Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-casd-3_13-cv-00482/USCOURTS-casd-3_13-cv-00482-0/pdf.json

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

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

ROBIN A. DUNN,

Plaintiff,

CASE NO. 13CV0482 CAB (MDD)

ORDER ON MOTION 

vs. [ECF NO. 12]

PETER MELKONIAN,

Defendant.

On September 25, 2013, Plaintiff moved to request this Court to (1)

order the San Diego Sheriff’s Department to confidentially provide

Defendant Melkonian’s last known address to the Court, and (2) to direct

the U.S. Marshals Service to serve Defendant upon receipt of the

address. (ECF No. 12).

Plaintiff is a state prisoner incarcerated in Ironwood State Prison

proceeding pro se and in forma pauperis. On February 27, 2013, Plaintiff

filed a complaint under 42 U.S. §1983 alleging a violation of his civil

rights. After an initial screening by the district court, claims against the

City of San Diego and a Jane Doe defendant were dismissed with

prejudice. (ECF No. 5). The sole remaining defendant is Peter

Melkonian. On July 18, 2013, a summons was issued. On August 5,

2013 the summons was returned unexecuted. Plaintiff had attempted to

effectuate service at the George Bailey Detention Center. George Bailey

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was the location of the alleged incident between Plaintiff and Defendant

Melkonian and was the only address Plaintiff had in order to attempt

service. Upon receipt, officials at George Bailey returned the summons

remarking that Defendant Melkonian no longer worked at the facility

and that records reflected that he no longer worked for the Sheriff’s

Department. A forwarding address was not provided.

Plaintiff has continued to attempt to acquire Defendant’s address in

order to serve him with the complaint. In a letter dated August 20, 2013,

the Sheriff’s Department informed Plaintiff that they would not release

Defendant’s address citing the confidentially of peace officer’s personal

information pursuant to California law. (ECF No. 12 at 11).

Due to Plaintiff’s confinement in prison he cannot independently

investigate, and without an address Plaintiff cannot serve Defendant

Melkonian. Thus, he moves the Court to order the Sheriff’s Department

to confidentially provide the Court with Defendant’s last known address.

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)) “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)).

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Here, Plaintiff has identified Defendant as a former guard at

George Bailey Detention Center in the employ of the Sheriff’s

Department. Plaintiff’s ability to provide further information is hindered

by the limits of incarceration. Thus, it is appropriate for Plaintiff to seek

assistance from the Court to attempt to serve Defendant, so long as the

confidentiality of Defendant’s personal information may be maintained.

IT IS HEREBY ORDERED:

1. The Clerk shall direct the U.S. Marshal to serve a copy of this order

to the San Diego Sheriff’s Department. All costs of service shall be

advanced by the United States. 

2. The San Diego Sheriff’s Department shall confidentially provide

Defendant Melkonians last known address to the Clerk of Court on or

before November 15, 2013. 

3. Upon the receipt of Defendants last known address, should one

exist, the Clerk shall direct the U.S. Marshal to serve a copy of the

Summons and Complaint upon Defendant. All costs of service shall be

advanced by the United States. 

4. The Clerk of Court, the Sheriff’s Department, and the Office of the

U.S. Marshal are hereby ordered to keep the address strictly confidential. 

The address shall not appear on any 285 Form, shall not be provided to

Plaintiff, and shall not be made part of the Court record.

DATED: October 25, 2013

 

 Hon. Mitchell D. Dembin

 U.S. Magistrate Judge

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