Givens Bey v. Murray et al

Filing 13

ORDER that within 30 days of this Order, the U.S. Marshal shall use reasonable efforts to locate and obtain service on Defendants. Signed by Chief Judge Frank D. Whitney on 3/8/2018. (Pro se litigant served by US Mail.)(nvc)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
WESTERN DISTRICT OF NORTH CAROLINA
STATESVILLE DIVISION
5:17-cv-108-FDW
ARTHUR LEE GIVENS BEY, IV,

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Plaintiff,
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vs.
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FNU MURRAY, et al.,
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Defendants.
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__________________________________________)

ORDER

THIS MATTER is before the Court on periodic status review.
Pro se Plaintiff Arthur Lee Givens Bey, IV is a prisoner of the State of North Carolina,
currently incarcerated at Marion Correctional Institution in Marion, North Carolina. Plaintiff filed
this action on June 21, 2017, pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983, bringing various claims against
Defendants FNU Murray, Robert Hamilton, Johnny Nichols, and FNU Harrington, all alleged to
be correctional officers at Alexander Correctional Institution at all relevant times.
Following initial review by the Court, Plaintiff submitted summons forms for service on
Defendants by the U.S. Marshal at Alexander. On November 8, 2017, the U.S. Marshal returned
unexecuted summons forms, indicating that Defendants are no longer employed at Alexander. See
(Doc. No. 11).
Generally, a plaintiff is responsible for effectuating service on each named Defendant
within the time frame set forth in Fed. R. Civ. P. 4(m), and failure to do so renders the action
subject to dismissal. However, if an incarcerated plaintiff proceeding in forma pauperis provides
the Marshals Service sufficient information to identify the defendant, the Marshals Service’s
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failure to complete service will constitute good cause under Rule 4(m) if the defendant could have
been located with reasonable effort. See Graham v. Satkoski, 51 F.3d 710, 713 (7th Cir. 1995).
Before a case may be dismissed based on failure to effectuate service, the Court must first ensure
that the U.S. Marshal has used reasonable efforts to locate and obtain service on the named
defendants. See Greene v. Holloway, No. 99-7380, 2000 WL 296314, at *1 (4th Cir. Mar. 22,
2000) (where the district court dismissed a defendant in a Section 1983 action based on the
prisoner’s failure to provide an address for service on a defendant who no longer worked at the
sheriff’s office, remanding so the district court could “evaluate whether the marshals could have
served [Defendant] with reasonable effort”). Therefore, this Court will instruct the U.S. Marshal
to use reasonable efforts to locate and obtain service on Defendants.
IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED THAT:
(1)

Within 30 days of this Order, the U.S. Marshal shall use reasonable efforts to locate
and obtain service on Defendants in accordance with Fed. R. Civ. P. 4. If the U.S.
Marshal is unable to locate and obtain and service on Defendants within this time
period, the U.S. Marshal shall inform the Court of the efforts taken to locate and
serve Defendants.

(2)

The Clerk is respectfully instructed to mail a copy of this Order to the U.S. Marshal.
Signed: March 8, 2018

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