Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_06-cv-00212/USCOURTS-caed-1_06-cv-00212-7/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 550
Nature of Suit: Prisoner - Civil Rights (U.S. defendant)
Cause of Action: 28:1331 Federal Question: Bivens Act

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28 Plaintiff’s claims arising from the prayer oil request and the 2006 ceremonial meal request were dismissed, 1

without prejudice. (Doc. 17.)

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

JOHN McFARLAND,

Plaintiff,

v.

B. ELLIS, et al.,

Defendants.

 /

CASE NO. 1:06-cv-00212-OWW-SMS PC

ORDER REQUIRING PLAINTIFF TO EFFECT

SERVICE OF PROCESS WITHIN ONEHUNDRED TWENTY DAYS

(Docs. 13 and 17)

ORDER DIRECTING CLERK’S OFFICE TO

ISSUE SUMMONSES AND OTHER

DOCUMENTS TO PLAINTIFF 

I. Order Directing Plaintiff to Initiate Service of Process

Plaintiff John McFarland (“Plaintiff”) is a federal prisoner proceeding pro se in this civil

action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 2000cc-1 (the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act

of 2000 (“RLUIPA”)), and Bivens v. Six Unknown Named Agents of Federal Bureau of Narcotics,

403 U.S. 388 (1971), which provides a remedy for violation of civil rights by federal actors. The

Court screened Plaintiff’s second amended complaint pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915A, and found that

it states cognizable claims for relief against Defendants Ellis, Wrigley, Cornell, Uzzle, and Nelson

for violation of RLUIPA, the Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment, and the Equal Protection

Clause of the Fifth Amendment, arising from Plaintiff’s allegations concerning the November 2005

ceremonial meal request. Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(a). 

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28 Service of process cannot be effected on Doe defendants. In the event that Plaintiff ascertains the 2

identities of Doe I and Doe II, Plaintiff shall notify the Court.

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Plaintiff paid the filing fee in full for initiating this action. Because Plaintiff is not

proceeding in forma pauperis, it is Plaintiff’s responsibility to effect service of the summons and

complaint on Defendants Ellis, Wrigley, Cornell, Uzzle, and Nelson. The Clerk of the Court will

be directed to issue five summonses to Plaintiff for the purpose of service of process. Fed. R. Civ. 2

P. 4.

Plaintiff shall complete service of process in accordance with Federal Rule of Civil Procedure

4 within one-hundred twenty (120) days from the date of service of this order. Plaintiff shall serve

a copy of this order on each defendant together with a copy of the summons and complaint. The

following two sections contain instructions on how to serve Defendants. 

A. Waiver of Service

Pursuant to Rule 4(d)(2), Plaintiff may (but is not required to) notify Defendants Ellis,

Wrigley, Cornell, Uzzle, and Nelson of the commencement of this action and request that they waive

service of the summons. Fed. R. Civ. P. 4(d)(2). If Plaintiff wishes to do this, he must mail each

defendant (1) the form entitled “Notice of Lawsuit and Request for Waiver of Service for

Summons,” (2) the form entitled “Waiver of Service of Summons,” and (3) a copy of the complaint.

The documents must be addressed directly to each defendant and must be dispatched (mailed)

through first-class mail. The Waiver of Service of Summons form must set forth the date on which

the request is sent and must allow each defendant at least thirty (30) days in which to return the

waiver to Plaintiff. If Defendants sign and return the waiver forms to Plaintiff, Plaintiff must then

file the forms with the Court. After filing the forms with the Court, Plaintiff need not take any

further steps to serve Defendants. Fed. R. Civ. P. 4(d)(4).

B. Personal Service

If either (1) Plaintiff does not wish to request Defendants to waive service or (2) one or more

of the defendants fail to return the Waiver of Service of Summons form to Plaintiff, Plaintiff must

have personal service effected on Defendants. Each defendant must be personally served with a

summons and copy of the complaint, along with a copy of this order. Plaintiff may not effect

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personal service himself. Fed. R. Civ. P. 4(c). Service may be effected by any person who is not a

party to this action and who is at least eighteen years old. Id. The Court will provide Plaintiff with

a copy of Rule 4 along with this order. Plaintiff should review Rule 4(e)(2), which addresses how

personal service may be effected. 

C. Conclusion

In accordance with the above, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that:

1. The Clerk of the Court is directed to issue and send Plaintiff five (5) summonses. 

2. The Clerk is further directed to send Plaintiff:

a) One (1) copy of the complaint filed November 8, 2006;

b) One (1) copy of the form entitled “Notice of Lawsuit and Request for Waiver

of Service of Summons;” 

c) One (1) copy of the form entitled “Waiver of Service;” 

d) One (1) copy of the form entitled “Consent to Proceed Before United States

Magistrate Judge” with instructions; and 

e) One (1) copy of Rule 4 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure

3. Plaintiff shall complete service of process on Defendants Ellis, Wrigley, Cornell,

Uzzle, and Nelson within one-hundred twenty (120) days from the date of service

of this order. Plaintiff shall serve a copy of this order and a copy of the form

“Consent to Proceed Before United States Magistrate Judge” on Defendants at the

time of service of the summons and complaint. 

4. Plaintiff’s failure to timely complete service of the complaint on Defendants Ellis,

Wrigley, Cornell, Uzzle, and Nelson may result in dismissal of this action. Fed. R.

Civ. P. 4(m).

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: July 6, 2007 /s/ Sandra M. Snyder 

i0d3h8 UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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