Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_04-cv-06066/USCOURTS-caed-1_04-cv-06066-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 550
Nature of Suit: Prisoner - Civil Rights (U.S. defendant)
Cause of Action: 28:1331 Federal Question: Bivens Act

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

CHARLES LOWELL KENTZ,

Plaintiff,

v.

EARLENE SMITH,

Defendant.

 /

CASE NO. 1:04-CV-06066-REC-LJO-P

ORDER FINDING SERVICE OF SECOND

AMENDED COMPLAINT APPROPRIATE,

AND DIRECTING PLAINTIFF TO

COMPLETE SERVICE OF PROCESS WITHIN

ONE-HUNDRED TWENTY DAYS

(Doc. 18)

ORDER DIRECTING CLERK’S OFFICE TO

PROVIDE DOCUMENTS TO PLAINTIFF

I. Order Directing Plaintiff to Initiate Service of Process

Plaintiff Charles Lowell Kentz (“plaintiff”)is a federal prisoner proceeding pro se in this civil

action pursuant to Bivens v. Six Unknown Named Agents of Federal Bureau of Narcotics, 403 U.S.

388 (1971), which provides a remedy for violation of civil rights by federal actors. Plaintiff filed

this action on August 9, 2004. The court has screened plaintiff’s second amended complaint

pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915A and finds that plaintiff’s complaint appears to state a cognizable

claim for relief against defendant Earlene Smith for discriminating against plaintiff on the basis of

his sexual orientation, in violation of the Equal Protection Clause. Fed. R. Civ. P. 8. 

Plaintiff paid the filing fee in full for initiating this action. Because plaintiff is not

proceeding in forma pauperis, it is plaintiff’s responsibility to effect service of the summons and

complaint on defendant Smith. The Clerk of the Court will be directed to issue one summons to

plaintiff for purposes of service of process. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 4.

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Plaintiff shall complete service of process in accordancewithFederalRule of Civil Procedure

4 within one-hundred twenty (120) days from the date of service of this order. Plaintiff shall serve

a copy of this order on defendant together with a copy of the summons and second amended

complaint. The following two sections contain instructions on how to serve defendant. 

A. Waiver of Service

Pursuant to Rule 4(d)(2), plaintiff may (but is not required to) notify defendant Smith of the

commencement of this action and request that she waive service of the summons. Fed. R. Civ. P.

4(d)(2). If plaintiff wishes to do this, he must mail defendant (1) the form entitled “Notice of

Lawsuit and Request for Waiver of Service for Summons,” (2) the form entitled “Waiver of Service

of Summons,” and (3) a copy of the second amended complaint. The documents must be addressed

directly to each defendant and must be dispatched (mailed) through first-class mail. The Waiver of

Service of Summons form must set forth the date on which the request is sent and must allow

defendant at least thirty (30) days in which to return the waiver to plaintiff. If defendant signs and

returns the waiver form to plaintiff, plaintiff must then file the form with the court. After filing the

form with the court, plaintiff need not take any further steps to serve defendant. Fed. R. Civ. P.

4(d)(4).

B. Personal Service

If either (1) plaintiff does not wish to request defendant to waive service or (2) defendant fails

to return the Waiver of Service of Summons form to plaintiff, plaintiff must have personal service

effected on defendant. Defendant must be personally served with a summons and copy of the second

amended complaint, along with a copy of this order. Plaintiff may not effect personal service

himself. Fed. R. Civ. P. 4(c). Service may be effected by any person who is not a party to this action

and who is at least eighteen years old. Id. The court will provide plaintiff with a copy of Rule 4

along with this order. Plaintiff should review Rule 4(e)(2), which addresses how personal service

may be effected. 

C. Conclusion

In accordance with the above, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that:

1. The Clerk of the Court is directed to issue and send plaintiff one (1) summons. 

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2. The Clerk is further directed to send plaintiff:

a) One (1) copy of the form entitled “Notice of Lawsuit and Request for Waiver

of Service of Summons;” 

b) One (1) copy of the form entitled “Waiver of Service;” 

c) One (1) copy of the form entitled “Consent to Proceed Before United States

Magistrate Judge” with instructions; and 

d) One (1) copy of Rule 4 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure

3. Plaintiff shall complete service of process on defendant Smith within one-hundred

twenty (120) days from the date of service of this order. Plaintiff shall serve a copy

of this order and a copy of the form “Consent to Proceed Before United States

Magistrate Judge” on defendant at the time of service of the summons and second

amended complaint. 

4. Plaintiff’s failure to timely complete service of the second amended complaint on the

defendant Smith may result in dismissal of this action. Fed. R. Civ. P. 4(m).

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: August 2, 2005 /s/ Lawrence J. O'Neill 

b9ed48 UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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