Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-casd-3_07-cv-02376/USCOURTS-casd-3_07-cv-02376-2/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 895
Nature of Suit: Freedom of Information Act of 1974
Cause of Action: 05:552 Freedom of Information Act

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07cv2376

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

KARAL HASANI EFIA BATTLE-EL,

Plaintiff,

v.

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS

AFFAIRS,

Defendant.

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Civil No. 07cv2376-L(JMA)

ORDER DENYING SECOND

REQUEST FOR ENTRY OF

DEFAULT [doc. #9]

Plaintiff, appearing without counsel, filed a civil complaint against the Department of

Veterans Affairs and filed an application to proceed in forma pauperis (“IFP”) under 28 U.S.C. §

1915 that the Court granted on December 21, 2007. [doc. #3]. By that Order, plaintiff was sent

an “IFP Packet.” The IFP Packet contains a conformed copy of the complaint and a copy of the

Order granting the petition to proceed in forma pauperis. Also included in the IFP Packet are

copies of the complaint, summons, and U.S. Marshal service forms. A letter from the Clerk of

the Court accompanies these documents. The letter states in relevant part: 

It is your responsibility to complete the Marshal 285 forms and mail them together

with the complaint and summons to the U.S. Marshal’s office at the address given

below.

You must provide the U.S. Marshal with a complaint, summons, and Marshal

service form for each defendant to be served.

(Attachment to summons [doc. #4](emphasis added)).

Plaintiff filed a request for entry of default against defendant Department of Veterans

Case 3:07-cv-02376-L-JMA Document 10 Filed 04/09/08 Page 1 of 3
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Affairs. Plaintiff stated in his “proof of service/declaration of service” that defendant

Department of Veterans Affairs was served on January 9, 2008, and because it had not

responded to the complaint within 60 days, he was entitled to default for defendant’s failure to

plead or otherwise defend. The Court denied plaintiff’s request without prejudice because he

had not served a copy of the summons and the complaint on the United States attorney for the

district where the action is brought, and on the Attorney General of the United States at

Washington, D.C. See FED. R. CIV. P. 4(i)(1)(A)(i) and (ii), 4(i)(1)(B), and 4(I)(2). See Order

filed March 24, 2008 [doc. #8].

Plaintiff again seeks entry of default. Rather than make use of the United States Marshal

Service for service of process on the United States attorney for the Southern District of

California and on the Attorney General of the United States, plaintiff states in his proof of

service attached to his request for entry of default, that on “April 7, 2008 I mailed from the

United States Post Office . . . by certified mail return receipt requested . . . copies of the

following documents: (1) Civil Complaint . . . (2) Copy of Summons (3) Request for Clerk’s

Entry of Default (4) Declaration and Proof of Service.” 

First, the Court notes that plaintiff has not complied with Federal Rule of Civil Procedure

4(c)(2):

(c) Service

(2) By Whom. Any person who is at least 18 years old and not party may

serve a summons and complaint.

FED. R. CIV. P. 4(c)(2). Plaintiff may not serve the summons and complaint himself.

Next, plaintiff appears to believe that service of process is effectuated on the date the

Complaint and Summons are mailed. It is not. Plaintiff has not provided an affidavit

demonstrating that service of process has been effectuated. Instead, plaintiff states that he

mailed the Summons and Complaint to the Attorney General and the United States Attorney for

this district but mailing alone does not provide proof of service. “Except for service by a United

States marshal or deputy marshal, proof must be by the server’s affidavit.” FED. R. CIV. P.

4(l)(1). There must be some indication in the record that the party being served has received the

summons and complaint and here, there is no showing that the summons and complaint have

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been received.

Finally, if service has been effectuated properly, 

[t]he United States, a United States agency, of a United States officer or employee

sued only in an official capacity must serve an answer to a complaint,

counterclaim, or crossclaim within 60 days after service on the United States

attorney.

FED. R. CIV. P. 12(a)(2)

Because plaintiff has attempted service himself; has not demonstrated that service of

process has been effectuated by the filing of a return of service with respect to the United States

Attorneys’ Office for the Southern District of California, and the Attorney General of the United

States in addition to the Department of Veterans Affairs; and the 60 days time period for filing

an Answer or otherwise responding to the Complaint after service has been effectuated has not

passed, plaintiff is not entitled to entry of default at this time. 

Accordingly, plaintiff’s second request for entry of default is DENIED without prejudice.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

DATED: April 9, 2008

M. James Lorenz

United States District Court Judge

COPY TO: 

HON. JAN M. ADLER

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

ALL PARTIES/COUNSEL

Case 3:07-cv-02376-L-JMA Document 10 Filed 04/09/08 Page 3 of 3