Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-azd-2_05-cv-00852/USCOURTS-azd-2_05-cv-00852-1/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 442
Nature of Suit: Civil Rights Employment
Cause of Action: 42:2000e Job Discrimination (Employment)

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WO

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE DISTRICT OF ARIZONA

John W. Lynch,

Plaintiff,

v.

John E. Potter, Postmaster General,

Defendant.

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No. CV 05-0852 PHX DGC

ORDER

By order dated July 26, 2006, the Court required counsel for the Government to

answer the following questions to determine whether Plaintiff complied with the service

requirements of Rule 4(i)(1) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure: (1) Were the United

States Attorney and Attorney General served with a copy of Plaintiff’s complaint by certified

mail? (2) Does the Government contend that this service was ineffective, and, if so, why?

Dkt. #18. In response, the Government states that the United States Attorney’s office and

Attorney General’s office received copies of Plaintiff’s complaint by certified mail on

April 18, 2005. Dkt. #21 at 2. The Government contends that service was ineffective,

however, because Plaintiff failed to serve a duly executed summons as required by Federal

Rule of Civil Procedure 4(i)(1). Id.

The Court agrees that Plaintiff’s failure to serve a summons on the Government

constitutes insufficient service. Rule 4(i) requires a plaintiff serving the United States to

deliver a copy of the summons and complaint to the United States attorney for the district in

which the action is brought, the Attorney General, and, if necessary, the federal agency or

Case 2:05-cv-00852-DGC Document 25 Filed 12/18/06 Page 1 of 2
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corporation against which the plaintiff is bringing suit. Fed. R. Civ. P. 4(i)(1)-(2). All

Plaintiff has done is mail a certified copy of his complaint to the Attorney General and the

United States Attorney for the District of Arizona. Plaintiff still must obtain a proper

summons for each defendant and serve both the summons and the complaint on the proper

government entities and other defendants in accordance with Rule 4. Rule 4 explains in

detail the steps Plaintiff must take to effectuate proper service of process. Plaintiff should

pay particular attention to Rule 4(a)-(c) to learn how to obtain and serve a summons, and

Rule 4(i), to determine how to serve United States government entities.

Because Plaintiff has attempted to serve the Government in accordance with Rule 4(i),

but has failed to obtain the required summons, the Court will grant Plaintiff 60 days from the

date of this order to complete service of process. This is the last chance Plaintiff will have

to serve Defendants. If Plaintiff fails to comply with the service requirements of the Federal

Rules of Civil Procedure, the Court will dismiss the action. Service in the case is long

overdue and the litigation must proceed to a conclusion.

The Court’s order of May 2, 2006 also required Plaintiff to serve individual

defendants named in the complaint in accordance with Rule 4(e), which provides for service

upon individuals within a judicial district of the United States. The Court is uncertain

whether Plaintiff has properly served these individuals. If Plaintiff has not done so, he must

serve individual defendants within this 60-day period as well, or the Court will dismiss the

action as to these defendants. 

IT IS ORDERED:

1. This matter will be dismissed 60 days from the date of this order if Plaintiff

fails to serve the summons and complaint properly or to show good cause for

his failure to serve the summons and complaint. 

DATED this 15th day of December, 2006.

Case 2:05-cv-00852-DGC Document 25 Filed 12/18/06 Page 2 of 2