Tobia v. Burlington Coat Factory of Texas Inc. et al

Filing 3

ORDER signed by Magistrate Judge Carolyn K. Delaney on 4/13/18, GRANTING 2 Motion to Proceed IFP. Service is appropriate for defendants Burlington Coat Factory of Texas, Inc., and Thomas A. Kingsbury. The Clerk is directed to issue forthwith a ll process pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 4. The Clerk shall send plaintiff the required forms for service. Plaintiff shall supply the U.S. Marshal (USM), within 30 days from the date this order is filed, the necessary documents for service, and shall, within 10 days thereafter, file a statement with the court that such documents have been submitted to the USM. The Clerk shall serve a copy of this order on the USM. (cc: USM) (Kastilahn, A)

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

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FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

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LEONARD TOBIA,

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Plaintiff,

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No. 2:18-cv-00868-TLN-CKD (PS)

v.

ORDER

BURLINGTON COAT FACTORY OF
TEXAS INC., et al.,
Defendants.

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Plaintiff Leonard Tobia, who proceeds in this action without counsel, has requested leave

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to proceed in forma pauperis pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915. (ECF No. 2.)1 Plaintiff’s application

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in support of his request to proceed in forma pauperis makes the showing required by 28 U.S.C. §

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1915. Accordingly, the court grants plaintiff’s request to proceed in forma pauperis.
The determination that a plaintiff may proceed in forma pauperis does not complete the

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required inquiry. Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915, the court is directed to dismiss the case at any

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time if it determines that the allegation of poverty is untrue, or if the action is frivolous or

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malicious, fails to state a claim on which relief may be granted, or seeks monetary relief against

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an immune defendant.

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This case proceeds before the undersigned pursuant to E.D. Cal. L.R. 302(c)(21) and 28 U.S.C.
§ 636(b)(1).
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In this case, plaintiff, a California resident with physical disabilities, alleges that he was

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discriminated against by defendants at Burlington Coat Factory Store # 750 in Woodland, CA

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because the location is not accessible to persons with disabilities in violation of the Americans

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with Disability Act, the California Unruh Civil Rights Act, and the California Disabled Persons

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Act. (See generally ECF No. 1.)

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Based on the limited record before the court, the court cannot conclude that plaintiff’s

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action is frivolous, that the complaint fails to state a claim upon which relief can be granted, or

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that plaintiff seeks monetary relief from an immune defendant. The court reserves decision as to

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plaintiff’s claims until the record is sufficiently developed, and this order does not preclude

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defendant from challenging plaintiff’s complaint through a timely motion pursuant to Federal

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Rule of Civil Procedure 12 or other appropriate method. Accordingly, the court orders service of

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the complaint on defendant.

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For the foregoing reasons, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that:

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1.

Plaintiff’s motion to proceed in forma pauperis (ECF No. 2) is granted.

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2.

Service of the complaint is appropriate for defendants Burlington Coat Factory of

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Texas Inc. and Thomas A. Kingsbury.
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The Clerk of Court is directed to issue forthwith all process pursuant to Federal

Rule of Civil Procedure 4.
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The Clerk of Court shall send plaintiff one USM-285 form, one summons, this

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court’s scheduling order, and the forms providing notice of the magistrate judge’s availability to

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exercise jurisdiction for all purposes.

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5.

Plaintiff is advised that to effectuate service, the U.S. Marshal will require:

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a.

One completed summons;

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b.

One completed USM-285 form for each defendant to be served;

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c.

A copy of the complaint for each defendant to be served, with an extra

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copy for the U.S. Marshal; and

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d.

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A copy of this court’s scheduling order and related documents for each

defendant to be served.
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Plaintiff shall supply the U.S. Marshal, within 30 days from the date this order is

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filed, with all information needed by the U.S. Marshal to effectuate service of process, and shall,

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within 10 days thereafter, file a statement with the court that such documents have been submitted

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to the U.S. Marshal.

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7.

The U.S. Marshal shall serve process, with copies of this court’s scheduling order

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and related documents, within 90 days of receipt of the required information from plaintiff,

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without prepayment of costs.

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8.

If a defendant waives service, the defendant is required to return the signed waiver

to the U.S. Marshal. The filing of an answer or a responsive motion does not relieve a defendant

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of this requirement, and the failure to return the signed waiver may subject a defendant to an

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order to pay the costs of service by the U.S. Marshal.

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9.

The Clerk of Court shall serve a copy of this order on the U.S. Marshal.

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10.

Failure to comply with this order may result in any appropriate sanctions,

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including monetary sanctions and/or dismissal of the action pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil

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Procedure 41(b).

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Dated: April 13, 2018

_____________________________________
CAROLYN K. DELANEY
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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14/ps.18-868.tobia.grant IFP ds

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