Humphrey et al v. Cain et al

Filing 8

ORDER that service of process shall be effected on the defendants by the United States Marshal, who shall mail a copy of the complaint and this Order by first-class mail and request that the defendants waive formal service of the summons. The Court further extends the time for service until March 16, 2017, to give the Marshals ample time to serve. Signed by Magistrate Judge Brian K. Epps on 12/16/2016. (Attachments: # 1 USM 285 (5)) (maa)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF GEORGIA
AUGUSTA DIVISION
MICHAEL L. HUMPHREY,
Plaintiff,
v.
CHEATAM, P.A.; CAIN, P.A.;
MILLS, P.A.; MENDOZA, Dr.;
and, ALSTON, Dr.,
Defendants.

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CV 116-117

ORDER
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Plaintiff, currently incarcerated at Augusta State Medical Prison (“ASMP”) in
Grovetown, Georgia, commenced the above-captioned case pro se and has paid the $400.00
filing fee. On August 25, 2016, the Court provided Plaintiff with instructions regarding his
case, including instructions on how to serve Defendants. (Doc. no. 3, pp. 1-2.) When
Plaintiff provided no proof of service within the ninety days allowed for service, the Court
ordered Plaintiff to explain the reason or reasons for the delay and why the case should not
be dismissed. (Doc. no. 4.) Plaintiff responded by providing the Court with U.S. mail return
receipts for each Defendant. (Doc. no. 5.) The Court informed Plaintiff those receipts do not
constitute adequate service of process, and if Defendants did not return waivers of service by
mail, Plaintiff was responsible for arranging personal service. (Doc. no. 6.) In response,
Plaintiff noted the difficulties of arranging for personal service while incarcerated and
requested the United States Marshal effect service on Defendants. (Doc. no. 7.)

Because Plaintiff is not proceeding in forma pauperis, he is not entitled to ordered
service of process by the United States Marshal Service. See 28 U.S.C. 1915(d); Fed. R.
Civ. P. 4(c). However, “even when a plaintiff pre-pays the entire filing fee, the district court
has the discretion to order the U.S. Marshals to effect service.” Shaw v. Hall, No. 5:12-CV0135-CAR-MSH, 2013 WL 5571235, at *13 (M.D. Ga. Oct. 9, 2013); see also Fed. R. Civ.
P. 4(c) (“At the plaintiff's request, the court may order that service be made by a United
States marshal or deputy marshal or by a person specially appointed by the court.”). In
exercising its discretion, the Court should consider whether Plaintiff “has exhausted other
reasonable means of effecting service.” Grant v. Romero, No. CV 112–107, 2013 WL
1743881 at * 1 (S.D.Ga. April 23, 2013).
Here, Plaintiff, in good faith, made reasonable efforts to effect service. Plaintiff sent
summons and waiver of service forms to each Defendant by certified mail, yet received no
response. (Doc. no. 7, p. 1; doc. no. 5.) Plaintiff suffers great difficulty coordinating
personal service while incarcerated at ASMP. Requiring Plaintiff to personally serve the
Defendants will likely cause further delay and unnecessarily prolong this case.
Accordingly, in the interest of judicial efficiency and for good cause shown, the Court
ORDERS the United States Marshal to serve Defendants in this case. The Marshal shall mail
a copy of the complaint (doc. no. 1) and this Order by first-class mail and request the defendants
waive formal service of the summons. Fed. R. Civ. P. 4(d). As noted in the Court’s August 25th
Order (doc. no. 3), individual defendants have a duty to avoid unnecessary costs of serving the
summons, and if a defendant fails to comply with the request for waiver, the defendant must bear
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the costs of personal service unless good cause can be shown for failure to return the waiver.
Fed. R. Civ. P. 4(d)(2). A defendant whose return of the waiver is timely does not have to
answer the complaint until sixty days after the date the Marshal mails the request for waiver.
Fed. R. Civ. P. 4(d)(3). However, service must be effected within 90 days of the date of this
Order, and the failure to do so may result in the dismissal of any unserved defendant or the entire
case. Fed. R. Civ. P. 4(m). Plaintiff is responsible for providing sufficient information for the
Marshal to identify and locate the defendant to effect service. The Court further EXTENDS
the time for service until March 16, 2017, to give the Marshals ample time to serve
SO ORDERED this 16th day of December, 2016, at Augusta, Georgia.

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