(PC) Webster v. Haskins ( 2020 )

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 9 EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 10 11 THOMAS WEBSTER, Case No. 1:18-cv-01640-BAM (PC) 12 Plaintiff, ORDER PROVIDING DEFENDANT HASKINS WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO 13 v. SHOW GOOD CAUSE FOR FAILING TO WAIVE SERVICE 14 LOVE, et al., (ECF No. 30) 15 Defendants. THIRTY (30) DAY DEADLINE 16 17 Plaintiff Thomas Webster (“Plaintiff”) is a civil detainee proceeding pro se and in forma 18 pauperis in this civil rights action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. Individuals detained under 19 California Welfare Institutions Code § 6600 et seq. are civil detainees and are not prisoners 20 within the meaning of the Prison Litigation Reform Act. Page v. Torrey, 201 F.3d 1136, 1140 21 (9th Cir. 2000). 22 On November 8, 2019, the Court ordered the United States Marshal to initiate service of 23 process on Defendant Haskins. (ECF No. 29.) The Marshal was directed to attempt to secure a 24 waiver of service before attempting personal service on the defendant. If a waiver of service was 25 not returned by the defendant within sixty days, the Marshal was directed to effect personal 26 service on the defendant in accordance with the provisions of Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 4 27 and 28 U.S.C. § 566(c), without prepayment of costs, and to file the return of service with 28 evidence of any attempt to secure a waiver of service and with evidence of all costs subsequently 1 incurred in effecting personal service. 2 On February 19, 2020, the United States Marshal filed a return of service USM-285 form 3 showing charges of $69.64 for effecting personal service on Defendant Haskins. (ECF No. 30.) 4 The form shows that a waiver of service form was mailed to Defendant Haskins on November 18, 5 2019. (Id.) 6 Pursuant to the Court’s Order, Defendant Haskins is required to return the waiver to the 7 United States Marshal and the filing of an answer or a motion does not relieve her of this 8 obligation. Defendant Haskins did not return a waiver, which resulted in the execution of 9 personal service on February 18, 2020. 10 Defendant Haskins filed an answer—in response to the Court’s March 13, 2020 order to 11 show cause why default should not be entered—on March 30, 2020. (ECF No. 32.) 12 Rule 4 provides that “[a]n individual, corporation, or association that is subject to service 13 under Rule 4(e), (f), or (h) has a duty to avoid unnecessary expenses of serving the summons.” 14 Fed. R. Civ. P. 4(d)(1). “If a defendant located within the United States fails, without good cause, 15 to sign and return a waiver requested by a plaintiff located within the United States, the court 16 must impose on the defendant . . . the expenses later incurred in making service. . . .” Fed. R. 17 Civ. P. 4(d)(2)(A). 18 It appears that Defendant Haskins was given the opportunity required by Rule 4(d)(1) to 19 waive service, but failed to return the waiver to the United States Marshal, although Defendant 20 Haskins did make an appearance in the action. The Court shall provide Defendant Haskins with 21 the opportunity to show good cause for failing to waive service. If Defendant Haskins either fails 22 to respond to this order or responds but fails to show good cause, the costs incurred in effecting 23 service shall be imposed. 24 Accordingly, it is HEREBY ORDERED that: 25 1. Defendant Haskins may, within thirty (30) days from the date of service of this order, 26 show good cause for failing to waive service; and 27 /// 28 /// 1 2. If Defendant Haskins fails to respond to this order or responds but fails to show good 2 cause, the Court shall impose the costs incurred in effecting service. 3 IT IS SO ORDERED. 4 5 Dated: April 6, 2020 /s/ Barbara A. McAuliffe _ UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28