to effect service of the summons and complaint, the Court’s sua sponte dismissal of the unserved
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defendants is appropriate. Walker, 14 F.3d at 1421-22.
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At this juncture, the United States Marshal’s office has exhausted the avenues available to it in
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attempting to locate and serve Defendant Salvado. In his December 14, 2018, response to the second
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order to show cause, Plaintiff merely reiterates that Sergeant Salvado was in the administrative
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segregation at Substance Abuse and Treatment Facility and state prison on February 19, 20, 21, 2017;
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however, as Plaintiff has been advised by the United States Marshal, SATF is unable to identify any
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employee by this name or any name close to it even with this additional information. (ECF No. 26.) It
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is Plaintiff’s obligation to proceed information necessary to identify and locate a given defendant—
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which Plaintiff has not done and is apparently unable to do. Accordingly, dismissal of Defendant
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Salvado, without prejudice, for failure to timely serve is warranted.
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II.
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RECOMMENDATION
Based on the foregoing, it is HEREBY RECOMMENDED that Defendant Salvado be
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dismissed from the action, without prejudice, pursuant to Rule 4(m) of the Federal Rules of Civil
Procedure.
This Findings and Recommendation will be submitted to the United States District Judge
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assigned to the case, pursuant to the provisions of 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(l). Within fourteen (14) days
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after being served with this Findings and Recommendation, Plaintiff may file written objections with
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the Court. The document should be captioned “Objections to Magistrate Judge’s Findings and
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Recommendation.” Plaintiff is advised that failure to file objections within the specified time may
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result in the waiver of rights on appeal. Wilkerson v. Wheeler, 772 F.3d 834, 838-39 (9th Cir. 2014)
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(citing Baxter v. Sullivan, 923 F.2d 1391, 1394 (9th Cir. 1991)).
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IT IS SO ORDERED.
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Dated:
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December 17, 2018
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE
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