Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-casd-3_11-cv-01166/USCOURTS-casd-3_11-cv-01166-0/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

27

28

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

STEVEN VOILES, Civil No. 11-CV-1166-JLS (BGS)

Plaintiff,

ORDER GRANTING PLAINTIFF’S

MOTION FOR U.S. MARSHAL TO

EFFECTUATE SERVICE & DIRECTING

U.S. MARSHAL TO EFFECT SERVICE

OF COMPLAINT PURSUANT TO

FED.R.CIV.P. 4(c)(3) 

v.

JAMES A REAVIS; and IAN ST. JOHN,

Defendants.

Plaintiff Steven Voiles, a state prisoner proceeding pro se in this action, filed a request for

a Court order that service of the summons and complaint in this action be made by a United States

marshal or deputy marshal. (Doc. No. 12.) Plaintiff has also filed a letter indicating that he has no

friends or family to serve the summons and complaint on the named defendants. (Doc. No. 14.) 

Although Plaintiff paid the initial filing fee of $350 and elected not to file a motion to proceed in

forma pauperis (“IFP”), the Court construes his current request as a motion to proceed IFP for

purposes of Marshal service only, as he has been unable to effectuate service on his own. 

 Because plaintiffs who prepay the civil filing fee are not considered to proceed IFP, they are

not automatically entitled to have the U.S. Marshal effect service on their behalf, and they must do

so within the 120 days provided by FED.R.CIV.P. 4 (m). Boudette v. Barnette, 923 F.2d 754, 757

(9th Cir. 1991) (absent a specific request and court order that the U.S. Marshal effect service on their

behalf pursuant to FED.R.CIV.P. 4(c)(3), persons who prepay civil filing fees “remain[] responsible

1 11cv1166-JLS

Case 3:11-cv-01166-JLS-BGS Document 17 Filed 04/02/12 Page 1 of 3
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

27

28

for timely service”); 4AWRIGHT & MILLER, FEDERAL PRACTICE &PROCEDURE §§ 1090, 1094 (3d

ed. 2002).

However, while Plaintiff did not initially move to proceed IFP, the Court will construe his

current motion as such a request and GRANT Plaintiff IFP status for purposes of Marshal service

only. Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 4(c)(3) provides that “[a]t the plaintiff’s request, the court

may order that service be made by a United States marshal or deputy marshal.” Fed.R.Civ.P. 4(c)(3).

In addition, when plaintiffs are granted leave to proceed IFP, the United States Marshal, upon order

of the court, is authorized to serve the summons and complaint on the pauper’s behalf. See 28

U.S.C. § 1915(d); Boudette, 923 F.2d at 757; Walker v. Sumner, 14 F.3d 1415, 1422 (9th Cir.

1993). 

Although Plaintiff paid the initial $350 filing fee when he commenced this action, he may

still be eligible to proceed IFP. A request to proceed IFP need not be filed at any particular time,

but may be initiated at any stage of a proceeding, since a person who is not an indigent at the

commencement of a suit may become one during or prior to its prosecution. See Stehouwer v.

Hennessey, 841 F. Supp. 316, 321 (N.D. Cal. 1994) (“IFP status may be acquired or lost throughout

the course of the litigation”), aff’d in pertinent part sub. nom, Olivares v. Marshall, 59 F.3d 109 (9th

Cir. 1995). 

The Court now finds that Plaintiff’s motion for court order to have U.S. Marshals effectuate

service is sufficient to show that his is unable to execute the service of his own Summons and

Complaint. Accordingly, and in order to aid in the timely administration of justice in this matter,

he will now be permitted to proceed IFP pursuant to FED.R.CIV.P. 4(c)(3) for purposes of service

only.

Conclusion and Order

Good cause having now been shown, IT IS ORDERED that:

1. Plaintiff is GRANTED IFP status for purposes of service only;

2. The Clerk shall forward to Plaintiff a blank U.S. Marshal Form 285 for each of these

Defendants. In addition, the Clerk shall provide Plaintiff with a copy of this Order, and copies of

his Complaint and the summons for purposes of serving each of these Defendants. Upon receipt of

2 11cv1166-JLS

Case 3:11-cv-01166-JLS-BGS Document 17 Filed 04/02/12 Page 2 of 3
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

27

28

this “IFP Package,” Plaintiff is directed to complete the Form 285s as completely and accurately as

possible, and to return them to the United States Marshal according to the instructions provided by

the Clerk in the letter accompanying his IFP package. Thereafter, the U.S. Marshal shall serve a

copy of the Complaint and summons upon each Defendant as directed by Plaintiff on each Form

285. All costs of service shall be advanced by the United States. See 28 U.S.C. § 1915(d);

FED.R.CIV.P. 4(c)(3).

DATED: April 2, 2012 

BERNARD G. SKOMAL

United States Magistrate Judge

3 11cv1166-JLS

Case 3:11-cv-01166-JLS-BGS Document 17 Filed 04/02/12 Page 3 of 3