Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_12-cv-00309/USCOURTS-caed-1_12-cv-00309-9/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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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

GREGORY ADONIS MURPHY, 

Plaintiff,

v.

KELSO, et al.,

Defendants.

Case No. 1:12-cv-00309-LJO-JLT (PC)

ORDER GRANTING MARSHAL'S 

REQUEST FOR REIMBURSEMENT OF 

COSTS OF SERVICE

(Docs. 25, 26, 34, 36)

30 DAY DEADLINE

Plaintiff, Gregory Adonis Murphy, is a state prisoner proceeding pro se and in forma 

pauperis in this civil rights action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. Plaintiff filed the complaint 

commencing this action on August 30, 2011. (Doc. 1.) Plaintiff filed the First Amended 

Complaint on June 27, 2013. (Doc. 17.) On July 25, 2013, the Court issued an order for this 

action to proceed on the First Amended Complaint against Defendants Allison, Enenmoh, and 

Metts ("Defendants"). (Doc. 18.) On August 7, 2013, the Court ordered the United States 

Marshal ("Marshal") to serve process on Defendants. (Doc. 20.) 

On April 17, 2014, the Marshal filed a USM-285 form indicating that on March 6, 2014, 

personal service was effected upon Defendants. (Doc. 25.) That same day, the Marshal filed a 

request for a court order requiring Defendants to reimburse the costs incurred by the Marshal for 

personal service (AMarshal=s Request@), pursuant to Rule 4(d)(2) of the Federal Rules of Civil 

Procedure. (Doc. 26.) Defendants filed their response (which they did not serve on the 

Marshal's Office) and indicated that a request for waiver of service was never received. (Doc. 

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34.) Given Defendants' response, the proofs of service provided by the Marshal were reviewed

and the Marshal was given opportunity to clarify notations of service efforts on their proofs (Doc. 

35) which they provided (Doc. 36). 

The Marshal's clarification advised that service via the U.S. Postal Service was attempted 

on September 4, 2013 by mailing the documents for service and waivers to CSATF at P.O. Box 

7100, Corcoran, CA 93212-7100. Id. When no response was received, the CSATF Litigation 

Coordinator ("Lit. Co.") was contacted who indicated this case was not in his log and requested 

another packet for each Defendant either be mailed again or emailed. Id. Thus, the Marshal 

again mailed the documents for service of process on December 9, 2013. Id. Since executed 

waivers were not received, on February 26, 2014, new service packets were generated and 

assigned to a Deputy for personal service, which was accomplished. Id. 

Defendants argue that there is no proof or evidence that the Marshal's Office placed the 

documents in the mail after the email exchange with the CSATF Lit Co. (Doc. 37.) They further 

argue that since they have provided a declaration from the current CSATF Litigation Coordinator 

that no one past or present recalls ever receiving the waiver of service forms, there is no good 

cause to order Defendants to reimburse the costs of personal service. Id.

However, the USM-285 forms submitted (Doc. 36, pp. 3-5) constitute proofs of service 

where the Marshal's Office has been utilized. Whether any past or present CSATF Litigation

Coordinator recalls receiving the waiver of service forms is irrelevant. The Marshal's USM-285 

forms are sufficient to prove service by mailing on both September 4, 2013 and December 9, 

2013. The Marshal's Office is thus entitled to payment for efforts to personally serve Defendants 

Kathleen Allison, Anthony Enenmoh, M.D., and J. Metts, M.D. 

In their response, the Marshal's Office increased the amount of reimbursement fees they 

are requesting. Originally, the amount requested was $85.16 per Defendant which was arrived at 

by dividing three ways both the 108 round trip miles at $0.56/mile (for a sum of $20.16 per 

Defendant) and the three hours of deputy time at $65/hour (for a sum of $65 per Defendant). In 

their response, the Marshal's Office increased the reimbursement by adding two more hours of 

Deputy time and dividing that three ways for a total of $128.49 per Defendant. The Court finds 

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no basis to assess the additional two hours of Deputy time -- particularly given that the original 

USM-285 forms showed that all three Defendants were served by one Deputy in three hours with 

108 round trip miles which was to be split three ways. Thus, the Marshal's Office is entitled to 

reimbursement for personal service fees by Defendants Kathleen Allison, Anthony Enenmoh, 

M.D., and J. Metts, M.D. in the sum of $85.16 each, for a total payment of $255.48. 

Accordingly, it is HEREBY ORDERED that, within 30 days of the date this order issues,

Defendants Kathleen Allison, Anthony Enemoh, M.D., and J. Metts, M.D. are to each pay the 

Marshal's Office the sum of $85.16, for a total payment of $255.48.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: August 13, 2014 /s/ Jennifer L. Thurston 

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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