Avila v. ACACIA Network, Inc. et al

Filing 7

ORDER OF SERVICE: The Clerk of Court is instructed to issue a summons for each Defendant, complete the USM-285 form with the address for each Defendant, and deliver all documents necessary to effect service to the U.S. Marshals Service. The Clerk of Court is directed to mail an information package to Plaintiff. Plaintiff may receive court documents by email by completing the attached form, Consent to Electronic Service. (Signed by Judge Paul A. Engelmayer on 6/4/2024) (rro) Transmission to Pro Se Assistants for processing.

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK
JIMMY AVILA,
Plaintiff,
23 Civ. 7834 (PAE)

-against-

ORDER OF SERVICE

ACACIA NETWORK, INC.; TREVOR
GRIFFITHS,
Defendants.
PAUL A. ENGELMAYER, United States District Judge:

Plaintiff brings this pro se action asserting claims of disability-based discrimination and
retaliation under the Fair Housing Act (“FHA”), the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”),
and under state law. By order dated September 6, 2023, 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, he is entitled to rely on the
Court and the U.S. Marshals Service to effect service. 1 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)).
To allow Plaintiff to effect service on Defendants 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

1

Although Rule 4(m) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure generally requires that a
summons be served within 90 days of the date the complaint is filed, Plaintiff is proceeding IFP
and could not have effected service until the Court reviewed the complaint and ordered that any
summonses be issued. The Court therefore extends the time to serve until 90 days after the date
any summonses issue.

(“USM-285 form”) for 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 Defendants.
If the complaint is not served within 90 days after the date summonses are issued,
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).
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 instructed to issue a summons for each Defendant, complete the
USM-285 form with the address for each Defendant, and deliver all documents necessary to
effect service to the U.S. Marshals Service.
The Clerk of Court is directed to mail an information package to Plaintiff.
Plaintiff may receive court documents by email by completing the attached form, Consent
to Electronic Service. 2
SO ORDERED.

PaJA.�

June 4, 2024
New York, New York

Dated:

PAUL A. ENGELMAYER
United States District Judge

2

If Plaintiff consents to receive documents by email, Plaintiff will no longer receive court
documents by regular mail.
2

SERVICE ADDRESS FOR EACH DEFENDANT
1.

Acacia Network, Inc.
300 East 175th Street
Bronx, N.Y. 10475

2.

Trevor Griffiths
Program Director, PMP, CoC, HASA
974 Prospect Avenue
Bronx, N.Y. 10459

3