Williams v. Ertz et al

Filing 14

ORDER - The plaintiff is granted an extension of time until April 18, 2014, to complete service of process. Failure to complete service may result in the court dismissing the plaintiffs claims without further notice. The Clerk of Court shall rev iew the summonses forms attached to the plaintiffs January 9, 2014, response as the plaintiffs request to issue summonses. The Clerk of Court shall issue summonses to the extent possible. Otherwise, the Clerk of Court may return the documents with additional blank forms to the plaintiff for completion. The Clerk of Court shall mail a copy of this order to the plaintiff at: Jocita C. Williams, 6221 Gabriel Oaks Drive, Baton Rouge, LA 70820. Ordered by Magistrate Judge Thomas D. Thalken. (Copy mailed to pro se party)(GJG)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF NEBRASKA

ARCHBISHOP JOCITA C.
WILLIAMS, PHD.D.D.,

8:12CV433

Plaintiff,
vs.

ORDER

LAND AMERICA LAWYER TITLE,
DOES, et al.,
Defendants.
This matter is before the court on the plaintiff’s response (Filing No. 13) to the
court’s December 24, 2013, show cause order (Filing No. 12).
In this case the complaint was filed on December 19, 2012. See Filing No. 1.
The court allowed the plaintiff leave to amend her complaint, which she did on March
22, 2013.

See Filing No. 7.

The court required the plaintiff to again amend her

complaint, which she did on June 11, 2013. See Filing No. 9. On August 15, 2013, the
court dismissed several of the defendants and gave the plaintiff permission to go
forward with her June 11, 2013, amended complaint and serve five defendants. See
Filing No. 10. The court warned the plaintiff the Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 4(m)
establishes a 120-day time limitation for service of process on any defendant in a civil.
Id. at 7.

The court specifically warned the plaintiff that failure to obtain service of

process on any defendant within 120 days from the date of the order may result in
dismissal as to the unserved defendant. Id. In accordance with the order, the Clerk of
Court provided the plaintiff with the necessary summonses and forms. Id. Also in
accordance with the court’s August 15, 2013, order, the deadline for service of process
expired on or about December 13, 2013. No defendant entered an appearance or filed
an answer in this matter by that deadline. Moreover, the plaintiff initiated no other
action in this matter, by for example seeking the court issue and serve summonses as
outlined for her in the court’s August 15, 2013, order.
On August 16, 2013, although District Judge Bataillon remains assigned to this
case, the court assigned Magistrate Judge Thalken to handle the scheduling and nondispositive case matters in accordance with this court’s local rules and applicable

federal rules. See General Rules of the United States Court for the District of Nebraska
(Nebraska General Rules) NEGenR 1.4(a); Civil Rules of the United States Court for the
District of Nebraska (Nebraska Civil Rules) NECivR 72.1; see also 28 U.S.C. § 636.
Based on the record, on December 24, 2013, the court entered an order requiring the
plaintiff to file proof she had served summonses on the defendants or show good cause
for failing to timely serve the defendants.
response to the show cause order.

On January 9, 2014, the plaintiff filed a

See Filing No. 13. The plaintiff indicates she

thought she had until December 31, 2013, to return the summonses. Id. The plaintiff,
who is proceeding pro se, also indicates her confusion about the procedural rules and
limitations caused delay.

Id.

The plaintiff attached five summonses forms to her

response.
“[P]arties who proceed pro se are bound by and must comply with all local and
federal procedural rules.”

NEGenR 1.3(g) (a copy of the rules may be found at

www.ned.uscourts.gov/attorney/local-rules). Moreover, “[t]he plaintiff is responsible for
completing a summons and arranging service. The clerk is authorized to sign orders
specially appointing persons to serve process. The clerk is authorized to sign, seal, and
issue summonses and subpoenas electronically.” NECivR 4.1. In this case, the plaintiff
was granted leave to proceed in forma pauperis (Filing No. 3), alleviating her from the
duty to serve the summonses. See Filing No. 10. In fact, the court’s August 15, 2013,
order clearly stated the plaintiff was responsible for filling out the summonses forms and
returning them to the Clerk of Court “as soon as possible” so the U.S. Marshal would
have time to complete service by December 13, 2013. Id. Nevertheless, the court will
construe the plaintiff’s response as a motion for an extension of time to serve the
defendants.

The court will allow the plaintiff an extension of time to serve the

defendants, however the court is not responsible for completing the summonses forms.
The Clerk of Court will issue the summonses requested by the plaintiff, if possible. To
the extent the Clerk of Court does not have sufficient information to process the
summonses forms, they will be returned to the plaintiff.

The Clerk of Court is not

responsible for completing the summonses forms or supplying missing information. See
Gray v. Rose, 2:08CV251, 2009 WL 2132623, at *3 (S.D. Ohio July 10, 2009) (“The
fact that this defendant could not be effectively served with process at that address is
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chargeable to plaintiff, not to either the Clerk or the Marshal.”); see also Gustaff v. MT
Ultimate Healthcare, 06CV5496, 2007 WL 2028103, at *3 (E.D.N.Y. June 21, 2007)
(“The United States Marshals Service cannot investigate defendant’s whereabouts, nor
can the court. That is Plaintiff’s responsibility.”). Where a pro se plaintiff fails to provide
the Marshals with accurate and sufficient information to effect service of the summons
and complaint, the court may, sua sponte, dismiss any unserved defendants. See, e.g.,
Walker v. Sumner, 14 F.3d 1415, 1421-22 (9th Cir. 1994), abrogated in part on other
grounds by Sandin v. Conner, 515 U.S. 472 (1995). The plaintiff may review the
instructions for filling out the summons form at http://www.ned.uscourts.gov/forms.
Upon consideration,

IT IS ORDERED:
1.

The plaintiff is granted an extension of time until April 18, 2014, to

complete service of process.

Failure to complete service may result in the court

dismissing the plaintiff’s claims without further notice.
2.

The Clerk of Court shall review the summonses forms attached to the

plaintiff’s January 9, 2014, response as the plaintiff’s request to issue summonses. The
Clerk of Court shall issue summonses to the extent possible. Otherwise, the Clerk of
Court may return the documents with additional blank forms to the plaintiff for
completion.
3.

The Clerk of Court shall mail a copy of this order to the plaintiff at:
Jocita C. Williams
6221 Gabriel Oaks Drive
Baton Rouge, LA 70820

Dated this 16th day of January, 2014.
BY THE COURT:
s/ Thomas D. Thalken
United States Magistrate Judge

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