Gavaldon v. Cate et al

Filing 10

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE. Signed by Judge ARMSTRONG on 12/12/11. (lrc, COURT STAFF) (Filed on 12/13/2011)

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

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FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

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DAVID GAVALDON,

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Plaintiff,

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v.

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ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE WHY
CLAIMS AGAINST UNSERVED
NAMED DEFENDANTS SHOULD
NOT BE DISMISSED

MATTHEW L. CATE, et al.,

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No. C 11-02887 SBA (PR)

Defendants.
________________________________/

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For the Northern District of California

United States District Court

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Plaintiff, a state prisoner, has filed a pro se civil rights action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983.
He has paid the full filing fee.
Venue is proper because the events giving rise to the claim are alleged to have occurred at

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the Pelican Bay State Prison (PBSP), which is located in this judicial district. See 28 U.S.C.

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§ 1391(b).

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In his complaint, Plaintiff names multiple Defendants, who are mostly prison officials at
PBSP. Plaintiff seeks monetary damages and injunctive relief.
To date, Plaintiff has not filed a proof of service on any of the Defendants named in this
action. Rule 4(m) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure provides:
If service of a summons and complaint is not made upon a defendant within 120 days
after the filing of the complaint, the court, upon motion or on its own initiative after
notice to the plaintiff, shall dismiss the action without prejudice as to that defendant
or direct that service be effected within a specified time; provided that if the plaintiff
shows good cause for the failure, the court shall extend the time for service for an
appropriate period.

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Fed. R. Civ. P. 4(m). Here, Plaintiff's complaint has been pending for over 120 days and thus,

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absent a showing of "good cause," claims against the unserved defendants are subject to dismissal

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without prejudice. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 4(m).

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Recognizing the fact that he is an incarcerated pro se litigant, the Court finds good cause

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exists to extend the service deadline under Rule 4(m). Within thirty (30) days from the date of this

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Order, Plaintiff shall file proof that he has served the named Defendants. The failure to do so will

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result in the dismissal of all claims against these named Defendants without prejudice.

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Even if a prisoner pays the fee and serves the complaint on his own, the Court is still

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required to review the action before it can proceed. See 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(a) (federal courts must

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engage in a preliminary screening of cases in which prisoners seek redress from a governmental

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entity or officer or employee of a governmental entity.) Once Plaintiff has filed proof that he has

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served the named Defendants, the Court will screen the complaint in a separate written order.

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It is Plaintiff's responsibility to prosecute this case. Plaintiff must keep the Court informed

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of any change of address and must comply with the Court's orders in a timely fashion. Failure to do

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so may result in the dismissal of this action for failure to prosecute, pursuant to Federal Rule of

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Civil Procedure 41(b).
Extensions of time are not favored, though reasonable extensions will be granted. Any

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For the Northern District of California

United States District Court

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motion for an extension of time must be filed no later than fifteen (15) days prior to the deadline

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sought to be extended.

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IT IS SO ORDERED.
DATED:

12/12/11
SAUNDRA BROWN ARMSTRONG
United States District Judge

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G:\PRO-SE\SBA\CR.11\Gavaldon2887.OSC(4m).wpd

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE
NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

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DAVID GAVALDON,

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Plaintiff,

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Case Number: CV11-02887 SBA
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
v.
MATTHEW L. CATE et al,
Defendant.

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For the Northern District of California

United States District Court

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/

I, the undersigned, hereby certify that I am an employee in the Office of the Clerk, U.S. District
Court, Northern District of California.
That on December 13, 2011, I SERVED a true and correct copy(ies) of the attached, by placing said
copy(ies) in a postage paid envelope addressed to the person(s) hereinafter listed, by depositing said
envelope in the U.S. Mail, or by placing said copy(ies) into an inter-office delivery receptacle
located in the Clerk's office.

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David Gavaldon C15376
Pelican Bay State Prison
P.O. Box 7500
Crescent City, CA 95532

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Dated: December 13, 2011

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Richard W. Wieking, Clerk
By: LISA R CLARK, Deputy Clerk

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G:\PRO-SE\SBA\CR.11\Gavaldon2887.OSC(4m).wpd

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