Opinion
20-CV-0309 (VSB)
01-27-2020
SHELTON BEAMAN, Plaintiff, v. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Defendant(s).
ORDER OF SERVICE :
Plaintiff, appearing pro se, brings this action under the Federal Tort Claims Act, 28 U.S.C. § 1346(b), alleging that the New York Harbor Veterans Affairs Medical Center was negligent in providing medical care. By order dated January 23, 2020, the Court granted Plaintiff's request to proceed without prepayment of fees, that is, in forma pauperis (IFP).
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 the summons and complaint until the Court reviewed the complaint and ordered that a summons be issued. The Court therefore extends the time to serve until 90 days after the date the summons is 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 Defendant the United States 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 this defendant and mark the box on the USM-285 form labeled "Check for service on U.S.A." The Clerk of Court is further instructed to issue a summons and deliver to the Marshals Service all the paperwork necessary for the Marshals Service to effect service upon this defendant.
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 to mail a copy of this order to Plaintiff, together with an information package.
The Clerk of Court is further instructed to issue a summons, complete the USM-285 forms with the addresses for the United States, and deliver all documents necessary to effect service to the U.S. Marshals Service. SO ORDERED. Dated: January 27, 2020
New York, New York
/s/_________
Vernon S. Broderick
United States District Judge
DEFENDANTS AND SERVICE ADDRESSES
1. United States of America
United States Department of Justice
950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, D.C. 20530-0001
2. United States Department of Veterans Affairs
810 Vermont Avenue, NW
Washington, D.C. 20420