Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-3_04-cv-00284/USCOURTS-cand-3_04-cv-00284-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 290
Nature of Suit: Other Real Property Actions
Cause of Action: 28:1331(a) Fed. Question: Real Property

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United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

EDDIE LANE SHIELDS,

Plaintiff,

v

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE

INTERIOR et al,

Defendants. /

No C-04-0284 VRW

ORDER

Defendants move to dismiss the complaint for, among other

reasons, failure to serve the complaint in the 120 days allotted by

FRCP 4(m). Doc #18. Although defendants have answered, Doc #9,

they included Rule 4 as an affirmative defense in their answer, id

at 14:24-25, and have raised the defense by motion at their first

opportunity (i e, in the pending motion). Accordingly the ground

is not waived. See FRCP 12(h). Plaintiff “concedes that he did

not effect service of process upon the United States attorney

within the period set forth by Rule 4(m).” Pl Opp (Doc #19) at

5:10-11.

Case 3:04-cv-00284-VRW Document 23 Filed 04/27/05 Page 1 of 4
United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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Rule 4(m) provides, however, that “if the plaintiff shows

good cause for the failure, the court shall extend the time for

service for an appropriate period.” Plaintiff argues that he can

establish good cause. Pl Opp (Doc #19) at 4:10-18; id Ex 1

(Bareilles Decl). Plaintiff’s counsel explains that, before filing

this suit, he had been negotiating a resolution of this matter with

the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) (a defendant herein). Id ¶3. 

After those efforts failed, he filed this suit and asked his

contacts at BLM whom he should serve; they responded with the name

and address of an attorney with the Department of the Interior’s

Office of the Regional Solicitor. Id. Counsel served this

attorney. Id ¶4. Several months later, when no response was

forthcoming, and “upon discussing this matter with [the courtroom

deputy for the judge to whom this case was originally assigned],

and researching the matter further,” counsel determined that it was

necessary to serve the United States Attorney for the Northern

District of California and the Attorney General. Id ¶9 (emphasis

added). Service of these individuals was, however, made outside

FRCP 4(m)’s 120-day window.

The court sympathizes with plaintiff’s counsel that

service can sometimes be a vexing and confusing task, and Rule 4(m)

is formalistic and inflexible. But counsel’s tale does not -- as a

matter of law cannot -- establish good cause, because counsel need

have looked no further than FRCP 4(i) (“Serving the United States,

Its Agencies, Corporations, Officers, or Employees”) to know how to

effect service. Like counsel in Tuke v United States, 76 F3d 155,

156 (7th Cir 1996), who “did not bother to read Fed R Civ P 4,

which governs service in federal litigation, and relied on his

Case 3:04-cv-00284-VRW Document 23 Filed 04/27/05 Page 2 of 4
United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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adversary to tell him what he must do,” plaintiff’s counsel’s

failure to effect timely service is entirely the product of his

ignorance of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. “Failure to

read a rule is the antithesis of good cause. Ignorance may be an

explanation but is not an excuse.” Tuke, 76 F3d at 156. See also

Townsel v County of Contra Costa, 820 F2d 319, 320-21 (9th Cir

1987). Rule 4(i) is absolutely clear on what is required to serve

the United States (or an agency thereof):

(i) Serving the United States, Its Agencies,

Corporations, Officers, or Employees.

(1) Service upon the United States shall be

effected

(A) by delivering a copy of the

summons and of the complaint to the

United States attorney for the

district in which the action is

brought or to an assistant United

States attorney or clerical employee

designated by the United States

attorney in a writing filed with the

clerk of the court or by sending a

copy of the summons and of the

complaint by registered or certified

mail addressed to the civil process

clerk at the office of the United

States attorney and

(B) by also sending a copy of the

summons and of the complaint by

registered or certified mail to the

Attorney General of the United States

at Washington, District of Columbia,

* * *

Counsel’s failure to heed these instructions cannot be excused.

Accordingly, the court must DISMISS this case without

prejudice for failure to comply with FRCP 4(m). The court declines

to reach the alternative grounds for dismissal identified in

defendants’ motion because the parties may, in fact, agree that

this suit is properly heard in the Court of Federal Claims. See Pl

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United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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Opp (Doc #19) at 2:9-11 (“Plaintiff agrees that the Court of

Federal Claims would have exclusive jurisdiction over express and

implied contractual claims exceeding the value of $10,000.00 under

the [Tucker] Act.”).

* * *

In sum, defendants’ motion to dismiss for failure to

comply with FRCP 4(m) (Doc #18) is GRANTED. The hearing scheduled

for May 5, 2005, is VACATED. See Civ L R 7-1(b). The case is

DISMISSED without prejudice. The clerk is DIRECTED to close the

file and TERMINATE all pending motions.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

 /s/ 

VAUGHN R WALKER

United States District Chief Judge

Case 3:04-cv-00284-VRW Document 23 Filed 04/27/05 Page 4 of 4