Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-casd-3_07-cv-00869/USCOURTS-casd-3_07-cv-00869-0/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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1 07cv0869-W (RBB)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

TYUN SOCKEE DODSON,

Plaintiff,

v.

J. ROCHA, Correctional Officer,

et al.,

Defendants. 

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Civil No. 07cv0869-W (RBB)

ORDER GRANTING PLAINTIFF’S

REQUEST FOR RE-ISSUANCE OF

U.S. MARSHAL FORMS [DOC. NO.

36]

Plaintiff Tyun Sockee Dodson filed a civil rights complaint

pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1983 on May 14, 2007 [doc. no. 1]. On July

5, 2007, Plaintiff was granted leave to proceed in forma pauperis

(“IFP”) [doc. no. 3]. A summons was issued for each Defendant on

July 6, 2007. Since that time, ten of the Defendants have received

notice of the Complaint and each waived service of the Complaint

pursuant to Rule 4(d) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. 

(See doc. nos. 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 16, 21, 31.) These

Defendants have since filed a Motion to Dismiss Plaintiff’s

Complaint for Failure to State a Complaint [doc. no. 25, 32]. As

Case 3:07-cv-00869-W-RBB Document 38 Filed 01/30/08 Page 1 of 3
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2 07cv0869-W (RBB)

of the date of this Order, however, the docket does not show that

Defendants Mora or Arani have been served. 

On January 8, 2008, Dodson submitted a letter, which was filed

nunc pro tunc to January 4, 2008 [doc. no. 36]. Plaintiff alleges

that he attempted to serve Defendant Arani, but due to Dodson’s

error in attempting to serve the Defendant on his own, service was

not properly completed. He requests that the Court provide him

with a new conformed copy of the summons and Complaint and a U.S.

Marshal Form 285 (erroneously referred to by Plaintiff as a “USMS

245” form) so that he can have the U.S. Marshal re-attempt service

on Defendant Arani at Calipatria State Prison.

Because Dodson is proceeding IFP, he is entitled to have the

U.S. Marshal Service serve the summons and Complaint on each of the

Defendants. See 28 U.S.C. § 1915(d); Fed. R. Civ. P. 4(c)(2);

Puett v. Blandford, 912 F.2d 270, 273 (9th Cir. 1989). “[H]aving

provided the necessary information to help effectuate service,

plaintiff should not be penalized by having his or her action

dismissed for failure to effect service where the U.S. Marshal or

the court clerk has failed to perform the duties required of each

of them under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(c) and Rule 4 of the Federal Rules

of Civil Procedure.” Puett, 912 F.2d at 275. 

Dodson has identified Defendant Arani by name and badge

number, and indicated that Arani was employed at Calipatria State

Prison on July 30, 2005, when the events described in Plaintiff’s

Complaint occurred. (See Letter dated Dec. 31, 2007 [doc. no. 36];

Compl. 1, 3.) As long as Defendant Arani is currently employed by

the California Department of Corrections (“CDC”) or his forwarding

address can be easily ascertained by reference to the CDC’s

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K:\COMMON\BROOKS\CASES\1983\PRISONER\DODSON0869\Order_re_usmsformrequest.wpd 3 07cv0869-W (RBB)

personnel records, Plaintiff is entitled to rely on the U.S.

Marshal to effect service on him. See Puett, 912 F.2d at 275.

Accordingly, Dodson’s request for re-issuance of a conformed

copy of the summons and Complaint and a U.S. Marshal form 285 is

GRANTED. Plaintiff is also granted an extension of time through

March 3, 2008, to effect service on Defendant Arani.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: January 30, 2008

 Ruben B. Brooks

United States Magistrate Judge

cc: Judge Whelan

All Parties of Record

Case 3:07-cv-00869-W-RBB Document 38 Filed 01/30/08 Page 3 of 3