Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_14-cv-00762/USCOURTS-caed-2_14-cv-00762-4/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 550
Nature of Suit: Prisoner - Civil Rights (U.S. defendant)
Cause of Action: 42:1983 Prisoner Civil Rights

---

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

1

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

EMILE JENKINS,

Plaintiff,

v.

SACRAMENTO COUNTY SHERIFF’S 

DEPT., et al.,

Defendants.

No. 2: 14-cv-0762 KJN P

ORDER

Plaintiff is a state prisoner, proceeding without counsel, with a civil rights action pursuant 

to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. On May 15, 2014, the court directed the United States Marshal to serve 

process upon defendants Cano, Silva and Vitale. (ECF No. 14.) The Marshal was directed to 

attempt to secure a waiver of service before attempting personal service on defendants. (Id.) If a 

waiver of service was not returned within sixty days, the Marshal was directed to effect personal 

service on the defendants in accordance with the provisions of Rule 4 of the Federal Rules of 

Civil Procedure and 28 U.S.C. § 566(c), without prepayment of costs, and to file the return of 

service with evidence of any attempt to secure a waiver of service and with evidence of all costs 

subsequently incurred in effecting personal service. (Id.)

On August 15, 2014, the United States Marshal filed a return of service with USM-285 

forms showing total charges of $65.00 for effecting personal service on each of the defendants. 

(ECF No. 19.) These forms show that a waiver of service form was mailed to each defendant on 

Case 2:14-cv-00762-MCE-KJN Document 23 Filed 08/29/14 Page 1 of 3
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

2

May 16, 2014 and that no response was received. (Id.) These forms indicate that personal 

service was effected on August 8, 2014 for all three defendants. (Id.)

Rule 4(d) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedures provides, in pertinent part, as follows:

An individual, corporation, or association that is subject to service 

under Rule 4(e), (f), or (h) has a duty to avoid unnecessary 

expenses of serving the summons...

If a defendant located within the United States fails, without good 

cause, to sign and return a waiver requested by a plaintiff located 

within the United States, the court must impose on the defendant:

(A)the expenses later incurred in making service; and

(B) the reasonable expenses, including attorneys’ fees, of any 

motion required to collect those services.

Fed. R. Civ. P. 4(d)(1), 2(A), (B).

On August 22, 2014, the undersigned issued an order finding that defendants Cano, Silva 

and Vitale were given the opportunity required by Rule 4(d) to waive service and failed to 

comply with the request. (ECF No. 21.) Defendants were ordered to each pay the United States 

Marsh the sum of $65 within fourteen days, unless within that time each defendant filed a written 

statement showing good cause for his failure to waive service. (Id.)

On August 25, 2014, defendants filed a response to the August 22, 2014 order. (ECF No. 

22.) Defendants state that they should not have to pay the costs of service because by the time the 

United States Marshal sent the matter out for service, defendants had voluntarily appeared in this 

action. (Id.) On July 11, 2014, defendants filed an answer. (ECF No. 17.) Defendants argue that 

the United States Marshal’s request for costs is unwarranted because personal service was not 

necessary. (ECF No. 22.) Defendants argue that the information that defendants had appeared in 

this action was readily available to the United States Marshal and they could easily see that 

appearances had been made by defendants. (Id.)

It is not the duty of the United States Marshal to check the court docket of every case in 

which waivers are not returned in order to determine whether personal service is required. 

Rather, the individual has the duty to avoid unnecessary expenses of serving the summons. Fed. 

R. Civ. P. 4(d). In fact, the Court’s order directing service expressly states: 

Case 2:14-cv-00762-MCE-KJN Document 23 Filed 08/29/14 Page 2 of 3
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

3

5. If a defendant waives service, the defendant is required to return the signed waiver to 

the United States Marshal. The filing of an answer or responsive motion does not relieve 

the defendant of this requirement, and the failure to return the signed waiver may subject a 

defendant to an order to pay the costs of service pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 4(d)(2).

ECF Doc. 14. Moreover, defendants have not shown good cause for why they were unable to 

return the waivers in a timely manner. 

Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that within fourteen days from the date of this 

order, defendants shall each pay the United States Marshal the sum of $65.

Dated: August 29, 2014

Jen762.ord

Case 2:14-cv-00762-MCE-KJN Document 23 Filed 08/29/14 Page 3 of 3