Case ID: f-appx_667/html/0780-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "PER CURIAM", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Robert GUNDLACH, Appellant v. COMMISSIONER SOCIAL SECURITY
    No. 16-2462
    United States Court of Appeals, Third Circuit.
    Submitted for Possible Summary Action Pursuant to Third Circuit LAE 27.4 and I.O.P. 10.6 July 28, 2016
    (Opinion filed August 10, 2016)
    Robert Gundlach, Pro Se
    Elizabeth A. Corritore, Esq., Social Security Administration, Office of General Counsel SSA/OGC/Region III, Philadelphia, PA, Caroline A. Sadlowski, Esq., Office of United States Attorney, Newark, NJ, for Defendant-Appellee
    Before: FISHER, JORDAN and VANASKIE, Circuit Judges
   OPINION

PER CURIAM

Appellant Robert Gundlach appeals pro se from an order of the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey dismissing his case for failure to effectuate service of the summons and his complaint within the time limit prescribed by Federal Rule of Civil Procedure Rule 4(m). For the reason that follows, we will vacate the District Court’s order and remand for further proceedings.

On November 19, 2015, Gundlach filed a motion to proceed in forma pauperis in the District Court. He sought the District Court’s review of a determination by the Commissioner of the Social Security Administration (“Commissioner”). On December 2, 2015, the District Court granted Gundlach’s motion and issued a summons as to Appellee, the Commissioner. On that same date, the District Court ordered that the Clerk file Gundlach’s complaint. Gund-lach did not serve the complaint upon the Commissioner.

On March 10, 2016, the District Court issued an order requiring Gundlach to show cause as to why the case should not be dismissed for his failure to serve his complaint upon the Commissioner within the time set forth under Rule 4(m). On March 30, 2016, after Gundlach failed to respond to the Court’s order, the District Court entered an order dismissing the complaint without prejudice under Rule 4(m). Gundlach timely appealed.

We have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291. See Welch v, Folsom, 925 F.2d 666, 668 (3d Cir. 1991) (order of dismissal is final and appealable under § 1291 where complaint filed by a plaintiff granted leave to proceed in forma pauperis is dismissed without prejudice for failure to effect service of process). We review dismissals pursuant to Rule 4(m) for abuse of discretion. See Ayres v. Jacobs & Crumplar, P.A., 99 F.3d 565, 568 (3d Cir. 1996).

The District Court improperly dismissed Gundlaeh’s suit by citing his failure to serve process. As a litigant proceeding in forma pauperis, Gundlach was not responsible for the service of process. See 28 U.S.C. § 1915(d) (“The officers of the court shall issue and serve all proeess[.]”); see also Byrd v. Stone, 94 F.3d 217, 220 (6th Cir. 1996). Once Gundlach was granted in forma pauperis status, the District Court was obligated to appoint a United States marshal to effect service. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 4(c)(3). For this reason, we will vacate the District Court’s order dismissing Gundlach’s complaint and remand the case for further proceedings. 
      
       This disposition is not an opinion of the full Court and pursuant to I.O.P. 5.7 does not constitute binding precedent.