Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_04-cv-01576/USCOURTS-caed-2_04-cv-01576-5/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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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

DAVID WESLEY BIRRELL,

Plaintiff, No. CIV S-04-1576 DFL EFB P

vs.

JOSEPH BICK, et al.,

Defendants. ORDER

 /

Plaintiff is a prisoner without counsel seeking relief for civil rights violations. See 42

U.S.C. § 1983.

On August 17, 2005, the court ordered the United States Marshal to serve process upon

defendant Hollis. The Marshal was directed to attempt to secure a waiver of service before

personally serving the defendant. However, if a waiver of service was not returned within 60

days, the Marshal was directed to (1) personally serve defendant without prepayment of costs

under Rule 4 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and 28 U.S.C. § 566(c); and (2) file the

return of service with evidence of attempts to secure a waiver and costs subsequently incurred in

effecting personal service. 

On March 21, 2006, the United States Marshal filed a return of service with a USM-285

form showing total charges of $198.30 for personally serving defendant Hollis. The form shows 

Case 2:04-cv-01576-GEB-EFB Document 41 Filed 10/18/06 Page 1 of 2
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that the Marshal mailed Hollis a waiver of service form on September 8, 2005. It was forwarded

to a new address on October 11, 2005, and on February 2, 2006, there was no response. 

Accordingly, it was referred for personal service. 

Rule 4 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure provides, in pertinent part: 

An individual, corporation, or association that is subject to service under

subdivision (e), (f), or (h) and that receives notice of an action in the manner

provided in this paragraph has a duty to avoid unnecessary costs of serving the

summons . . . .

If a defendant located within the United States fails to comply with a request for

waiver made by a plaintiff located within the United States, the court shall impose

the costs subsequently incurred in effecting service on the defendant unless good

cause for the failure be shown.

Fed. R. Civ. P. 4(d)(2).

The court finds defendant Hollis was given the opportunity required by Rule 4(d)(2) to

waive service but failed to do so.

Accordingly, the court hereby orders that:

1. Within 14 days from the date of service of this order, defendant Hollis shall pay to the

United States Marshal the sum of $198.30, unless within that time defendant files a written

statement showing good cause for his failure to waive service. The court does not intend to

extend this 14-day period.

2. The Clerk of the Court shall serve a copy of this order on the U.S. Marshal. 

Dated: October 17, 2006.

Case 2:04-cv-01576-GEB-EFB Document 41 Filed 10/18/06 Page 2 of 2