Brock v. The City of New York et al

Filing 7

ORDER OF SERVICE: The Clerk of Court is directed, pursuant to Rule 25(d) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, to substitute Eric Adams, in his official capacity as Mayor of the City of New York, for former Mayor Bill DeBlasio. The Clerk of Court is further instructed to issue summonses, complete the USM-285 forms with the addresses for the City of New York and Mayor Eric Adams, and deliver all documents necessary to effect service to the U.S. Marshals Service. The Court certifies under 28 U.S.C. 1915(a)(3) that any appeal from this order would not be taken in good faith, and therefore IFP status is denied for the purpose of an appeal. Cf. Coppedge v. United States, 369 U.S. 438, 444-45 (1962) (holding that an appellant demonstrates good faith when he seeks review of a nonfrivolous issue). The Clerk of Court is directed to mail a copy of this order to Plaintiff and note service on the docket. SO ORDERED. (Signed by Judge Analisa Torres on 1/7/2022) (kv) Transmission to Pro Se Assistants for processing.

Case 1:21-cv-11094-AT-SDA Document 7 Filed 01/07/22 Page 1 of 4

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK

1/7/2022

MANDELA BROCK,
Plaintiff,

21-CV-11094 (AT)

-againstTHE CITY OF NEW YORK; BILL DeBLASIO,

ORDER OF SERVICE

Defendants.
ANALISA TORRES, United States District Judge:
Plaintiff, who is appearing pro se, brings this action under 28 U.S.C. § 1331, challenging
the New York City vaccine mandate. By order dated January 5, 2022, the Court granted
Plaintiff’s request to proceed without prepayment of fees, that is, in forma pauperis (IFP).
DISCUSSION
A.

Defendant Bill DeBlasio
Plaintiff sues Bill DeBlasio solely in his official capacity as then-Mayor of the City of

New York. Under Rule 25(d) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, the Clerk of Court is
directed to substitute Eric Adams, in his official capacity as Mayor of the City of New York, for
former Mayor Bill DeBlasio.
B.

Service on Defendants
Because Plaintiff has been granted permission to proceed IFP, Plaintiff is entitled to rely

on the Court and the U.S. Marshals Service to effect service. Walker v. Schult, 717 F.3d. 119, 123
n.6 (2d Cir. 2013); see also 28 U.S.C. § 1915(d) (“The officers of the court shall issue and serve
all process . . . in [IFP] cases.”); Fed. R. Civ. P. 4(c)(3) (the court must order the Marshals
Service to serve if the plaintiff is authorized to proceed IFP)). Although Rule 4(m) of the Federal
Rules of Civil Procedure generally requires that summonses and the complaint be served within

Case 1:21-cv-11094-AT-SDA Document 7 Filed 01/07/22 Page 2 of 4

90 days of the date the complaint is filed, Plaintiff is proceeding IFP and could not have served
summonses and the complaint until the Court reviewed the complaint and ordered that
summonses be issued. The Court therefore extends the time to serve until 90 days after the date
summonses are issued. If the complaint is not served within that time, Plaintiff should request an
extension of time for service. See Meilleur v. Strong, 682 F.3d 56, 63 (2d Cir. 2012) (holding that
it is the plaintiff’s responsibility to request an extension of time for service); see also Murray v.
Pataki, 378 F. App’x 50, 52 (2d Cir. 2010) (“As long as the [plaintiff proceeding IFP] provides
the information necessary to identify the defendant, the Marshals’ failure to effect service
automatically constitutes ‘good cause’ for an extension of time within the meaning of Rule
4(m).”).
To allow Plaintiff to effect service on Defendants the City of New York and Mayor Eric
Adams through the U.S. Marshals Service, the Clerk of Court is instructed to fill out a U.S.
Marshals Service Process Receipt and Return form (“USM-285 form”) for each of these
defendants. The Clerk of Court is further instructed to issue summonses and deliver to the
Marshals Service all the paperwork necessary for the Marshals Service to effect service upon
these defendants.
Plaintiff must notify the Court in writing if his address changes, and the Court may
dismiss the action if Plaintiff fails to do so.
CONCLUSION
The Clerk of Court is directed, pursuant to Rule 25(d) of the Federal Rules of Civil
Procedure, to substitute Eric Adams, in his official capacity as Mayor of the City of New York,
for former Mayor Bill DeBlasio.

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The Clerk of Court is further instructed to issue summonses, complete the USM-285
forms with the addresses for the City of New York and Mayor Eric Adams, and deliver all
documents necessary to effect service to the U.S. Marshals Service.
The Court certifies under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a)(3) that any appeal from this order would
not be taken in good faith, and therefore IFP status is denied for the purpose of an appeal. Cf.
Coppedge v. United States, 369 U.S. 438, 444-45 (1962) (holding that an appellant demonstrates
good faith when he seeks review of a nonfrivolous issue).
The Clerk of Court is directed to mail a copy of this order to Plaintiff and note service on
the docket.
SO ORDERED.
Dated:

January 7, 2022
New York, New York

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Case 1:21-cv-11094-AT-SDA Document 7 Filed 01/07/22 Page 4 of 4

DEFENDANTS AND SERVICE ADDRESSES
The City of New York
100 Church Street
New York, New York 10007
Mayor Eric Adams
100 Church Street
New York, New York 10007