Opinion
19-CV-11949 (CS)
02-13-2020
DEXTER WASHINGTON, Plaintiff, v. DANIEL J. BALLETTO, TROOPER; RAY A. WICKENHEISER, DIRECTOR; RACHEAL STUBBS, SCIENTIST III; MICHAEL A. JANKOWIAK, CAPTAIN, Defendants.
ORDER OF SERVICE :
Plaintiff, currently incarcerated in the Rockland County Jail, brings this pro se action under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, alleging that Defendants violated his constitutional rights. By order dated February 4, 2020, the Court granted Plaintiff's request to proceed without prepayment of fees, that is, in forma pauperis (IFP).
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).
DISCUSSION
Because Plaintiff has been granted permission to proceed IFP, Plaintiff 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 summonses and complaint be served within 90 days of the date the complaint is filed, Plaintiff is proceeding IFP and could not have served the summonses and 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 the 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 State Trooper Daniel J. Balletto, Shield No. 4421; Ray A. Wickenheiser, Director of Mid-Hudson Satellite Crime Laboratory; Racheal Stubbs, Scientist III, Mid-Hudson Satellite Crime Laboratory; and Michael Jankowiak, Captain, Forensic Investigative Center, 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 these Defendants.
Plaintiff must notify the Court in writing if Plaintiff's 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 summonses, complete the USM-285 forms with the addresses for State Trooper Daniel J. Balletto, Shield No. 4421; Ray A. Wickenheiser, Director of Mid-Hudson Satellite Crime Laboratory; Racheal Stubbs, Scientist III, Mid-Hudson Satellite Crime Laboratory; and Michael Jankowiak, Captain, Forensic Investigative Center, and deliver all documents necessary to effect service to the U.S. Marshals Service.
The Court certifies under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a)(3) that any appeal from this order would not be taken in good faith, and therefore IFP status is denied for the purpose of an appeal. Cf. Coppedge v. United States, 369 U.S. 438, 444-45 (1962) (holding that an appellant demonstrates good faith when he seeks review of a nonfrivolous issue). SO ORDERED. Dated: February 13, 2020
White Plains, New York
/s/_________
CATHY SEIBEL
United States District Judge
DEFENDANTS AND SERVICE ADDRESSES
1. State Trooper Daniel J. Balletto, Shield No. 4421
SP Haverstraw
8 Thiells Mount Ivy Road
Pomona, New York 10970
2. Ray A. Wickenheiser
Director of Mid-Hudson Satellite Crime Laboratory
224 Breurig Road, P.O. Box 4077
New Windsor, New York 12553
3. Racheal Stubbs, Scientist III
Mid-Hudson Satellite Crime Laboratory
224 Breurig Road, P.O. Box 4077
New Windsor, New York 12553
4. Michael Jankowiak, Captain
Forensic Investigative Center
1220 Washington Avenue, Bldg. 30
Albany, New York 12226