Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_06-cv-00090/USCOURTS-caed-1_06-cv-00090-7/pdf.json

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

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

ELONZA JESSE TYLER, CASE NO. 1:06-cv-00090 LJO DLB PC

Plaintiff, 

ORDER REQUIRING PLAINTIFF TO SHOW

vs. CAUSE WHY DEFENDANT STILES SHOULD

NOT BE DISMISSED

(Doc. 22) 

E. ROCHA et al., 

Defendants.

 /

Plaintiff Elonza Jesse Tyler (“plaintiff”) is a state prisoner proceeding pro se and in forma

pauperis in this civil rights action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. This action is proceeding on plaintiff’s

amended complaint, filed on December 15, 2006. On October 11, 2007, the court ordered plaintiff to

provide information to facilitate service of process on defendants by filling out and submitting to the

court a USM-285 form and a summons for each defendant to be served. Plaintiff submitted the required

documents on November 2, 2007, and on November 21, 2007, the court directed the United States

Marshal to initiate service on five defendants. The Marshal was unable to locate and serve defendant

Stiles. On February 21, 2008, the Marshal returned the USM-285 form to the court. 

Pursuant to Rule 4(m),

[i]f 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

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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.

Fed. R. Civ. P. 4(m).

In cases involving a plaintiff proceeding in forma pauperis, a United States Marshal, upon order

of the court, shall serve the summons and the complaint. Fed. R. Civ. P. 4(c)(2). “‘[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)), abrogated 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)). However, where a pro se plaintiff fails to provide the Marshal with accurate

and sufficient information to effect service of the summons and complaint, the court’s sua sponte

dismissal of the unserved defendants is appropriate. Walker, 14 F.3d at 1421-22. 

In this instance, the address provided by plaintiff for defendant Stiles is no longer accurate, as

the defendant retired and there is no forwarding address available. If plaintiff is unable to provide the

Marshal with a current address at which defendant Stiles can be located, this defendant shall be

dismissed from the action, without prejudice. Pursuant to Rule 4(m), the court will provide plaintiff

with the opportunity to show cause why defendant Stiles should not be dismissed from the action at this

time. 

Accordingly, based on the foregoing, it is HEREBY ORDERED that:

1. Within thirty (30) days from the date of service of this order, plaintiff shall show cause

why defendant Stiles should not be dismissed from this action; and

2. The failure to respond to this order or the failure to show cause will result in a

recommendation that defendant Stiles be dismissed from this action.

IT IS SO ORDERED. 

Dated: March 6, 2008 /s/ Dennis L. Beck 

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3c0hj8 UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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