Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_12-cv-00309/USCOURTS-caed-1_12-cv-00309-5/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 550
Nature of Suit: Prisoner - Civil Rights (U.S. defendant)
Cause of Action: 42:1983 Prisoner Civil Rights

---

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

1

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

GREGORY ADONIS MURPHY, 

Plaintiff,

v.

KELSO, et al.,

Defendants.

Case No. 1:12-cv-00309-LJO-JLT (PC)

ORDER REQUIRING DEFENDANTS 

ENENMOH, ALLISON and METTS TO FILE 

A RESPONSE TO THE MARSHAL'S 

REQUEST FOR REIMBURSEMENT OF 

COSTS OF SERVICE

(Doc. 26)

20-DAY DEADLINE

I. BACKGROUND

Plaintiff, Gregory Adonis Murphy, is a state prisoner proceeding pro se and informa 

pauperis in this civil rights action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. Plaintiff filed the complaint 

commencing this action on August 30, 2011. (Doc. 1.) Plaintiff filed the First Amended 

Complaint on June 27, 2013. (Doc. 17.) On July 25, 2013, the Court issued an order for this 

action to proceed on the First Amended Complaint against Defendants Allison, Enenmoh, and 

Metts ("Defendants"). (Doc. 18.) On August 7, 2013, the Court ordered the United States 

Marshal ("Marshal") to serve process on Defendants. (Doc. 20.) On April 17, 2014, the Marshal 

filed a USM-285 form indicating that on March 6, 2014, personal service was effected upon 

Defendants. (Doc. 25.) On April 17, 2014, the Marshal filed a request for a court order requiring 

Defendants to reimburse the costs incurred by the Marshal for personal service (AMarshal=s 

Request@), pursuant to Rule 4(d)(2) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. (Doc. 26.) 

Case 1:12-cv-00309-LJO-JLT Document 32 Filed 05/21/14 Page 1 of 2
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

2

Defendants have not filed an opposition. 

II. DISCUSSION

Rule 4(d)(2) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure provides in 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 Marshal requests the Court to impose costs on Defendants for their failure to avoid 

unnecessary costs. On April 17, 2014, the Marshal filed a USM-285 form indicating that a 

waiver of service form was mailed to Defendants on September 4, 2013 and no response was 

received. (Doc. 25.) Personal service was executed on Defendants on March 6, 2014. Id. 

Given that the Marshal=s request was submitted in the form of a memorandum and may 

not have been recognized as a request for the court to impose costs, Defendants are granted an 

opportunity to file a response to the Marshal=s Request. 

Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that:

1. Within twenty days from the date of service of this order, Defendants SHALL file 

a written response to the Marshal=s Request, filed on April 17, 2014 (Doc. 26); and

2. Defendants' failure to comply with this order shall result in an order requiring 

Defendants to reimburse the Marshal for costs of personal service.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: May 20, 2014 /s/ Jennifer L. Thurston 

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

Case 1:12-cv-00309-LJO-JLT Document 32 Filed 05/21/14 Page 2 of 2