Document ID: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_12-cv-00487/USCOURTS-caed-1_12-cv-00487-6/pdf.json

Parties Involved:
C. Gonzales
Defendant
Timothy Howard
Plaintiff

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

TIMOTHY HOWARD,

Plaintiff,

vs.

C. GONZALES, 

 Defendant.

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1:12cv00487 LJO DLB PC

ORDER PROVIDING DEFENDANT 

WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHOW 

GOOD CAUSE FOR FAILING TO WAIVE 

SERVICE

Plaintiff Timothy Howard (“Plaintiff”), a state prisoner proceeding pro se and in forma 

pauperis, filed this civil rights action filed on March 30, 2012.

On March 19, 2013, the Court ordered the United States Marshal to serve process upon 

Defendant. The Marshal was directed to attempt to secure a waiver of service before attempting 

personal service on Defendant. If a waiver of service was not returned by a Defendant within 

sixty days, the Marshal was directed to effect personal service on the Defendant in accordance 

with the provisions of Rule 4 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and 28 U.S.C. § 566(c), 

without prepayment of costs, and to file the return of service with evidence of any attempt to 

secure a waiver of service and with evidence of all costs subsequently incurred in effecting 

personal service. 

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On February 7, 2014, the United States Marshal filed a return of service with a USM-285 

form showing charges of $256.60 for effecting personal service on Defendant Gonzales. ECF 

No. 20. The form shows that a waiver of service form was mailed to Defendant Gonzales on 

June 26, 2013. 

Pursuant to the Court’s order, Defendant is required to return the waiver to the United 

States Marshal and the filing of an answer or a motion does not relieve her of this obligation. 

Defendant Gonzales did not return a waiver, which resulted in the execution of personal service 

on January 24, 2014.

Defendant Gonzales filed her answer on May 22, 2014.

Rule 4 provides that “[a]n 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.” 

Fed. R. Civ. P. 4(d)(1). “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 . . . the expenses later incurred in making service. . . .” Fed. 

R. Civ. P. 4(d)(2)(A).

It appears that Defendant Gonzales was given the opportunity required by Rule 4(d)(1) to 

waive service, but she failed to return her waiver to the United States Marshal, although she did 

make an appearance in the action. The Court shall provide Defendant Gonzales with the 

opportunity to show good cause for failing to waive service.1 If Defendant Gonzales either fails 

to respond to this order or responds but fails to show good cause, the costs incurred in effecting 

service shall be imposed on Defendant Gonzales. 

 

1 The Court notes that in her response to the order to show cause for failing to file an answer, Defendant stated that 

she did not know of this action until recently and was not served by either mail or personal service. Her declaration 

did not specifically discuss the waiver, however.

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Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that:

1. Defendant Gonzales may, within thirty (30) days from the date of this order, 

show good cause for failing to waive service; and

2. If Defendant Gonzales either fails to respond to this order, or responds but fails to 

show good cause, the Court shall impose upon Defendant Gonzales the costs incurred in 

effecting service.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: May 23, 2014 /s/ Dennis L. Beck 

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

Case 1:12-cv-00487-LJO-DLB Document 29 Filed 05/23/14 Page 3 of 3