Opinion
1:20-cv-00203-DAD-HBK
11-07-2021
JOHN REYNA, Plaintiff, v. KINGS COUNTY JAIL, WENDY BATCHELOR and NAEEM SIDDIQI, Defendants.
ORDER FOR DEFENDANT KINGS COUNTY JAIL TO PROVIDE FORWARDING ADDRESS FOR UNSERVED DEFENDANTS
14-DAY DEADLINE
HELENA M. BARCH-KUCHTA UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE
This matter come before the Court upon review of the case file that was reassigned to the undersigned on November 17, 2020. (Doc. N0. 12). Plaintiff John Reyna is a state prisoner proceeding pro se and in forma pauperis in this civil rights action filed pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. This case is proceeding on Plaintiff's medical deliberate indifference claim against Defendants Kings County Jail, and two medical defendants, Wendy Batchelor, a nurse practioner, and Naeem Siddiqi, a doctor. (Doc No. 6).
Although Kings County Jail is named as the defendant, it appears the former magistrate judge liberally construed the complaint as against Kings County. (Doc. No. 6 at 2, n. 2, stating “Plaintiff's theory of liability against the county is one of municipal policy; he alleges that the procedure to provide medicine and medical care was so cumbersome that it resulted in repeated and prolonged failure to provide any care while plaintiff's symptoms worsened. See Monell v. Department of Social Services, 436 U.S. 658, 694 (1978) .”). The jail, is not a “person” subject to suit under § 1983. See United States v. Kama, 394 F.3d 1236, 1239 (9th Cir. 2005) (“municipal police departments and bureaus are generally not considered ‘person' within the meaning of section 1983”); Harper v. San Diego Cty., No. 3:20-CV-02409-CAB-LL, 2021 WL 2433928, at *2 (S.D. Cal. June 15, 2021) (finding San Diego Jail not a “person” subject to § 1983 civil rights claims).
On July 1, 2020, the Court ordered service on Defendants by the United States Marshals. (Doc No. 8). The Process and Receipt and Return (Form 285) for Defendants Wendy Batchelor and Naeem Siddiqi were both returned on August 14, 2020 as unexecuted because defendants "no longer work” at Kings County Jail. (Doc. Nos. 9-10). The Form 285 further stated that no forwarding address was provided for either Defendant. (Id.).
The summons for Defendant Kings County Jail was returned executed September 23, 2020 and an Answer to Plaintiff's Complaint was filed on November 23, 2020. (Doc. Nos. 11, 13).
Pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 4(m),
If a defendant is not served within 90 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.
Fed. R. Civ. P. 4(m). However, in the case where a plaintiff has been granted leave to proceed in forma pauperis, the United States Marshals Service (“Marshals”) is responsible for serving the summons and complaint upon order of the Court. 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 v. Sumner, 14 F.3d 1415, 1422 (9th Cir. 1994) (quoting Puett v. Blandford, 912 F.2d 270, 275 (9th Cir. 1990) (alterations in original)), overruled on other grounds by Sandin v. Connor, 515 U.S. 472 (1995). “So long as the prisoner has furnished the 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)). Only where a plaintiff has failed to provide the Marshals with accurate and sufficient information to effect service, is dismissal of the unserved defendants permissible. Walker v. Sumner, 14 F.3d 1415, 1421-22 (9th Cir. 1994) (dismissal for failure to serve timely under Fed.R.Civ.P. 4(m), overruled on other grounds by Sandin v. Conner, 515 U.S. 472, 483-84 (1995).
Plaintiff provided the Marshals with the address where Defendants Batchelor and Siddiqi worked. Given his incarceration, Plaintiff would have no knowledge if defendants discontinued their employment and would have little recourse for discovering defendants' forwarding address. Both of the unserved defendants were employed at Kings County Jail at the time of the events giving rise to the Plaintiffs claims. In order to expedite service of this matter, the Court will direct King County Jail officials to provide the Clerk of Court with the last known or forwarding address as maintained in their records for Defendants Wendy Batchelor and Naeem Siddiqi. Recognizing that the last known addresses may be the Defendant's home address, Jail officials may provide the addresses directly to the Clerk.
Accordingly, it is ORDERED:
Within fourteen (14) days from service of this Order, Defendant Kings County Jail shall provide the last known addresses for Defendants Bachelor and Siddiqi as maintained in their records directly to the Clerk of Court and file a Notice of Compliance or otherwise explain their inability to comply.