Opinion
CASE NO. 1:09-cv-00098-AWI-BAM PC
08-03-2012
DONALD GLASS, Plaintiff, v. R. FIELDS, et al., Defendants.
ORDER DISMISSING DEFENDANT GRANDY
FOR FAILURE TO EFFECT SERVICE OF
PROCESS
(ECF Nos. 93, 99)
Plaintiff Donald Glass ("Plaintiff") is a state prisoner proceeding pro se and in forma pauperis in this civil rights action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. This action is proceeding on the complaint, filed January 5, 2009, against Defendants Hamilton, Robles, Logue, and Bautista for excessive force in violation of the Eighth Amendment; Defendants Grandy, Riddle, and McDonald for deliberate indifference to serious medical needs in violation of the Eighth Amendment; and Defendants Hamilton, Bautista, Logue, Robles, Riddle, Cedillos, Grandy, and McDaniel for retaliation in violation of the First Amendment.
On August 31, 2011, Doe Defendants were dismissed from the action for Plaintiff's failure to effect service of process. (ECF No. 58.)
On October 25, 2011, an order issued requiring Plaintiff to show cause why Defendant Grandy should not be dismissed from this action due to Plaintiff's failure to provide information sufficient to effect service of process on the defendant. Plaintiff was specifically advised that pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 4(m), the court may, on its own motion, after notice to Plaintiff, dismiss a defendant who has not been served within 120 days after the complaint has been filed. Plaintiff was also advised that, so long as he provides the United States Marshal with the information necessary to identify the defendant, good cause exists to extend the time for service set out in Rule 4(m). Walker v. Sumner, 14 F.3d 1415, 1422 (9th Cir. 1994) (quoting Puett v. Blandford, 912 F.2d 270, 275 (9th Cir. 1990)) abrogated in part on other grounds by Sandin v. Conner, 515 U.S. 472 (1995). On December 30, 2011, Plaintiff filed a response stating that Grandy should not be dismissed because the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation ("CDCR") has a custom and policy of instructing prison officials who are being sued to temporarily retire or hide to evade service of process and requesting the CDCR be required to provide the address at which Defendant Grandy was receiving retirement benefits. On March 6, 2012, an order issued directing the United States Marshal to attempt to effect personal service at Defendant Grandy's last known address. Plaintiff was advised that this was the final attempt to procure service on Defendant Grandy and if the United States Marshal was unable to locate and serve Defendant Grandy he would be dismissed from this action for failure to effect service of process. On May 11, 2012, the summons was returned unexecuted, stating that the current owner has lived at the address for the past three months and has no information on Defendant Grandy.
In cases involving a plaintiff proceeding in forma pauperis, the Marshal, upon order of the Court, shall serve the summons and the complaint. Fed. R. Civ. P. 4(c)(3). "[A]n incarcerated pro se plaintiff proceeding in forma pauperis is entitled to rely on the U.S. Marshal for service of the summons and complaint and . . . should not be penalized by having his action dismissed for failure to effect service where the U.S. Marshal or the court clerk has failed to perform his duties . . . ." Walker, 14 F.3d at (quoting Puett v. Blandford, 912 F.2d 270, 275 (9th Cir. 1990)). As long as the plaintiff has provided "information necessary to identify the defendant, the marshal's failure to effect service is 'automatically good cause . . . .'" Walker, 14 F.3d at 1422 (quoting Sellers v. United States, 902 F.2d 598, 603 (7th Cir. 1990). However, where a pro se plaintiff fails to provide the Marshal with accurate and sufficient information to effect service of the summons and complaint, the court's dismissal of the unserved defendants is appropriate.
On October 4, 2010, the waiver of service for Defendant Grandy was returned unexecuted. The United States Marshall attempted to execute service on Defendant Grandy at California State Prison, Corcoran, and was unsuccessful being informed that Defendant Grandy had retired. (ECF No. 36.) On April 7, 2011, a second order issued directing the United States Marshall to contact the Office of Legal Affairs to attempt to execute service on Defendant Grandy. (ECF No. 43.) On May 2, 2011, the summons was returned unexecuted, stating that the CDCR does not have a current address for Defendant Grandy. A letter sent to Defendant Grandy at his last known address was returned "not at this address." (ECF No. 45.) On March 29, 2012, the Marshal attempted service of process at Defendant Grandy's last known address and was advised that the current owner had no information regarding Defendant Grandy. (ECF No. 99.)
The Marshal has attempted to serve Defendant Grandy on three separate occasions and has been unsuccessful in locating the defendant. The Court does not find good cause to order the Marshal to make a fourth attempt at service.
Accordingly, Defendant Grandy is HEREBY DISMISSED from this action, without prejudice, for Plaintiff's failure to effect service pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 4(m). IT IS SO ORDERED.
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CHIEF UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE