Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-4_17-cv-03706/USCOURTS-cand-4_17-cv-03706-4/pdf.json

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

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United States District Court

Northern District of California

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

HAROL JORDAN,

Plaintiff,

v.

VARGAS, et al.,

Defendants.

Case No. 17-cv-03706-HSG (PR) 

ORDER DIRECTING PLAINTIFF TO

PROVIDE COURT WITH MORE

INFORMATION FOR DEFENDANT

GARCIA; GRANTING DEFENDANTS’

MOTION FOR EXTENSION OF TIME

Re: Dkt. No. 29

Plaintiff, an inmate at Salinas Valley State Prison proceeding pro se, filed this civil rights 

action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. On December 28, 2017, the Court screened plaintiff’s 

amended complaint and found that it stated cognizable claims for retaliation, deliberate 

indifference to safety, and deliberate indifference to serious medical needs as against defendants 

SVSP correctional officers Vargas and Alvarez as well as a claim for deliberate indifference to 

serious medical needs as against defendant SVSP correctional officer Garcia. On May 1, 2018, 

the summons for defendant Garcia was returned unexecuted with the following remark by the 

United States Marshal: “USM/CDCR unable to identify specific defendant. Insufficient 

information.” Dkt. No. 27. Accordingly, defendant Garcia has not been served.

Although a plaintiff who is incarcerated and proceeding in forma pauperis may rely on 

service by the Marshal, such plaintiff “may not remain silent and do nothing to effectuate such 

service;” rather, “[a]t a minimum, a plaintiff should request service upon the appropriate defendant 

and attempt to remedy any apparent defects of which [he] has knowledge.” Rochon v. Dawson, 

828 F.2d 1107, 1110 (5th Cir. 1987). Absent a showing of “good cause,” a complaint pending for 

over 90 days is subject to dismissal without prejudice. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 4(m).

Plaintiff has not provided sufficient information to allow the Marshal to locate and serve 

defendant Garcia. Consequently, plaintiff must remedy the situation or face dismissal of 

Case 4:17-cv-03706-HSG Document 30 Filed 06/05/18 Page 1 of 2
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United States District Court

Northern District of California

defendant Garcia from this action without prejudice. See Walker v. Sumner, 14 F.3d 1415, 1421-

22 (9th Cir. 1994) overruled on other grounds by Sandin v. Conner, 515 U.S. 472, 483-84 (1995) 

(holding prisoner failed to show cause why prison official should not be dismissed under Rule 

4(m) where prisoner failed to show he had provided Marshal with sufficient information to 

effectuate service). Because the amended complaint has been pending for over 90 days, the Court 

will sua sponte grant plaintiff an extension of time to effect service on defendant Garcia.

Accordingly, within sixty (60) days of this order, plaintiff must effect service on defendant

Garcia, or submit to the Court sufficient information to identify and locate defendant Garcia such 

that the Marshal is able to effect service. If plaintiff fails to provide the court with the 

information requested within sixty (60) days of the date this order is filed, plaintiff’s claim 

against defendant Garcia will be dismissed without prejudice pursuant to Rule 4(m) of the 

Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.

Defendants Vargas and Alvarez have appeared in this action and have filed a motion for an 

extension of time to file a dispositive motion. Good cause appearing, the motion is GRANTED. 

The briefing schedule set forth in the Court’s December 28, 2017 order is VACATED. The Court 

will issue a new briefing schedule for dispositive motions when all service issues have been 

resolved.

The Clerk shall correct the spelling of defendant Alvarez’s name on the docket by 

substituting “Alvarez” for “Alverez.”

This order terminates Dkt. No. 29.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated:

HAYWOOD S. GILLIAM, JR.

United States District Judge

6/5/2018

Case 4:17-cv-03706-HSG Document 30 Filed 06/05/18 Page 2 of 2