Cifuentes v. Center for Recovery & Wellness Educational Alliance

Filing 6

ORDER OF SERVICE: The Clerk of Court is instructed to issue summonses for Center for Recovery & Wellness: Educational Alliance; Suzette Ross; and Human Resources of Educational Alliance, complete the USM-285 forms with the addresses for these defendants, and deliver all documents necessary to effect service to the U.S. Marshals Service. The Clerk of Court is also directed to mail an information package to Plaintiff. SO ORDERED. (Signed by Judge Paul G. Gardephe on 5/6/2022) (ks) Transmission to Pro Se Assistants for processing.

Case 1:22-cv-03552-PGG-GWG Document 6 Filed 05/06/22 Page 1 of 4

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK
CYNTHIA CIFUENTES,
Plaintiff,
-against-

ORDER OF SERVICE

CENTER FOR RECOVERY & WELLNESS:
EDUCATIONAL ALLIANCE; SUZETTE
ROSS (FORER SUPERVISOR); and HUMAN
RESOURCES OF EDUCATIONAL
ALLIANCE,

22 Civ. 3552 (PGG)

Defendants.
PAUL G. GARDEPHE, U.S.D.J:
Plaintiff, who is proceeding pro se, brings this action under Title VII of the Civil
Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. §§ 2000e to 2000e-17; the New York State Human Rights Law,
N.Y. Exec. Law §§ 290 to 297; and the New York City Human Rights Law, N.Y.C. Admin. Code
§§ 8-101 to 131, alleging that her former employer discriminated against her based on her
national origin. By order dated May 3, 2022, the Court granted Plaintiff’s request to proceed in
forma pauperis (IFP), that is, without prepayment of fees.
DISCUSSION
Because Plaintiff has been granted permission to proceed IFP, she 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 90 days of the date the complaint is filed, Plaintiff is proceeding IFP and could not

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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 Center for Recovery &
Wellness: Educational Alliance; Suzette Ross; and Human Resources of Educational Alliance
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 the defendants.
Plaintiff must notify the Court in writing if her address changes, and the Court
may dismiss the action if Plaintiff fails to do so.
CONCLUSION
The Clerk of Court is instructed to issue summonses for Center for Recovery &
Wellness: Educational Alliance; Suzette Ross; and Human Resources of Educational Alliance,
complete the USM-285 forms with the addresses for these defendants, and deliver all documents
necessary to effect service to the U.S. Marshals Service.
The Clerk of Court is also directed to mail an information package to Plaintiff.

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Dated: New York, New York
May 6, 2022

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DEFENDANTS AND SERVICE ADDRESSES
Center for Recovery & Wellness: Educational Alliance
25 Avenue D
New York, NY 10009
Suzette Ross
Center for Recovery & Wellness: Educational Alliance
25 Avenue D
New York, NY 10009
Human Resources of Educational Alliance
197 East Broadway
New York, NY 10002