Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_01-cv-05969/USCOURTS-caed-1_01-cv-05969-0/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

JEFFREY COX, CASE NO. CV-F-01-5969 AWI DLB P

Plaintiff, ORDER REQUIRING PLAINTIFF TO

SHOW CAUSE WHY ACTION SHOULD 

NOT BE DISMISSED

WASCO STATE PRISON, et al., 

Defendants.

 /

Plaintiff is a state prisoner proceeding pro se and in forma pauperis in this civil rights action

pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. This action is proceeding on plaintiff’s amended complaint, filed on

September 12, 2002. On February 19, 2003, the court ordered plaintiff to provide information to

facilitate service of process on defendants by filling out and submitting to the court a USM-285 form

and a summons for each defendant to be served. Plaintiff submitted the required documents on March

6, 2003, and on April 9, 2003, the court directed the United States Marshal to initiate service on

defendants. On May 13, 2003 and May 19, 2003, the Marshal returned the documents to the Court as

they were unable to locate and serve the defendants. Plaintiff has not made any contact with this court

since that time. 

Pursuant to Rule 4(m),

[i]f service of the summons and complaint is not made upon a defendant within 120 days

after the filing of the complaint, the court, upon motion or on its own initiative after

notice to the plaintiff, shall dismiss the action without prejudice as to that defendant or

Case 1:01-cv-05969-AWI -DLB Document 53 Filed 11/20/06 Page 1 of 2
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direct that service be effected within a specified time; provided that if the plaintiff shows

good cause for the failure, the court shall extend the time for service for an appropriate

period.

Fed. R. Civ. P. 4(m).

In cases involving a plaintiff proceeding in forma pauperis, a United States Marshal, upon order

of the court, shall serve the summons and the complaint. Fed. R. Civ. P. 4(c)(2). “‘[A]n incarcerated

pro se plaintiff proceeding in forma pauperis is entitled to rely on the U.S. Marshal for service of the

summons and complaint and ... should not be penalized by having his action dismissed for failure to

effect service where the U.S. Marshal or the court clerk has failed to perform his duties.’” Walker v.

Sumner, 14 F.3d 1415, 1422 (9th Cir. 1994) (quoting Puett v. Blandford, 912 F.2d 270, 275 (9th Cir.

1990)), abrogated on other grounds by Sandin v. Connor, 515 U.S. 472 (1995). “So long as the prisoner

has furnished the information necessary to identify the defendant, the marshal’s failure to effect service

is ‘automatically good cause . . . .’” Walker, 14 F.3d at 1422 (quoting Sellers v. United States, 902 F.2d

598, 603 (7th Cir.1990)). However, where a pro se plaintiff fails to provide the Marshal with accurate

and sufficient information to effect service of the summons and complaint, the court’s sua sponte

dismissal of the unserved defendants is appropriate. Walker, 14 F.3d at 1421-22. 

Pursuant to Rule 4(m), the court will provide plaintiff with the opportunity to show cause why

the defendants should not be dismissed and this action terminated. 

Accordingly, based on the foregoing, it is HEREBY ORDERED that:

1. Within thirty (30) days from the date of service of this order, plaintiff shall show cause

why defendants should not be dismissed and this action terminated; and

2. The failure to respond to this order or the failure to show cause will result in a

recommendation that this action be dismissed.

IT IS SO ORDERED. 

Dated: November 20, 2006 /s/ Dennis L. Beck 

3b142a UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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