Opinion
No. CIV S-11-1582 GGH P
03-24-2012
JOHNAE HOYT, Plaintiff, v. KATHRYN GONZALES, Defendant.
ORDER
Plaintiff is a state prisoner proceeding pro se and in forma pauperis in this action seeking relief pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983.
On November 18, 2011, the court ordered the United States Marshal to serve process upon the defendant in this case. The Marshal was directed to attempt to secure a waiver of service before attempting personal service on defendant. If a waiver of service was not returned within sixty days, the Marshal was directed to effect personal service on the defendant in accordance with the provisions of Rule 4 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and 28 U.S.C. § 566(c), without prepayment of costs, and to file the return of service with evidence of any attempt to secure a waiver of service and with evidence of all costs subsequently incurred in effecting personal service.
On March 14, 2012, the United States Marshal filed a return of service with a USM-285 form showing total charges of $55.00 for effecting personal service on defendant Kathryn Gonzales. The form shows that a waiver of service form was mailed to the defendant on November 25, 2011, and that no response was received. The individual served on defendant Gonzales' behalf is identified as a paralegal named Jillian Kingston.
Rule 4(d) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure provides, in pertinent part, as follows:
An individual, corporation, or association that is subject to service under Rule 4(e), (f), or (h) has a duty to avoid unnecessary expenses of serving the summons. . . .Fed. R. Civ. P. 4(d)(1), (2)(A), (B).
If a defendant located within the United States fails, without good cause, to sign and return a waiver requested by a plaintiff located within the United States, the court must impose on the defendant:
(A) the expenses later incurred in making service; and
(B) the reasonable expenses, including attorney's fees, of any motion required to collect those service expenses.
The court finds that defendant Kathryn Gonzales was given the opportunity required by Rule 4(d) to waive service and has failed to comply with the request. Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that:
1. Within fourteen days from the date of this order defendant Kathryn Gonzales shall pay to the United States Marshal the sum of $55.00, unless within that time defendant files a written statement showing good cause for his failure to waive service. The court does not intend to extend this fourteen day period.
2. The Clerk of the Court is directed to serve a copy of this order on the U.S. Marshal.
3. The Clerk of the Court is directed to serve a copy of this order on Kathryn Gonzales in care of Jillian Kingston at the address at which personal service upon Ms. Gonzales was effected. See docket # 25.
Gregory G. Hollows
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE