Clark v. McGuire et al

Filing 23

ORDER signed by Magistrate Judge Kendall J. Newman on 05/13/13 ordering within 14 days from the date of this order, defendants Griffiths and McGuire shall each pay to the U.S. Marshal the sum of $55.00 unless within that time defendants file a written statement showing good cause for their failure to waive service. The court does not intend to extend this 14 day period. The clerk of the court is directed to serve a copy of this order on the U.S. Marshal. (Plummer, M)

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

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FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

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LOUREECE CLARK,
Plaintiff,

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vs.

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THOMAS MCGUIRE, et al.,
Defendants.

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ORDER
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Plaintiff is a state prisoner, proceeding without counsel and in forma pauperis, in

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No. 2:12-cv-2159 KJN P

this action seeking relief pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983.
On October 31, 2012, the court ordered the United States Marshal to serve process

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upon the defendants in this case. The Marshal was directed to attempt to secure a waiver of

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service before attempting personal service on the defendants. If a waiver of service was not

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returned within sixty days, the Marshal was directed to effect personal service on the defendants

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in accordance with the provisions of Rule 4 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and 28

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U.S.C. § 566(c), without prepayment of costs, and to file the return of service with evidence of

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any attempt to secure a waiver of service and with evidence of all costs subsequently incurred in

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effecting personal service.

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On March 15, 2013, the United States Marshal filed a return of service with a

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USM-285 form showing total charges of $55.00 for effecting personal service on defendant

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McGuire and a USM-285 form showing total charges of $55.00 for effecting personal service on

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defendant Griffiths. The form shows that a waiver of service form was mailed to the defendants

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on November 14, 2012, and that no response was received.
Rule 4(d) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure provides, in pertinent part, as

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follows:
An individual, corporation, or association that is subject to service
under Rule 4(e), (f), or (h) has a duty to avoid unnecessary
expenses of serving the summons. . . .

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If a defendant located within the United States fails, without good
cause, to sign and return a waiver requested by a plaintiff located
within the United States, the court must impose on the defendant:
(A) the expenses later incurred in making service; and
(B) the reasonable expenses, including attorney’s fees, of any
motion required to collect those service expenses.

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Fed. R. Civ. P. 4(d)(1), (2)(A), (B).
The court finds that defendants Griffiths and McGuire were given the opportunity

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required by Rule 4(d) to waive service and has failed to comply with the request.

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Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that:

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1. Within fourteen days from the date of this order, defendants Griffiths and

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McGuire shall each pay to the United States Marshal the sum of $55.00, unless within that time

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defendants file a written statement showing good cause for their failure to waive service. The

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court does not intend to extend this fourteen day period.
2. The Clerk of the Court is directed to serve a copy of this order on the U.S.

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Marshal.

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DATED: May 13, 2013
_____________________________________
KENDALL J. NEWMAN
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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clar2159.taxcost

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