Document ID: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_09-cv-00391/USCOURTS-caed-2_09-cv-00391-8/pdf.json

Parties Involved:
Chen Hale
Plaintiff
Vacaville Housing Authority
Defendant

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

CHEN HALE,

Plaintiff, No. 2:09-cv-00391 JAM KJN PS

vs.

VACAVILLE HOUSING AUTHORITY,

Defendant. ORDER

 /

On March 12, 2010, the United States Marshal’s Office filed a memorandum

seeking reimbursement for service of process fees pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure

4(d)(2). (Dkt. No. 52.) Under that Rule, if a defendant 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 the expenses incurred in effecting service. Fed. R. Civ. Proc. 4(d)(2)(A). The

United States Marshal’s office indicates that it mailed service of process to defendant Vacaville

Housing Authority on December 14, 2009. (Dkt. No. 51.) There is no evidence in the record

that Defendant Vacaville Housing Authority returned or executed a waiver. As a result, the

Marshal effectuated personal service on defendant Vacaville Housing Authority on March 8,

2010. Id. The Marshal has indicated that it incurred a total of $145.00 in costs related to

personal service on this defendant. Id.

Case 2:09-cv-00391-JAM-KJN Document 54 Filed 03/25/10 Page 1 of 3
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The Marshal is entitled to the costs sought. Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 4(d)

provides, in relevant part:

(d) Waiving Service.

(1) Requesting a Waiver. 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. The plaintiff may notify

such a defendant that an action has been commenced and request that the

defendant waive service of a summons. . . .

(2) Failure to Waive. 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 attorney’s fees, of any motion

required to collect those service expenses. 

Fed. R. Civ. P. 4(d)(1), (2). The undersigned finds that defendant Vacaville Housing Authority

was given an opportunity to waive service as provided in Rule 4(d)(2), but failed to do so.

For the foregoing reasons, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that:

Within 14 days of the date of service of this order, defendant Vacaville Housing

Authority shall either pay to the United States Marshals Service the sum of $145.00 or,

alternatively, file with the court a written statement showing good cause for failing to waive

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service. Payment should be mailed to: U.S. Marshal’s Service, 501 I Street, Suite 5600,

Sacramento, California 95814. The Clerk of Court shall serve a copy of this order on the United

States Marshals Service.

IT IS SO ORDERED

DATED: March 22, 2010

_____________________________________

KENDALL J. NEWMAN

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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