Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_24-cv-00655/USCOURTS-caed-1_24-cv-00655-8/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

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

D’ANNUNZIO ROMAN GAVIOLA 

PATRON,

Plaintiff,

v.

LEWY HUGH, et al.,

 Defendants.

No. 1:24-cv-00655-JLT-SAB (PC)

ORDER FOR PLAINTIFF TO SHOW CAUSE 

WHY DEFENDANT G. HERARA SHOULD 

NOT BE DISMISSED PURSUANT TO 

FEDERAL RULE OF CIVIL PROCEDURE 

4(M)

(ECF No. 27)

Plaintiff is proceeding pro se and in forma pauperis in this action filed pursuant to 42 

U.S.C. § 1983. 

On July 24, 2024, the Court ordered service of the first amended complaint on Defendants 

registered nurse Lewy Hugh, officer C. Mares, and officer G. Herara, at the Fresno County Jail. 

(ECF No. 14.) 

On November 20, 2024, the Court ordered the Fresno County Sheriff to show cause why 

sanctions should not be imposed for failing to assist the United States Marshal with service of 

process as to officers C. Mares and G. Herara. (ECF No. 24.) 

On December 10, 2024, a response by the Fresno County Sheriff was filed. (ECF No. 27.) 

Therein, the Fresno County Sheriff submits that it is believed “the persons contacted about this 

Case 1:24-cv-00655-JLT-SAB Document 31 Filed 12/17/24 Page 1 of 3
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matter at [the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office], as well as those who were unable to be identified, 

acted in good faith, despite the apparent uninformed nature of certain of the directives cited by the 

USM, and did not intent to cause unnecessary work problems for the USM, or this Court, in 

connection with its return of service re a “G. Herara,” or in t[he] case of its current employee, 

identified as “C. Mares” the lack of timely response.” (ECF No. 27 at 2.) As to Defendant G. 

Herara, after further investigation by the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office it was determined that no 

individual with this name is employed by the agency. (ECF No. 27 at 3-4.) 

Pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 4:

If a defendant is not served within 90 days after the complaint is filed, the court “on 

motion or on its own after notice to the plaintiff” must dismiss the action without 

prejudice against that defendant or order that service be made within a specified time. But 

if the plaintiff shows good cause for the failure, the court must extend the time for service 

for an appropriate period.

Fed. R. Civ. P. 4(m).

In cases involving a plaintiff proceeding in forma pauperis, the Marshal, upon order of the 

court, shall serve the summons and the complaint. Fed. R. Civ. P. 4(c)(2). “[A]n incarcerated pro 

se plaintiff proceeding in forma pauperis is entitled to rely on the U.S. Marshal for service of the 

summons and complaint and ... should not be penalized by having his action dismissed for failure 

to effect service where the U.S. Marshal or the court clerk has failed to perform his duties.” 

Walker v. Sumner, 14 F.3d 1415, 1422 (9th Cir. 1994) (quoting Puett v. Blandford, 912 F.2d 270, 

275 (9th Cir. 1990)), abrogated on other grounds by Sandin v. Connor, 515 U.S. 472 (1995). “So 

long as the prisoner has furnished the information necessary to identify the defendant, the 

marshal's failure to effect service is ‘automatically good cause....’ ” Walker, 14 F.3d at 1422 

(quoting Sellers v. United States, 902 F.2d 598, 603 (7th Cir. 1990)). However, where a pro se 

plaintiff fails to provide the Marshal with accurate and sufficient information to effect service of 

the summons and complaint, the court's sua sponte dismissal of the unserved defendants is 

appropriate. Walker, 14 F.3d at 1421-22.

Because there is no officer with the name G. Herara employed by the Fresno County 

Sheriff’s Office, the United States Marshal has not been successful in locating this Defendant. 

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Accordingly, the Court will provide Plaintiff with an opportunity to show cause why Defendant 

Herara should not be dismissed from this action for failure to serve process. If Plaintiff is unable 

to provide the United States Marshal with additional information, Defendant G. Herara shall be 

dismissed from this action.

Accordingly, based on the foregoing, it is HEREBY ORDERED that:

1. Within twenty (20) days from the date of service of this order, Plaintiff shall show 

cause why Defendant G. Herara should not be dismissed from this action pursuant 

to Rule 4(m); and

2. Plaintiff’s failure to respond to this order will result in a recommendation that 

Defendant G. Herara be dismissed from the action, without prejudice. 

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: December 17, 2024 

STANLEY A. BOONE

United States Magistrate Judge

Case 1:24-cv-00655-JLT-SAB Document 31 Filed 12/17/24 Page 3 of 3