Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-casd-3_07-cv-02266/USCOURTS-casd-3_07-cv-02266-1/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 120
Nature of Suit: Marine Contract Actions
Cause of Action: 28:1331 Fed. Question: Fair Labor Standards

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

KENNETH LEE ERICKSON,

Plaintiff,

CASE NO. 07cv2266-LAB (CAB)

ORDER DENYING MOTION TO

DISMISS FOR LACK OF PROPER

SERVICE OF PROCESS

[DOC. NO. 41]

vs.

M/V CF 6290 TJ, a barge; STANLEY J.

KOTT, an individual dba KOTT

CONSTRUCTION, and DOES 1 through

10,

Defendants.

________________________________

STANLEY J. KOTT,

Counter-Claimant,

vs.

KENNETH LEE ERICKSON,

Counter-Defendant.

Defendant M/V CF 6290 TJ, a barge (hereinafter “defendant barge”) has filed a 

Motion to Dismiss for Lack of Proper Service of Process [doc. no. 41], asserting that Plaintiff

did not properly effect service of process because although Plaintiff is proceeding in this

action in forma pauperis, service was not made by a United States Marshal. On December

1, 2008, Plaintiff filed an Opposition [doc. no. 43] in which he claims that service was proper

because Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 4(c)(3) permits, but does not require, service to be

Case 3:07-cv-02266-LAB-CAB Document 48 Filed 12/12/08 Page 1 of 3
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made by the U.S. Marshal. To date, the defendant barge has not filed a reply. The Court

found this motion to be suitable for decision without oral argument pursuant to Civil Local

Rule 7.1(d)(1). [Doc. No. 47.] For the reasons set forth below, Defendant’s Motion is

DENIED.

I. Background

The Complaint in this action was filed on November 30, 2007. [Doc. No. 1.] Plaintiff

asserts that Defendant Stanley Kott is the owner of the defendant barge, an ocean-going

construction vessel. Erickson alleges Kott failed to pay him wages owed for his work on the

barge and as a diver in June 2007. He claims damages under the Seaman’s Wage Act and

the Long Shore and Harbor Workers Act.

Plaintiff filed a Motion to Proceed In Forma Pauperis, which was granted by the Court

on December 5, 2007. [Doc. Nos. 2, 3.] The Court’s Order provided the following:

The United States Marshal shall serve a copy of the Complaint,

Summons, and this Order granting Plaintiff leave to proceed IFP on

Defendants as directed by plaintiff on U.S. Marshal Form 285. All costs of

service shall be advanced by the United States.

(Order Granting IFP at 2.)

A summons was issued on December 6, 2007. On May 22, 2008, Plaintiff filed a

Return of Service, which indicated that the summons and complaint were served on

defendant barge by leaving copies with a person by the name of Steve Hansen on

December 6, 2007. [See Doc. No. 27.] The summons and complaint were served by

George Robinson, who is not a U.S. Marshal or an authorized process server. (See Haskell

Decl. Supp. Mot. to Dismiss.)

II. Discussion

Each defendant must be properly served with the summons and complaint, or waive

service of process, in order for the Court to exercise jurisdiction over them. S.E.C. v. Ross,

504 F.3d 1130, 1138-39 (9th Cir. 2007) (citations omitted). Federal Rule of Civil Procedure

4(c) provides that the plaintiff is responsible for having the summons and complaint served

on each defendant. Fed. R. Civ. P. 4(c)(1). “Any person who is at least 18 years old and

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not a party may serve a summons and complaint.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 4(c)(2). Further, the rule

provides that the Court may appoint someone to effect service of process for the plaintiff:

“At the plaintiff’s request, the court may order that service be made by a United States

marshal or deputy marshal or by a person specially appointed by the court. The court must

so order if the plaintiff is authorized to proceed in forma pauperis under 28 U.S.C. § 1915

. . . .” Fed. R. Civ. P. 4(c)(3).

A plaintiff who is granted permission by the court to proceed in forma pauperis is

entitled to have service of process made by the United States Marshal. 28 U.S.C. § 1915(d).

Accordingly, the Court’s Order Granting Motion to Proceed In Forma Pauperis directed

Plaintiff to provide a completed U.S. Marshal Form 285 to the marshal service so that service

of process could be effected. Nevertheless, “[a]n IFP plaintiff must request that the marshal

serve his complaint before the marshal will be responsible for such service.” Boudette v.

Barnette, 923 F.2d 754, 757 (9th Cir. 1991). If the plaintiff does not request that the marshal

serve the summons and complaint by properly completing and submitting a Form 285, then

the plaintiff remains responsible for timely service. Id.

Defendant’s argument is without merit, because although Plaintiff was entitled to have

service of process made by the U.S. Marshal, he was not required to do so. In the absence

of service by the marshal, Plaintiff retained the responsibility of ensuring the summons and

complaint were properly served. The proof of service filed by Erickson reflects that the

defendant barge was served on December 6, 2007, and the defendant has not pointed to

any deficiencies that would make service improper. 

III. Conclusion

For these reasons, Defendant’s Motion to Dismiss for Lack of Proper Service of

Process is hereby DENIED.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

DATED: December 12, 2008

HONORABLE LARRY ALAN BURNS

United States District Judge

Case 3:07-cv-02266-LAB-CAB Document 48 Filed 12/12/08 Page 3 of 3