Opinion
CIVIL ACTION NO. 11-15039
08-08-2012
DANIEL JOHNSON, et al., Plaintiffs, v. WAYNE COUNTY CORPORATION, et al., Defendants.
DISTRICT JUDGE AVERN COHN
MAGISTRATE JUDGE MARK A. RANDON
ORDER GRANTING PLAINTIFF'S
MOTION FOR ALTERNATIVE SERVICE
On November 14, 2011, Plaintiffs filed a §1983 lawsuit against Defendants Wayne County Corporation, Sheriff Benny Napoleon, Chief Heard, Lt. Faust, Commander Panackia, Sgt. Berri, Cpl. Pettigrew, Officer MacFarland, John Doe, Education Training Research Services ("ETRS"), and Mary Jane Reynolds. (Dkt. #1).
Defendants Wayne County Corporation, Sheriff Benny Napoleon, Chief Heard, Lt. Faust, Commander Panackia, Sgt. Berri, Cpl. Pettigrew, and Officer MacFarland were properly served. Plaintiff mailed the Summons and Complaint to Defendants ETRS and Mary Jane Reynolds, but it was returned as undeliverable. The Summons was issued on November 15, 2011; it expired on March 14, 2012. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 4(m).
This matter is before the Court on Plaintiff Daniel Johnson's "Motion for Alternative Service Directing the United States Marshal to Effect Service Upon Defendants and Extend the Time for Service." (Dkt. #22). Johnson asks the Court to order the United States Marshal's Service to serve Defendants ETRS and Mary Jane Reynolds, and to extend the time for service.
Fed. R. Civ. P. 4(c)(3) says, "[a]t the plaintiff's request, the court may order that service be made by a United States marshal or deputy marshal or by a person specially appointed by the court." Fed. R. Civ. P. 4(m) says:
If a defendant is not served within 120 days after the complaint is filed, the court-on motion or on its own after notice to the plaintiff-must dismiss the action without prejudice against that defendant or order that service be made within a specified time. But if the plaintiff shows good cause for the failure, the court must extend the time for service for an appropriate period.
After review of Johnson's motion and the record in this case, the Court finds Defendants will not be prejudiced by an extension, and Johnson showed good cause for failing to serve Defendants ETRS and May Jane Reynolds within the 120 days provided in Rule 4(m). The Court exercises its discretion to GRANT Johnson's motion. Accordingly, it is ORDERED that: (1) The United States Marshal's Service is directed to effectuate service upon Defendants ETRS and Mary Jane Reynolds. The U.S. Marshal's Service may collect the usual and customary costs from the Plaintiff after effectuating service; (2) The United States Marshal's Service shall attempt service upon ETRS and May Jane Reynolds at the following address:
ETRS(2) The Summons is extended until October 9, 2012.
27423 Woodward Ave, #102
Berkley, MI 48073
_________________
Mark A. Randon
United States Magistrate Judge
Certificate of Service
I hereby certify that a copy of the foregoing document was mailed to the parties of record on this date, August 8, 2012, by electronic and/or ordinary mail.
Melody Miles
Case Manager