Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-4_19-cv-03193/USCOURTS-cand-4_19-cv-03193-1/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 440
Nature of Suit: Other Civil Rights
Cause of Action: 42:1983 Civil Rights Act

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United States District Court

Northern District of California

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

BERNARDO MENDIA,

Plaintiff,

v.

COUNTY OF CONTRA COSTA,

Defendant.

Case No. 4:19-cv-03193-KAW 

ORDER DISCHARGING ORDER TO 

SHOW CAUSE; ORDER REGARDING

REQUEST FOR LEAVE TO FILE 

FIRST AMENDED COMPLAINT

Re: Dkt. Nos. 9, 10

On June 7, 2019, Plaintiff Bernardo Mendia filed this action. Plaintiff failed to timely 

complete service of the complaint and summons by September 5, 2019, and did not file a motion

for administrative relief from the deadline pursuant to Civil L.R. 7-11. On September 27, 2019, 

the undersigned issued an order to show cause why this matter should not be dismissed for failure 

to comply with the deadline to complete service on Defendant or to file a motion for 

administrative relief. (Dkt. No. 9.) Plaintiff was also ordered to serve Defendant and file a proof 

of service by October 15, 2019. Id.

On October 15, 2019, Plaintiff filed a response to the order to show cause, and explained 

that he was seeking the assistance of counsel to prosecute this action and was in the process of 

obtaining additional facts regarding his claims before filing a first amended complaint. (Dkt. No. 

10 at 1.) Plaintiff then requested that he be permitted to file a first amended complaint by 

November 15, 2019. Id. at 2.

Pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 15(a)(1)(A), Plaintiff may amend his 

complaint once as a matter of course within 21 days of serving the original complaint. Since 

Plaintiff has not served the original complaint, he does not need to obtain leave of court to file his 

first amended complaint. Plaintiff does, however, require the Court’s permission for an extension 

Case 4:19-cv-03193-KAW Document 11 Filed 10/25/19 Page 1 of 2
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United States District Court

Northern District of California

of time to complete service of the operative complaint and summons on the defendants. Since 

Plaintiff is pro se, the Court will construe his request for leave to file an amended complaint as a 

request for an extension of time to serve Defendant(s). 

Accordingly, the September 27, 2019 order to show cause is DISCHARGED, and Plaintiff 

shall have until December 16, 2019 to serve his operative complaint—which may be a first 

amended complaint or the original complaint—on Defendant(s). Plaintiff is advised that should 

additional time be required to complete service, he is responsible for affirmatively seeking relief 

from the deadline by filing a motion for administrative relief pursuant to Civil L.R. 7-11. Failure 

to do so may result in the case being reassigned to a district judge with the recommendation that it 

be dismissed without prejudice for failure to prosecute. Also, Plaintiff is reminded that he must 

file a certificate of service on the docket after service is effectuated.

Finally, the November 5, 2019 case management conference is continued to February 4, 

2020 at 1:30 p.m. in Courtroom 4, 1301 Clay Street, 3rd Floor, Oakland, California. Case 

management statements are due on or before January 28, 2020.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: October 25, 2019

__________________________________

KANDIS A. WESTMORE

United States Magistrate Judge

Case 4:19-cv-03193-KAW Document 11 Filed 10/25/19 Page 2 of 2