Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-4_17-cv-03516/USCOURTS-cand-4_17-cv-03516-4/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 555
Nature of Suit: Prisoner - Prison Condition
Cause of Action: 42:1983 Prisoner Civil Rights

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United States District Court

Northern District of California

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

MILES ORLONDO BONTY,

Plaintiff,

v.

LAWRENCE GAMBOA, et al.,

Defendants.

Case No. 17-cv-03516-HSG (PR) 

ORDER DIRECTING PLAINTIFF TO 

PROVIDE COURT WITH MORE 

INFORMATION FOR DEFENDANT 

NYGEN

Plaintiff, an inmate at Salinas Valley State Prison proceeding pro se, filed this civil rights 

action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. On February 15, 2018, the Court screened plaintiff’s 

complaint and found that it stated a cognizable Eighth Amendment claim of deliberate 

indifference to serious medical needs. Service has been ordered on nine defendants. On March 

22, 2018, the summons for defendant Dr. T. Nygen was returned unexecuted with the following 

remark by the United States Marshal: “The Salinas Valley State Prison and California Correctional 

Health Care Services could not provide a location to serve the summons.” Docket No. 30. 

Accordingly, defendant Nygen has not been served.

Although a plaintiff who is incarcerated and proceeding in forma pauperis may rely on 

service by the Marshal, such plaintiff “may not remain silent and do nothing to effectuate such 

service;” rather, “[a]t a minimum, a plaintiff should request service upon the appropriate defendant 

and attempt to remedy any apparent defects of which [he] has knowledge.” Rochon v. Dawson, 

828 F.2d 1107, 1110 (5th Cir. 1987). Absent a showing of “good cause,” a complaint pending for 

over 90 days is subject to dismissal without prejudice. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 4(m).

Plaintiff has not provided sufficient information to allow the Marshal to locate and serve 

defendant Nygen. Consequently, plaintiff must remedy the situation or face dismissal of 

Case 4:17-cv-03516-HSG Document 31 Filed 03/28/18 Page 1 of 2
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United States District Court

Northern District of California

defendant Nygen from this action without prejudice. See Walker v. Sumner, 14 F.3d 1415, 1421-

22 (9th Cir. 1994) overruled on other grounds by Sandin v. Conner, 515 U.S. 472, 483-84 (1995) 

(holding prisoner failed to show cause why prison official should not be dismissed under Rule 

4(m) where prisoner failed to show he had provided Marshal with sufficient information to 

effectuate service). Because the complaint has been pending for over 90 days, the Court will sua 

sponte grant plaintiff an extension of time to effect service on defendant Nygen.

Accordingly, within sixty (60) days of this order, plaintiff must effect service on defendant

Nygen, or submit to the Court sufficient information to identify and locate defendant Nygen such 

that the Marshal is able to effect service. If plaintiff fails to provide the court with the 

information requested within sixty (60) days of the date this order is filed, plaintiff’s claim 

against defendant Nygen will be dismissed without prejudice pursuant to Rule 4(m) of the 

Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.

The Court notes that it is also awaiting a motion for substitution or voluntary dismissal of a 

tenth defendant—Edward Birdsong—who is now deceased. Because the status of defendants 

Nygen and Birdsong remains unclear, the briefing schedule set forth in the Court’s February 15, 

2018 order of service is VACATED. The Court will issue a new briefing schedule for dispositive 

motions when all service issues have been resolved.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated:

HAYWOOD S. GILLIAM, JR.

United States District Judge

3/28/2018

Case 4:17-cv-03516-HSG Document 31 Filed 03/28/18 Page 2 of 2