Pamer v. Schwarzenegger et al

Filing 120

ORDER signed by Magistrate Judge Craig M. Kellison on 04/16/12 ordering defendants are required to serve the suggestion of death on all parties pursuant to Rule 5 and on nonparties pursuant to Rule 4. (see order for further details) (Plummer, M)

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

9

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

10
11

LAWRENCE PAMER,

12

Plaintiff,

13

No. CIV S-07-1902-MCE-CMK-P

vs.

ORDER

14

ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER, et al.,

15

Defendants.

16
17

/
Plaintiff, a state prisoner proceeding pro se, brings this civil rights action pursuant

18

to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. On December 20, 2011, defendants filed a notice that plaintiff died in

19

prison on October 16, 2011. On December 23, 2011, the court issued an order requiring the

20

defendants to serve the suggestion of death pursuant to Barlow v. Ground, 39 F.3d 231, 233 (9th

21

Cir. 1994). Specifically, the court informed defendants of the requirement that the suggestion of

22

death be served on all other parties and the nonparty successors or representatives of the

23

deceased. See id.

24

In response, defendants submitted a proof of serve by mail the same day

25

indicating that the notice of death was served on the deceased plaintiff at his prison address.

26

There has been no further proof of service filed, nor have the defendants submitted a declaration
1

1

that plaintiff had no next of kin or other possible successors or representatives. Service of the

2

notice on the deceased prisoner plaintiff at his prison address fails to comply with the prior order,

3

nor is it sufficient to trigger the 90 day period under Rule 25(a)(1). Without requiring the

4

defendants to make extraordinary efforts to find a possible successor or representative of

5

plaintiff, the court is reasonably certain there is likely to be a next of kin listed in the plaintiff’s

6

prisoner file. If there is not, defendants can inform the court as much in a declaration setting

7

forth what reasonable steps were taken to find a next of kin or representative of plaintiff’s estate.

8
9

As set forth in the court’s previous order, defendants are required to serve the
suggestion of death on all parties pursuant to Rule 5 and on nonparties pursuant to Rule 4. See

10

Fed. R. Civ. Proc. 25(a)(3) (requiring service of the statement noting death in the same manner as

11

a motion to substitute); see also Barlow, 39 F.3d at 233. If plaintiff has no known next of kin,

12

and defendants are unable to locate a representative without extraordinary efforts, they may file a

13

declaration in leu of a proof of service. Otherwise, defendants shall properly serve the suggestion

14

of death as required. See id.

15

SO ORDERED.

16
17
18
19

DATED: April 16, 2012
______________________________________
CRAIG M. KELLISON
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

20
21
22
23
24
25
26
2