Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_03-cv-00732/USCOURTS-caed-2_03-cv-00732-11/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 550
Nature of Suit: Prisoner - Civil Rights (U.S. defendant)
Cause of Action: 42:1983 Prisoner Civil Rights

---

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

MICHAEL HOLTSINGER,

Plaintiff, 

vs. No. CIV S-03-0732 MCE CMK P

J. M. BRIDDLE, et al.,

Defendants. ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE

 /

Plaintiff is a prisoner proceeding pro se and in forma pauperis with a civil rights

action under 42 U.S.C. §1983 This proceeding was referred to this court by Local Rule 72-302

by the authority of 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1).

 On January 12, 2005, the court granted plaintiff leave to file an amended

complaint. One of the defendants listed in plaintiff’s amended complaint was John Doe #5. In a

preliminary statement attached to his amended complaint, plaintiff stated that, although plaintiff

was able to identify other doe defendants through production of documents, he has not yet been

able to identify John Doe #5. (Doc. 55.) Plaintiff stated that he would “continue his diligence in

trying to identify John Doe #5.” (See id.) 

///

Case 2:03-cv-00732-MCE -CMK Document 130 Filed 01/12/06 Page 1 of 2
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

Plaintiff’s in forma pauperis status relieves him of the responsibility of effecting service, 1

but Plaintiff is still responsible for providing sufficient information to serve the defendants. See

Walker v. Sumner, 14 F.3d 1415, 1422 (9th Cir. 1994) (abrogated on other grounds). 

2

Rule 4(m) provides that if service is not made on a defendant within 120 days after

the filing of a complaint, the court may, upon its own initiative after notice to the plaintiff,

dismiss the action without prejudice as to the unserved defendant. Fed. R. Civ. P 4(m). Over

120 days have passed since the filing of plaintiff’s first amended complaint. 

1

Accordingly, IT IS ORDERED that, within twenty days from the date of service of

this order, plaintiff shall show good cause in writing why this action should not be dismissed

without prejudice as to defendant John Doe #5 for failure to serve in a timely manner. 

DATED: January 11, 2006.

______________________________________

CRAIG M. KELLISON

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

Case 2:03-cv-00732-MCE -CMK Document 130 Filed 01/12/06 Page 2 of 2