Opinion ID: 1719906
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 7

Heading: Dr. James Mitchell

Text: Dr. Mitchell was served with process on March 19, 1992, or approximately ten months following the filing of the first complaint. Fortenberry requested and received two grants of additional time, the latter of which expired November 25, 1991. Fortenberry then advised the trial court by letter that he could not locate Dr. Mitchell and would approach the Court again when he did find him. Dr. Mitchell argues that Fortenberry cannot show good cause why he was not served prior to March 19, 1992 or, more specifically, within the 120 day time period or during the two extensions. Interpreting Rule 4(j) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, which is virtually identical to Rule 4(h) of the M.R.C.P., the Courts have stated that dismissal is mandated upon the finding that service has not been made within the specified time period and that good cause to extend the time limit does not exist. See Norlock v. City of Garland, 768 F.2d 654 (5th Cir.1985). Fortenberry asserts that he could not locate Dr. Mitchell until he hired a private investigator. He also claims that the information dispersed by Memorial Hospital in discovery was incorrect. Memorial Hospital returned its answer to the discovery question concerning Dr. Mitchell's whereabouts on October 16, 1991. The response was of no help in finding Dr. Mitchell because the address given was merely the post office box for Gulf Coast Community Hospital. Fortenberry also checked with other area hospitals without success in determining Dr. Mitchell's whereabouts. Fortenberry's counsel also inquired of all defense counsel representing other parties as to the whereabouts of Dr. Mitchell. Fortenberry also attempted to locate Dr. Mitchell by calling the State Medical License Board, but they too lacked correct information. Dr. Mitchell had moved to an unknown location. Upon the expiration of his second extension on November 25, 1991, Fortenberry did not file another motion. Instead, he just wrote a letter advising the court that he would approach the Court on the issue of process upon locating Dr. Mitchell, in essence granting himself a motion to extend that he could invoke at any time. We find the better method to be utilized in future cases would be for plaintiff's counsel to seek authority for extensions from the court, rather than unilaterally making this decision himself. Fortenberry's efforts to locate Dr. Mitchell were more that sufficient in this case, so as to clearly constitute good cause shown. The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals in Peters v. United States, 9 F.3d 344, 345 (5th Cir.1993), discussing this issue under Fed.R.Civ.P. 4(d)(4), stated: If a plaintiff fails to serve the defendant properly within 120 days of filing the complaint, upon motion of the defendant or sua sponte by the court with notice to the plaintiff, the action shall be dismissed without prejudice unless the plaintiff shows good cause for failure to complete service. Id. at 4(j). To establish good cause the plaintiff must demonstrate at least as much as would be required to show excusable neglect, as to which simple inadvertence or mistake of counsel or ignorance of the rules usually does not suffice. Systems Signs Supplies v. United States Dep't of Justice, 903 F.2d 1011, 1013 (5th Cir.1990)(internal quotations and citation omitted). This Court reviews a Rule 4(j) dismissal for an abuse of discretion. Id. Here, we are not faced with simple inadvertence, mistake of counsel, or ignorance of the rules. Fortenberry's counsel was clearly aware of the rules. Dr. Mitchell was difficult to locate and serve with process because he had moved from the Gulf Coast area to Oxford. Apparently only a few people or medical agencies knew his whereabouts. However, because of these extensive efforts to find and serve process upon Dr. Mitchell, which this Court finds to be good cause shown, within the meaning of MRCP 4(h), we view plaintiff counsel's failure to seek a third extension to be harmless under the facts of this case. The trial court erred on this issue.