Document ID: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_06-cv-00630/USCOURTS-caed-2_06-cv-00630-2/pdf.json

Parties Involved:
Grady Lee
Plaintiff
John E. Potter
Defendant

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

GRADY LEE, No. CIV.S-06-0630 WBS DAD PS

Plaintiff,

v. ORDER

JOHN E. POTTER, Postmaster

General, U.S. Postal Service,

Defendant.

____________________________/

This matter came before the court on December 8, 2006, for

hearing on an order show cause why the Clerk of the Court should not

enter defendant’s default pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure

55(a). Plaintiff, proceeding pro se, appeared on his own behalf. 

Ernest Wright appeared on behalf of defendant. Having considered all

written materials on file in this action, and after hearing from the

parties, for the reasons discussed on the record during the hearing,

IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that:

/////

Case 2:06-cv-00630-DAD Document 20 Filed 12/11/06 Page 1 of 3
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 Plaintiff represented at the hearing that he intended to 1

complete service of process immediately after the hearing. Rule

4(i)(1)(A) provides that service upon the United States shall be

effected:

by delivering a copy of the summons and of the

complaint to the United States attorney for the

district in which the action is brought or to an

assistant United States attorney or clerical

employee designated by the United States attorney

in a writing filed with the clerk of the court or

by sending a copy of the summons and of the

complaint by registered or certified mail

addressed to the civil process clerk at the

office of the United States attorney ....

Fed. R. Civ. P. 4(i)(1)(A). Thus, if a plaintiff chooses to serve

process by “delivering a copy of the summons and of the complaint,”

such delivery can be to (1) the United States attorney for the

district in which the action is brought; (2) an assistant United

States attorney; or (3) a clerical employee designated by the United

States attorney in a writing filed with the clerk of the court. On

the other hand, if a plaintiff chooses to serve process by “sending a

copy of the summons and of the complaint by registered or certified

mail,” that mail must be “addressed to the civil process clerk at the

office of the United States attorney.” Therefore, it would appear

that plaintiff could have completed service of process at the show

cause hearing by delivering a copy of the summons and of the

complaint to Mr. Wright, the assistant United States attorney,

although he refused to accept such service. The court notes that 

this reading of Rule 4(i)(1)(A) is consistent with the unpublished

case attached to defendant’s supplemental briefing filed the day

before the hearing. 

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1. The order to show cause is discharged;

2. Plaintiff is directed to complete service of process on

defendant by delivering a copy of the summons and complaint to the

United States Attorney for the Eastern District of California in

accordance with Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 4(i)(1)(A). In 1

light of plaintiff’s pro se status and diligence in pursuing this

action, the court finds good cause to extend the time for service.

See Fed. R. Civ. P. Rule 4(m);

Case 2:06-cv-00630-DAD Document 20 Filed 12/11/06 Page 2 of 3
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3. The Status (Pretrial Scheduling) Conference is

continued to March 9, 2007, at 10:00 a.m. in Courtroom 27; and

4. The Clerk of the Court is directed to serve a copy of

this order on the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of

California.

DATED: December 8, 2006.

DAD:th

DDad1\orders.prose\lee0630.oah.120806

Case 2:06-cv-00630-DAD Document 20 Filed 12/11/06 Page 3 of 3