Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-casd-3_11-cv-00378/USCOURTS-casd-3_11-cv-00378-4/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 550
Nature of Suit: Prisoner - Civil Rights (U.S. defendant)
Cause of Action: 28:1441 Petition for Removal

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

ROBERT SCOFIELD,

Plaintiff,

CASE NO. 11cv378-BEN (WMc)

ORDER GRANTING PLAINTIFF’S

MOTION FOR SERVICE

(ECF No. 17)

vs.

BALL, et al.,

Defendants.

I. Background

On June 21, 2010, Robert Scofield (“Plaintiff”), a state prisoner incarcerated at Corcoran

State Prison and proceeding pro se, filed a civil lawsuit in state court. On November 5, 2010,

defendants removed the action to federal court. (ECF No. 1). Plaintiff did not move to proceed in

forma pauperis (“IFP”) pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a) presumably because the Defendants paid

the $350 civil filing fee upon removal. 

On April 5, 2011, Plaintiff filed a motion for an order directing the U.S. Marshal Service

(“USMS”) to serve process on six unserved defendants including D. Dickerson, J. Anderson, J.

Halseth, Retika Kumar, C. Hall, and N. Grannis. (ECF No. 17). Plaintiff alleges the state court

determined he was indigent and granted him a fee waiver. (Id. at 1). Plaintiff also alleges to have

effectuated service on four of the defendants. (Id. at 1). Defendants K. Ball and C. Gray were

served with a copy of the complaint and summons by the Monterey County Sheriffs Office on

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October 6, 2010. (ECF No. 1, pg. 2). All six unserved defendants are named in Plaintiff’s

complaint. (ECF No. 1, Exh. B).

 The District Court Judge referred the instant motion to Judge McCurine on January 9,

2012. (ECF No. 23).

II. Request for Marshal Service

FED.R.CIV.P. 4(c)(2) provides that “[a]t the request of the plaintiff . . . the court may direct

that service be effected by a United States marshal, deputy United States marshal, or other person

or officer specially appointed by the court for that purpose.” FED.R.CIV.P. 4(c)(2). In addition,

when plaintiffs are granted leave to proceed IFP, the USMS, upon order of the court, is authorized

to serve the summons and complaint on the pauper’s behalf. See 28 U.S.C. § 1915(d); Boudette,

923 F.2d at 757; Walker v. Sumner, 14 F.3d 1415, 1422 (9th Cir. 1993). 

Although Plaintiff did not move for IFP status at removal, he may still be eligible to

proceed IFP. A request to proceed IFP need not be filed at any particular time, but may be

initiated at any stage of a proceeding, since a person who is not an indigent at the commencement

of a suit may become one during or prior to its prosecution. See Stehouwer v. Hennessey, 841 F.

Supp. 316, 321 (N.D. Cal. 1994) (“IFP status may be acquired or lost throughout the course of the

litigation”), aff’d in pertinent part sub. nom, Olivares v. Marshall, 59 F.3d 109 (9th Cir. 1995). 

The Court finds Plaintiff’s allegation of indigence, coupled with the Defendant’s

confirmation of service by the Monterey County Sheriff, sufficient to show that Plaintiff is unable

to execute the service of his own summons and complaint. Accordingly, and in order to aid in the

timely administration of justice in this matter, Plaintiff will now be permitted to proceed IFP

pursuant to FED.R.CIV.P. 4(c)(3) for purposes of service only.

Furthermore, for good cause, the Court sua sponte grants Plaintiff an extension of time in

which to effect service upon Defendants pursuant to FED.R.CIV.P. 4(m).1 The Court will grant

Plaintiff an additional sixty days from the date this Order is filed to complete service. Plaintiff

shall complete, as accurately and clearly as possible, the USMS Form 285s provided to him, and

1

 See Mann v. American Airlines, 324 F.3d 1088, 1090 (9th Cir. 2003) (holding that district

court may, under the broad discretion granted by FED.R.CIV.P. 4(m), extend time for service

retroactively after the 120-day service period has expired). 

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shall return them to the USMS within thirty days of the date of this Order.

III. Conclusion

For all the reasons set forth above, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that:

(1) Plaintiff’s Request for Marshal Service is GRANTED. The Clerk of Court is

Directed to provide Plaintiff with an “IFP Package” consisting of: (1) this Order; (2) six certified

copies of his complaint (ECF. No. 1, Exh. B); (3) a summons; (4) blank USMS Form 285s for

purposes of attempting service upon Defendants;

(2) Plaintiff must submit the completed USMS Form 285s to the U.S. Marshal within

thirty days of this Order.

(3) Pursuant to FED.R.CIV.P. 4(c)(3) and 28 U.S.C. § 1915(d), the U.S. Marshal shall,

within thirty days of receiving Plaintiff’s USMS Form 285s, effect service of Plaintiff’s complaint

and summons upon Defendants as directed by Plaintiff. All costs of service shall be advanced by

the United States pursuant to this Order.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

DATED: March 6, 2012

Hon. William McCurine, Jr.

U.S. Magistrate Judge

United States District Court

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