Charlot v. United States of America

Filing 18

ORDER denying Plaintiff's Motion 13 to Waive Service of Summons, denying Plaintiff's Motion 14 to Compel, and granting Plaintiff an extension of time to effect service of process on the United States. On or before October 15, 2014, Pla intiff is ordered to complete and provide summons forms to the Clerk of Court for each person or entity who must be served pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 4(i)(l). Upon receipt of the completed summons forms, the Clerk of Court shall iss ue and deliver the summonses, along with corresponding copies of the Complaint, to the United States Marshals service, who shall serve process on Plaintiff's behalf, as required by 28 U.S.C. Section 1915(c). Signed by Magistrate Judge John C. Gargiulo on 9/29/2014 (HM)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF MISSISSIPPI
SOUTHERN DIVISION
VERA S. CHARLOT

PLAINTIFF

v.

Civil No. 1:14-cv-119-LG-JCG

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

DEFENDANT

ORDER DENYING PLAINTIFF’S MOTION [13] TO WAIVE SERVICE OF
SUMMONS, DENYING PLAINTIFF’S MOTION [14] TO COMPEL,
AND GRANTING PLAINTIFF AN EXTENSION OF TIME TO EFFECT
SERVICE OF PROCESS
BEFORE THE COURT is pro se Plaintiff Vera S. Charlot’s Motion [13] to
Waive Service of Summons and Motion [14] to Compel. The United States has filed
Responses [15, 16, 17] to the Motions. The Court finds that Charlot’s Motions
should be denied but finds that Charlot should be given more time to effect service
of process upon the United States. On or before October 15, 2014, Charlot is
ordered to provide completed summons forms to the Clerk of Court for each person
or entity who must be served in order to effect service of process upon the United
States as required by Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 4(i)(1). The Clerk of Court
will then issue and deliver the summonses with copies of the Complaint to the
United States Marshals Service, who will in turn, serve process on behalf of
Charlot, who is proceeding in forma pauperis.
I. BACKGROUND
On March 10, 2014, Charlot filed her Complaint against the United States,
alleging that in 2012, she injured two of her right toes when she hit her foot on a
protruding metal bed frame while staying at a temporary lodging facility on Keesler
Air Force Base in Biloxi, Mississippi. Pl.’s Compl. [1] 1. Charlot purports to

advance a claim against the United States pursuant to the Federal Torts Claim Act,
28 U.S.C. § 1346(b), 2674. On March 27, 2014, Charlot was granted leave to
proceed in forma pauperis. Order [4].
On August 1, 2014, the United States filed a Motion [9] to Dismiss Charlot’s
suit on the basis that Charlot has failed to serve the United States in the manner
required by Federal Rules of Procedure 4(c)(2) and 4(i)(1), and the time for doing so
has passed. In April 2014, Charlot attempted to serve the United States by mailing
a Summons and copy of the Complaint by certified mail to “United States of
America, HQ AFLOA/JACC, 1500 West Perimeter Road, Suite 1700, Joint Base
Andrews, MD 20762.” Summons [6]. This is apparently an address for an Air Force
legal operations agency, and the certified letter was signed for on May 9, 2014, by a
Technical Sergeant.
In response to the United States’ Motion [9] to Dismiss, Charlot filed a
Motion [13] to Waive Service of Summons and a Motion [14] to Compel. Charlot
seeks an order compelling the United States to disclose that it has received a copy of
the Summons and Complaint and waiving the requirement for service of process, in
light of the United States’ actual notice. Charlot also urges that she “was under the
influence of . . . medication . . . and experiencing debilitating pain and side effects
from the medication . . . which undoubtedly impacted [her] ability to fully
comprehend the provisions of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure Rule 4.” Mot.
[13] 2. Charlot submits that she has shown good cause for the delay in serving the
United States, and if the Court requires her to properly serve the United States,

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Charlot requests that she be given additional time to do so. She also requests that
service be made on her behalf by the United States Marshals Service due to her
status as a pauper.
II. DISCUSSION
Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 4(m) provides, in relevant part:
If a defendant is not served within 120 days after the
complaint is filed, the court – on motion or on its own after
notice to the plaintiff – must dismiss the action without
prejudice against that defendant or order that service be
made within a specified time. But if the plaintiff shows
good cause for the failure, the court must extend the time
for service for an appropriate period. . . .
Fed. R. Civ. P. 4(m).
To serve the United States, a party must:
(A)

(i)

deliver a copy of the summons and of the
complaint to the United States attorney for the
district where the action is brought – or to an
assistant United States attorney or clerical
employee whom the United States attorney
designates in a writing filed with the court
clerk – or

(ii)

send a copy of each by registered or certified
mail to the civil-process clerk at the United
States attorney’s office.

(B)

send a copy of each by registered or certified mail to
the Attorney General of the United States at
Washington, D.C.; and

(C)

if the action challenges an order of a nonparty agency
or officer of the United States, send a copy of each by
registered or certified mail to the agency or officer.

Fed. R. Civ. P. 4(i)(1).

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Charlot admits that she has not served the United States in accordance with
Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 4(i)(l). Regardless of whether the United States has
actual notice of the contents of the Complaint, “[t]he defendant’s actual notice of the
litigation . . . is not sufficient to satisfy Rule 4's requirements.” Way v. Mueller
Brass Co., 840 F.2d 303, 306 (5th Cir. 1988); Howard v. Shelton, 277 F.R.D. 168,
170 (S.D. Miss. Aug. 30, 2011)(“mere notice will not suffice to save an otherwise
flawed service.”). For this reason, Charlot’s Motion [13] to Waive Service of
Summons and Motion [14] to Compel should be denied.
Charlot has had over six and a half months to properly serve the United
States, and her failure to do so has unnecessarily delayed this case. Even where
good cause is lacking, the Court has discretionary power to extend time for service.
Millan v. USAA Gen. Indemn. Co., 546 F.3d 321, 325 (5th Cir. 2008). Mindful that
Charlot is proceeding pro se and that she has made efforts to serve the United
States within the 120-day period for service of process, the Court, in its discretion,
will grant Charlot an extension of time to effect service of process upon the United
States as required by Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 4(i)(l). Howard, 277 F.R.D. at
172.
On or before October 15, 2014, Charlot is ordered to provide completed
summons forms to the Clerk of Court, setting forth correct information, including
service addresses, for all who must be served in order to effect service of process on
the United States in accordance with Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 4(i)(1). Upon
receipt of completed summons forms from Charlot, the Clerk of Court shall issue

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and deliver the summonses with corresponding copies of the Complaint to the
United States Marshals Service, who in turn will serve process on behalf of Charlot.
Because Charlot is proceeding in forma pauperis and requests that service be made
through the United States Marshals Service, “the court must” grant her request.
Fed. R. Civ. P. 4(c)(3); see 28 U.S.C. § 1915(c).
It is Charlot’s responsibility to prosecute this case. Charlot is cautioned that
failure to comply with this Order within the prescribed period may result in
immediate dismissal of this case without prejudice without further notice to her.
Failure of Charlot to keep the Court apprised of her current address may also result
in dismissal of this case. Charlot should understand that this Order allowing
process to issue does not reflect any opinion of this Court that the claims contained
in the Complaint will or will not be determined to be meritorious.
III. CONCLUSION
IT IS, THEREFORE, ORDERED AND ADJUDGED that pro se Plaintiff
Vera S. Charlot’s Motion [13] to Waive Service of Summons is DENIED.
IT IS, FURTHER, ORDERED AND ADJUDGED that Charlot’s Motion
[14] to Compel is DENIED.
IT IS, FURTHER, ORDERED AND ADJUDGED that on or before
October 15, 2014, Charlot is ordered to complete and provide summons forms to
the Clerk of Court for each person or entity who must be served in order to effect
service of process upon the United States as required by Federal Rule of Civil
Procedure 4(i)(1). Charlot is responsible for providing correct information on the

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summons forms, including service addresses.
IT IS, FURTHER, ORDERED AND ADJUDGED that upon receipt of
completed summons forms from Charlot, the Clerk of Court shall issue and deliver
the summonses, along with corresponding copies of the Complaint, to the United
States Marshals Service.
IT IS, FURTHER, ORDERED AND ADJUDGED that the United States
Marshals Service is ordered to serve process on behalf of Charlot, who is proceeding
in forma pauperis.
IT IS, FURTHER, ORDERED AND ADJUDGED that, the Clerk of Court
is directed to mail a copy of this Order along with three blank summons forms to
Charlot at her last known address, via the United States Postal Service, certified
mail, return receipt requested.
SO ORDERED AND ADJUDGED, this the 29th day of September, 2014.

s/ John C. Gargiulo
JOHN C. GARGIULO
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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