Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-3_18-cv-01529/USCOURTS-cand-3_18-cv-01529-1/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 555
Nature of Suit: Prisoner - Prison Condition
Cause of Action: 42:1983 Prisoner Civil Rights

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United States District Court 

Northern District of Californi

a

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 

FERNANDO GUZMAN REYEROS,

Plaintiff, 

v. 

MANUEL TAJON, 

Defendant. 

Case No. 18-cv-01529-DMR (PR) 

NOTICE REGARDING INABILITY TO 

SERVE DEFENDANT MANUEL 

TAJON 

This Order addresses issues regarding service in the above-captioned action. Service has 

been ineffective on Defendant Manuel Tajon, a psychologist assigned to the mental health 

department at Salinas Valley State Prison (“SVSP”). The court has been informed that Defendant 

“no longer works at SVSP” and that prison officials “are unable to get in contact with him.” Dkt. 

13. 

As Plaintiff is proceeding in forma pauperis, he is responsible for providing the court with 

current addresses for any and all Defendants so that service can be accomplished. See Walker v. 

Sumner, 14 F.3d 1415, 1422 (9th Cir. 1994); Sellers v. United States, 902 F.2d 598, 603 (7th Cir. 

1990). While Plaintiff may rely on service by the United States Marshal, or in this case, the 

procedure for requesting a defendant to waive the service requirement, “a plaintiff may not remain 

silent and do nothing to effectuate such service.” Rochon v. Dawson, 828 F.2d 1107, 1110 (5th 

Cir. 1987). When advised of a problem accomplishing service, a pro se litigation must “attempt to 

remedy any apparent defects of which [he] has knowledge.” Id. Pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil 

Procedure 4(m), if a complaint is not served within ninety days from the filing of the complaint, it 

may be dismissed without prejudice for failure of service. Fed. R. Civ. P. 4(m) (providing that if 

service of the summons and complaint is not made upon a defendant in 90 days after the filing of 

the complaint, the action must be dismissed without prejudice as to that defendant absent a 

Case 3:18-cv-01529-WHO Document 15 Filed 10/30/18 Page 1 of 2
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United States District Court 

Northern District of Californi

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showing of “good cause”); see also Walker, 14 F.3d at 1421-22 (prisoner failed to show cause 

why prison official should not dismissed under Rule 4(m) because prisoner did not prove that he 

provided marshal with sufficient information to serve official). 

No later than twenty-eight (28) days from the date of this Order, Plaintiff must provide 

the court with a current address for Defendant. Plaintiff should review the federal discovery rules, 

Rules 26-37 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, for guidance about how to determine the 

current address of this Defendant. 

If Plaintiff fails to provide the court with the current address of Defendant within the 

twenty-eight-day deadline, all claims against Defendant will be dismissed without prejudice under 

Rule 4(m). 

IT IS SO ORDERED. 

Dated: October 30, 2018 ______________________________________ 

DONNA M. RYU 

United States Magistrate Judge 

Case 3:18-cv-01529-WHO Document 15 Filed 10/30/18 Page 2 of 2