Opinion
CASE NO. 5:10-cv-05862 EJD
11-22-2011
THIRD DEGREE FILMS, INC., Plaintiff(s), v. DOES 1-2010, Defendant(s).
ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE
On December 23, 2010, Plaintiff Third Degree Films, Inc. ("Plaintiff") filed the instant action against 2010 unknown "Doe" defendants. See Docket Item No. 1. Thereafter, the court granted Plaintiff's ex parte application for leave to take limited discovery prior to a Rule 26 conference on May 31, 2011, which allowed Plaintiff to serve subpoenas on certain Internet Service Providers to obtain information identifying the Doe defendants such that service of process could be effectuated. See Docket Item No. 8. Pursuant to the ensuing order, Plaintiff was obligated to immediately serve the subpoenas, and the Internet Service Providers and subscribers each had 30 days in which to object to the subpoenas. See id.
On November 10, 2011, the court dismissed Does 2 through 2010, leaving only Doe 1 as a defendant in this case. See Docket Item No. 58.
Rule 4(m) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure provides in pertinent part:
If service of the summons and complaint is not made upon a defendant within 120 days after the filing of the complaint, the court, upon motion or on its own initiative after notice to the plaintiff, shall
dismiss the action without prejudice as to that defendant or direct that service be effected within a specified time; provided that if the plaintiff shows good cause for the failure, the court shall extend the time for service for an appropriate period.
More than 120 days have elapsed since Plaintiff filed the complaint and the court issued its order allowing limited discovery, yet Plaintiff has not filed one proof of service. Thus, Plaintiff shall, no later than December 9, 2011, show cause in writing why it has failed to: (1) file documents to show proof of service of the Summons and Complaint on the remaining defendant to comply with Rule 4(l) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure; and (2) accomplish service of the Summons and Complaint on the remaining defendant within 120 days of filing the complaint to comply with Rule 4(m) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. No hearing will be held on the order to show cause unless otherwise ordered by the Court.
Plaintiff is notified that the Court will dismiss this action if Plaintiff fails to comply with this Order or otherwise fail to show good cause as directed above.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
EDWARD J. DAVILA
United States District Judge