Fusco v. Cuomo
Filing
10
ORDER OF SERVICE: The Court directs the Clerk of Court to mail a copy of this order to Plaintiff, together with an information package. The Court further directs the Clerk of Court to: (1) issue a summons for Governor Cuomo, (2) complete a USM- 285 form with the service address for Governor Cuomo, and (3) deliver all documents necessary to effect service of a summons and the complaint on Governor Cuomo to the U.S. Marshals Service. SO ORDERED. (Signed by Judge Kenneth M. Karas on 6/7/2021) (vfr) Transmission to Docket Assistant Clerk for processing. Transmission to Pro Se Assistants for processing.
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK
CHRISTOPHER L. FUSCO,
Plaintiff,
-against-
7:21-CV-1908 (KMK)
ORDER OF SERVICE
ANDREW M. CUOMO,
Defendant.
KENNETH M. KARAS, United States District Judge:
Plaintiff, currently held as a federal pretrial detainee in the Westchester County Jail,
brings this pro se action under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 seeking damages as well as declaratory and
injunctive relief. He sues Andrew M. Cuomo, the Governor of the State of New York. By order
dated May 19, 2021, the Court granted Plaintiff’s request to proceed without prepayment of fees,
that is, in forma pauperis (“IFP”). (Dkt. No. 8.)1 The Court directs service on Governor Cuomo.
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. 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 the summons and complaint be served within 90 days
of the date the complaint is filed, Plaintiff is proceeding IFP and could not have served a
summons and the complaint on Governor Cuomo until the Court reviewed the complaint and
1
Prisoners are not exempt from paying the full filing fee, even when they have been
granted permission to proceed IFP. See 28 U.S.C. § 1915(b)(1).
ordered that a summons be issued for Governor Cuomo. The Court therefore extends the time to
serve Governor Cuomo with the complaint until 90 days after the date that a summons is issued
for Governor Cuomo. If the complaint is not served on Governor Cuomo 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) (summary order) (“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 of the complaint on Governor Cuomo 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 Governor Cuomo. The Clerk of Court is further
instructed to issue a summons for Governor Cuomo and deliver to the Marshals Service all the
paperwork necessary for the Marshals Service to effect service of a summons and the complaint
upon Governor Cuomo.
Plaintiff must notify the Court in writing if his address changes, and the Court may
dismiss this action if Plaintiff fails to do so.
CONCLUSION
The Court directs the Clerk of Court to mail a copy of this order to Plaintiff, together with
an information package.
The Court further directs the Clerk of Court to: (1) issue a summons for Governor
Cuomo, (2) complete a USM-285 form with the service address for Governor Cuomo, and
2
(3) deliver all documents necessary to effect service of a summons and the complaint on
Governor Cuomo to the U.S. Marshals Service.
SO ORDERED.
Dated:
June 7, 2021
White Plains, New York
KENNETH M. KARAS
United States District Judge
3
DEFENDANT AND SERVICE ADDRESS
Andrew M. Cuomo
Governor of the State of New York
NYS State Capitol Building
Albany, New York 12224
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