Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-3_18-cv-05852/USCOURTS-cand-3_18-cv-05852-0/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

MELVIN JUSTICE,

Plaintiff,

v.

CITY & COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO, 

et al.,

Defendants.

Case No. 18-cv-05852-EMC 

ORDER DIRECTING PLAINTIFF TO 

FILE PROOF OF SERVICE OR TO 

SHOW CAUSE

Pro se Plaintiff Melvin Justice, Jr. filed his complaint against Defendants the City & 

County of San Francisco, the San Francisco Police Department, and Chris Gomez on September 

24, 2018. Docket No. 1. Mr. Justice has yet to serve Defendants. He represents that he is 

attempting to engage counsel in this matter, and intends to serve Defendants upon retaining 

representation. Docket No. 12 at 6. However, the 90-day deadline for service has already passed. 

See Fed. R. Civ. P. 4(m) (“If a defendant is not served within 90 days after the complaint is filed, 

the court—on motion or on its own after notice to the plaintiff—must dismiss the action without 

prejudice against that defendant or order that service be made within a specified time.”).

Notwithstanding Mr. Justice’s failure to timely serve Defendants, Rule 4(m) also provides 

that “if the plaintiff shows good cause for the failure, the court must extend the time for service for 

an appropriate period.” Id. Accordingly, it is hereby ORDERED that within thirty (30) days of 

the date of this Order, Mr. Justice shall either serve each Defendant with the summons and 

complaint in accordance with Rule 4 and provide the Court with proof of such service, or 

otherwise show cause why the complaint should not be dismissed without prejudice. 

The Court encourages Mr. Justice to consult with the Federal Pro Bono Project’s Legal 

Case 3:18-cv-05852-EMC Document 13 Filed 03/05/19 Page 1 of 2
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United States District Court

Northern District of California

Help Center in either the Oakland or San Francisco federal courthouses for assistance. Lawyers at 

the Legal Help Center can provide basic assistance to parties representing themselves but cannot 

provide legal representation. The San Francisco Legal Help Center office is located in Room 2796 

on the 15th floor at 450 Golden Gate Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94102. The Oakland office is 

located in Room 470-S on the 4th floor at 1301 Clay Street, Oakland, CA 94612. Appointments 

can be made by calling (415) 782-8982 or signing up in the appointment book located outside 

either office. 

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: March 5, 2019

______________________________________

EDWARD M. CHEN

United States District Judge

Case 3:18-cv-05852-EMC Document 13 Filed 03/05/19 Page 2 of 2