Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_05-cv-00086/USCOURTS-caed-2_05-cv-00086-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 442
Nature of Suit: Civil Rights Employment
Cause of Action: 28:1983 Civil Rights

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

CORNELIA CALAYAG,

Plaintiff,

v.

JOHN E. POTTER, POSTMASTER

GENERAL, UNITED STATES POSTAL

SERVICE,

Defendant.

CIV S-05-0086 LKK PAN PS

ORDER 

—NFN—

On January 14, 2005, plaintiff filed this action alleging

employment discrimination under Title VII of the Civil Rights

Act, 42 U.S.C. 2000e et seq., following the October 26, 2004,

decision of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission affirming

dismissal of plaintiff’s administrative complaint for failure to

state a claim. Plaintiff’s complaint was filed in this court

within the 90-day limitation period provided by 42 U.S.C. §

2000e-5. 

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1 Fed. R. Civ. P. 4(i)(1) provides:

(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, and

(C) in any action attacking the validity of an order of an officer

or agency of the United States not made a party, by also sending a

copy of the summons and of the complaint by registered or

certified mail to the officer or agency.

2

On June 10, 2005, plaintiff filed a request for default

judgment against Postmaster General John E. Potter on the ground

he has failed to answer plaintiff’s complaint. 

Plaintiff’s papers demonstrate service of process has not

properly been made upon defendant as required by Fed. R. Civ. P.

4(i)(2)(A). Plaintiff has filed only proof of service of the

complaint upon Mr. Potter. 

Fed. R. Civ. P. (i)(2)(A) provides: “Service on an

agency or corporation of the United States, or an officer or

employee of the United States sued only in an official capacity,

is effected by serving the United States in the manner prescribed

by Rule 4(i)(1)1 and by also sending a copy of the summons and

complaint by registered or certified mail to the officer,

employee, agency, or corporation.”

The Ninth Circuit has encouraged district courts to be

“generally more solicitous of the rights of pro se litigants,

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particularly when technical jurisdictional requirements are

involved.” Borzeka v. Heckler, 739 F.2d 444, 448, n.2 (9th Cir.

1985). Lenience notwithstanding, substantial compliance with

Rule 4 is required, even for pro se plaintiffs. See Bramesco v.

Drug Computer Consultants, 148 F.R.D. 690 (S.D.N.Y. 1993). 

Moreover, that defendants have actual notice of an action, absent

special circumstances, is insufficient to confer personal

jurisdiction in the absence of valid service of process. See

Fed. R. Civ. P. 4; Mid-Continent Wood Prod., Inc. v. Harris, 936

F.2d 297 (7th Cir. 1991); Jackson v. Hayakawa, 682 F.2d 1344 (9th

Cir. 1982). 

To comply with Rule 4(i)(2)(A) plaintiff is directed to

send by certified or registered mail a copy of the summons and

complaint to each of the following:

John E. Potter

Postmaster General

U.S. Postal Service

475 L’Enfant Plaza, SW

Washington, D.C. 20260-0010

McGregor W. Scott

United States Attorney

Eastern District of California

c/o Civil Process Clerk

501 I Street, Suite 10-100

Sacramento, CA 95814-2322

Alberto Gonzalez

Attorney General

U.S. Department of Justice

950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW

Washington, D.C. 20530-0001

Plaintiff is directed to file proof of such service

within 11 days. Failure to comply will result in a

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recommendation this case be dismissed pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P.

4(m) and Fed. R. Civ. P. 41(b). Plaintiff’s request for default

judgment is denied.

So ordered. 

Dated: July 6, 2005. 

 /s/ Peter A. Nowinski 

 PETER A. NOWINSKI

 Magistrate Judge

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