Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_14-cv-01468/USCOURTS-caed-2_14-cv-01468-2/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 

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 

IMHOTEP SALAT, 

Plaintiff, 

v. 

MICHAEL PIROTTO, ET AL., 

Defendants. 

No. 2:14-cv-1468-MCE-AC 

ORDER 

 On October 28, 2014, the court issued an order to show cause requiring defendant Michael 

Pirotto (“Defendant Pirotto”) to reimburse the United States Marshals Service (“USM”) for 

personal service of process under Rule 4(d)(2) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure because he 

failed to waive service, unless he filed a written statement showing good cause for his failure to 

waive. ECF No. 14. On November 4, 2014, Defendant Pirotto filed his response to the court’s 

order, arguing that he failed to waive service for good cause because he never received a request 

to waive service from the USM. ECF No. 16. 

The court finds the fact that Defendant Pirotto never received his request from the USM 

constitutes good cause for failure to waive service. Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 4(d)(1) 

imposes a duty on defendants “to avoid unnecessary expenses of serving the summons.” Rule 

4(d)(2) requires that the court tax costs of service of process on any defendant who fails to show 

good cause for failing to sign and return a timely waiver of service. Fed. R. Civ. P. 4(d)(2). The 

Case 2:14-cv-01468-MCE-AC Document 20 Filed 11/10/14 Page 1 of 2
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advisory committee notes provide two examples of when good cause can be established: when a 

defendant does not receive the request or when a defendant is insufficiently literate in English to 

understand it. Fed. R. Civ. P. 4(d) Advisory Committee’s Note (1993 Amendments). According 

to Defendant Pirotto, he never received the USM’s request to waive service. ECF No. 16. 

Accordingly, the court finds that Defendant Pirotto has shown good cause for failure to waive 

service and declines to order him to reimburse the USM. 

In light of the foregoing, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that: 

1. The October 28, 2014, order to show cause, ECF No. 14, is discharged. 

DATED: November 10, 2014 

Case 2:14-cv-01468-MCE-AC Document 20 Filed 11/10/14 Page 2 of 2