Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_10-cv-01940/USCOURTS-caed-1_10-cv-01940-29/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 550
Nature of Suit: Prisoner - Civil Rights (U.S. defendant)
Cause of Action: 42:1983 Prisoner Civil Rights

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

Plaintiff Kajauna Kenyatta Irvin is appearing pro se in this civil rights action pursuant to 42 

U.S.C. § 1983 and the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (“RLUIPA”). 

Currently before the Court is Plaintiff’s motion for substitution of the successor to deceased 

Defendant Sean Lantz. (ECF No. 134.) 

Pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 25, a notice of suggestion of death of a defendant 

must be filed with the court and plaintiff, and also on the proper party to be substituted in the place of 

the deceased defendant. Fed. R. Civ. P. 25(a)(3); Barlow v. Ground, 39 F.3d 231, 233 (9th Cir. 1994). 

Thus, non-party successors or representatives of the deceased party must be served with the suggestion 

of death in the manner provided by Rule 4 for the service of a summons. Plaintiff has filed a motion 

for substitution indicating that deceased Defendant Seth Lantz’s successor is Shannon Lantz, but he is 

unable to serve a copy because the address is confidential. Accordingly, now that Plaintiff has filed a 

motion for substitution identifying Shannon Lantz, as the successor of Sean Lantz, defense counsel is 

KAJAUNA KENYATTA IRVIN,

 Plaintiff,

v.

JAMES A YATES, et al.,

Defendants.

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Case No.: 1:10-cv-01940-DAD-SAB (PC)

ORDER DIRECTING DECEASED DEFENDANT 

SETH LANTZ’S COUNSEL TO RE-SERVE THE 

SUGGESTION OF DEATH, ALONG WITH A 

COPY OF PLAINTIFF’S MOTION FOR 

SUBSTITUTION ON SUCCESSOR, SHANNON 

LANTZ

[ECF No. 134]

Case 1:10-cv-01940-DAD-SAB Document 158 Filed 11/16/16 Page 1 of 2
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directed to serve and file a declaration of service or other proof reflecting that there was proper service 

of the notice of death, along with a copy of Plaintiff’s motion for substitution on Defendant Sean 

Lantz’s successor or representative as provided by Rule 4. If counsel is unable to properly serve the 

successor, a declaration stating what steps were taken to locate and serve such party must be filed. 

Accordingly, it is HEREBY ORDERED that:

Within thirty (30) days of the date of this order, defense counsel shall endeavor to locate 

Shannon Lantz as the successor for deceased Defendant Seth Lantz and either: (1) serve the notice of 

suggestion of death on that party, along with a copy of Plaintiff’s motion for substitution; or (2) file a 

declaration documenting the steps taken to discover the location and attempts to serve Shannon Lantz 

as successor for Seth Lantz. 

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: November 16, 2016 

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

Case 1:10-cv-01940-DAD-SAB Document 158 Filed 11/16/16 Page 2 of 2