Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_09-cv-01595/USCOURTS-caed-1_09-cv-01595-2/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 290
Nature of Suit: Other Real Property Actions
Cause of Action: 28:1331 Fed. Question

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

HECTOR CASILLAS,

 Plaintiff,

 v. 

AURORA LOAN SERVICES LLC, ET AL.,

 Defendants.

1:09-CV-1595-OWW-DLB

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE RE:

DISMISSAL OF UNSERVED

DEFENDANTS

On September 9, 2009, Defendant Aurora Loan Services LLC,

removed this case to federal court. (Doc. 1.) The notice of

removal included a copy of the state court complaint.

Subsequently, Plaintiff stipulated to dismissing, with prejudice,

Aurora Loan Services LLC from this case. (Doc. 17.) The remaining

named defendants in this case – Homecomings Financial, Stephanie

Ruiz dba Family Lending Center, and MILA dba Mortgage Investment

Lending Associates – did not join in the removal. As reflected in

the notice of removal (Doc. 1 at 4), and as otherwise indicated by

the record (Doc. 20), the remaining defendants have not yet been

served with the state court complaint. 

A plaintiff who, prior to removal, has not served or perfected

service on one or more of the defendants may serve process after

removal pursuant to the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. See 28

U.S.C. § 1448. Pursuant to Rule 4(m) of the Federal Rules of Civil

Procedure:

If a defendant is not served within 120 days after the

complaint is filed, the court--on motion or on its own

after notice to the plaintiff--must dismiss the action

Case 1:09-cv-01595-AWI-DLB Document 21 Filed 03/18/10 Page 1 of 3
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without prejudice against that defendant or order that

service be made within a specified time. But if the

plaintiff shows good cause for the failure, the court

must extend the time for service for an appropriate

period. 

For named unserved defendants, Rule 4(m) requires the plaintiff to

serve them within a 120 days after the notice of removal is filed.

See Vazquez v. N. County Transit Dist., 292 F.3d 1049, 1053 & n.3

(9th Cir. 2002); Rhodes v. Electronic Data Sys. Corp., No. CIV S06-1715 MCE EFB PS, 2006 WL 2830165, at *2 (E.D. Cal. Sept. 29,

2006).

The notice of removal was filed on September 9, 2009, more

than 120 days ago, and the remaining defendants have not been

served. At this juncture, under Rule 4(m), “the court–- . . . on

its own after notice to the plaintiff” must either “dismiss the

action without prejudice against” the unserved defendants or “order

that service be made within a specified time.” The latter must be

done if the plaintiff shows “good cause” for the service failure.

As explained in In re Sheehan:

Rule 4(m) requires a two-step analysis in deciding

whether or not to extend the prescribed time period for

the service of a complaint. First, upon a showing of good

cause for the defective service, the court must extend

the time period. Second, if there is no good cause, the

court has the discretion to dismiss without prejudice or

to extend the time period.

253 F.3d 507, 512 (9th Cir. 2001) (internal citations omitted).

Plaintiff is ORDERED TO SHOW CAUSE, in writing, by March 25,

2010, why the unserved defendants should not be dismissed pursuant

to Rule 4(m). Plaintiff’s writing should address whether good

cause exists to extend the time period for service. The Initial

Scheduling Conference, currently set for April 9, 2010, is VACATED

Case 1:09-cv-01595-AWI-DLB Document 21 Filed 03/18/10 Page 2 of 3
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and, if necessary, will be reset after this matter is resolved. 

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: March 18, 2010 /s/ Oliver W. Wanger 

9i274f UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

Case 1:09-cv-01595-AWI-DLB Document 21 Filed 03/18/10 Page 3 of 3