Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_15-cv-01057/USCOURTS-caed-2_15-cv-01057-2/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 

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 

JOHN W. WILLIAMS, 

Plaintiff, 

v. 

CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF 

CORRECTIONS AND 

REHABILITATION, et al., 

Defendants. 

No. 2:15-cv-1057-JAM-EFB P 

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE 

 Plaintiff is a state prisoner proceeding pro se in this civil action. He commenced this 

action on May 15, 2015 by filing a complaint and paying the filing fee. ECF No. 1. On June 9, 

2015, the court screened plaintiff’s complaint pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915A and found service 

appropriate for all defendants. ECF No. 5. However, plaintiff has not completed service of 

process notwithstanding having been warned of the requirement to timely complete service. 

On August 4, 2015, the court cautioned plaintiff that it is his responsibility to arrange for 

service of process and that failure to do so may result in dismissal. ECF No. 12 (“Plaintiff is 

cautioned that failure to accomplish service within the time prescribed by Rule 4(m) may result in 

a this action being dismissed for failure to follow court orders, for failure to effect service of 

process, and/or for lack of prosecution under Rule 41(b) of the Federal Rules of Civil 

Procedure.”); see also ECF No. 16. Nonetheless, more than 120 days have passed and there is no 

Case 2:15-cv-01057-JAM-EFB Document 18 Filed 12/07/15 Page 1 of 2
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indication from the record that any of the defendants have been served with process. See Fed. R. 

Civ. P. 4(m) (service of process must be effected within 120 days of the filing of the complaint 

unless plaintiff demonstrates good cause). 

Plaintiff has had ample time to retain a process server and effect service. The fact that 

plaintiff is incarcerated does not excuse him from properly serving defendants in a timely manner. 

See Collins v. Pitchess, 641 F.2d 740, 742 (9th Cir. 1981) (incarceration does not absolve a 

plaintiff of the responsibility to prosecute his actions diligently). 

Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that plaintiff shall show cause within 21 days 

from the date of this order as to why this action should not be dismissed without prejudice. See

Fed. R. Civ. P. 4(m), 41(b); E.D. Cal. Local Rule 110. 

Dated: December 7, 2015. 

Case 2:15-cv-01057-JAM-EFB Document 18 Filed 12/07/15 Page 2 of 2