Court Opinion

ID: 22289
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2010-04-25 07:53:59+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:55:20.836573
License: Public Domain

IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
                        FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT

                             No. 00-30890
                         Conference Calendar

CHERYL A. DUPRE,

                                          Plaintiff-Appellant,

versus

TOURO INFIRMARY, BEVERLY MAXWELL; MARGIE MONROE,
Louisiana Federation of Practical Nurses; CONNIE
BROWN, Louisiana State Board of Practical Nurse
Examiners; AUDREY SIMON, Licensed Practical Nurses
of Louisiana; EVELYN JENKINS, Priority Care Inc.;
PAUL ROSENBLUM,

                                          Defendants-Appellees.

                       --------------------
          Appeal from the United States District Court
              for the Eastern District of Louisiana
                      USDC No. 99-CV-2124-T
                       --------------------
                         October 17, 2000

Before SMITH, BARKSDALE, and BENAVIDES, Circuit Judges.

PER CURIAM:*

     Cheryl A. Dupre, proceeding pro se and in forma pauperis

(IFP), appeals the district court’s dismissal of her complaint

for failure to effect service of process on any defendant within

the 120-day period set forth in Fed. R. Civ. P. Rule 4(m).   Dupre

asserts that she established good cause for failing to serve the

defendants.    She contends that the U.S. Marshal acted unethically

and refused to serve one of the named defendants.

     *
        Pursuant to 5TH CIR. R. 47.5, the court has determined
that this opinion should not be published and is not precedent
except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5TH CIR.
R. 47.5.4.
                             No. 00-30890
                                  -2-

     Service of the summons and complaint must be made upon a

defendant within 120 days after the filing of the complaint,

unless the plaintiff shows good cause for failing to effect

proper service, or the district court shall dismiss the action

without prejudice.   Fed. R. Civ. P. 4(m).    The plaintiff “must

make a showing of good faith and establish some reasonable basis

for noncompliance within the time specified.”     Systems Signs

Supplies v. United States Dep’t of Justice, 903 F.2d 1011, 1013

(5th Cir. 1990) (internal quotations and citations omitted).

Pro se status does not excuse a litigant’s failure to effect

service.   Id.   We review for an abuse of discretion a district

court’s dismissal for failure to effect timely service.        See id.

     Dupre received ample notice from the district court prior to

the expiration of the 120-day period that service had not been

effected on any of the defendants.    Dupre admitted that the U.S.

Marshal informed her that the marshal did not have a copy of

Dupre’s complaint.   Dupre did not demonstrate that she tried to

cure the service defect, and she did not provide a reasonable

explanation for her failure to serve any of the defendants.       See

Rochon v. Dawson, 828 F.2d 1107, 1110 (5th Cir. 1987)(plaintiff

must attempt to remedy apparent service defects of which she has

knowledge).   Dupre has not shown good cause for failing to effect

service of process timely.    The district court did not abuse its

discretion by dismissing her complaint.     Accordingly, the

district court’s judgment is AFFIRMED.