Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_03-cv-06290/USCOURTS-caed-1_03-cv-06290-7/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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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

DAVID MAURICE GOMEZ,

Plaintiff,

v.

WARDEN A. K. SCRIBNER, et al.,

Defendants.

 /

CASE NO. 1:03-CV-6290-OWW-LJO-P

ORDER DIRECTING UNITED STATES

MARSHAL TO RE-ATTEMPT SERVICE

WITHOUT PREPAYMENT OF COSTS 

Plaintiff David Maurice Gomez (“plaintiff”) is a state prisoner proceeding pro se in this civil

rights action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. On December 16, 2004, the court directed the United

States Marshal to initiate service of process on defendants Bailey and Luna. (Doc. 29.) The Marshal

was unable to locate defendant Luna. (Doc. 31.) On June 27, 2005, the court ordered plaintiff to

provide further information on defendant Luna. (Doc. 48.) Plaintiff filed a response on July 14,

2005. (Doc. 54.)

The court and the Marshal have a statutory duty to service process on plaintiff’s behalf, and

the response given to the Marshal to date by the CDC is insufficient to allow the court to discharge

this duty on the ground that defendant Luna cannot be located. 28 U.S.C. 1915(d); Fed. R. Civ. P.

4(c)(2). For this reason, the court must direct the Marshal to re-attempt service on defendant Luna,

using the additional information provided by plaintiff. If the institution is unable to locate this

defendant, the Marshal shall contact the Legal Affairs Division and request the assistance of

a special investigator. 

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Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that:

1. The Clerk of the Court is directed to forward the following documents to the United

States Marshal:

(1) One completed and issued summons for each defendant to be served;

(2) One completed USM-285 form for each defendant to be served;

(3) One copy of the amended complaint filed on October 21, 2003 for each

defendant to be served, plus an extra copy for the Marshal; 

(4) One copy of this order for each defendant to be served, plus an extra copy for

the Marshal; and

(5) One copy of the court’s consent form for each defendant to be served; 

2. Within ten days from the date of this order, the United States Marshal is directed to

notify the following defendant of the commencement of this action and to request a

waiver of service in accordance with the provisions of Fed. R. Civ. P. 4(d) and 28

U.S.C. § 566(c):

NURSE LUNA

3. The U.S. Marshal is directed to retain the summons and a copy of the complaint in

their file for future use.

4. The United States Marshal shall file the returned waiver of service, or the request for

waiver if it is returned as undelivered, as soon as it is received. 

5. In attempting to locate defendant, the Marshal is informed to utilize the

following information: Nurse Luna is female, possibly Hispanic, and was

assigned to Unit 4A-2 Right at CSP-Corcoran on June 26, 2003.

6. In attempting to locate defendant, if the institution is unable to provide

assistance, the Marshal shall contact the Legal Affairs Division in Sacramento

and request the assistance of a special investigator.

7. If a waiver of service is not returned by a defendant within sixty days of the date of

mailing the request for waiver, the United States Marshal shall:

a. Personally serve process and a copy of this order upon the defendant pursuant

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to Rule 4 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and 28 U.S.C. § 566(c) and

shall command all necessary assistance from the California Department of

Corrections (CDC) to execute this order. The United States Marshal shall

maintain the confidentiality of all information provided by the CDC pursuant

to this order. 

b. Within ten days after personal service is effected, the United States Marshal

shall file the return of service for the defendant, along with evidence of any

attempts to secure a waiver of service of process and of the costs

subsequently incurred in effecting service on said defendant. Said costs shall

be enumerated on the USM-285 form and shall include the costs incurred by

the Marshal's office for photocopying additional copies of the summons and

complaint and for preparing new USM-285 forms, if required. Costs of

service will be taxed against the personally served defendant in accordance

with the provisions of Fed. R. Civ. P. 4(d)(2).

8. In the event that defendant makes an appearance in this action by filing an answer,

dispositive motion, or other pleading, the U.S. Marshals Service need not personally

serve defendant.

9. In the event that defendant either waives service or is personally served, defendant

is required to reply to the complaint. 42 U.S.C. § 1997e(g)(2).

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: September 9, 2005 /s/ Lawrence J. O'Neill 

b9ed48 UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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