The opinion
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8 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
9 EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
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11 URIEL GARCIA, Case No.: 1:19-cv-01631-ADA-CDB (PC)
12 Plaintiff, ORDER SETTING DEADLINE WITHIN
WHICH TO EFFECT SERVICE OF
13 v. PROCESS OF DEFENDANT ALBERT R.
SWAFFORD
14 POWELL, et al.,
SERVICE DEADLINE: SEPTEMBER 1, 2023
15 Defendants.
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17 Plaintiff Uriel Garcia is proceeding pro se and in forma pauperis in this civil rights action
18 pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. This action proceeds against Defendants Powell, Hurtado,
19 Ugwueze, and Swafford for deliberate indifference to serious medical needs in violation of the
20 Eighth Amendment.
21 I. INTRODUCTION
22 The Court issued its Order Finding Service of Second Amended Complaint Appropriate
23 on April 13, 2023. (Doc. 27.)
24 On May 25, 2023, a notice not to waive personal service concerning Defendant Albert R.
25 Swafford was filed with the Court. (Doc. 30.) Thereafter, on June 7, 2023, the United States
26 Marshall filed a USM-285 form indicating service could not be effected upon Swafford. (Doc.
27 31.)
1 On June 20, 2023, the Court issued its Order To Show Cause (OSC) Why Defendant
2 Swafford Should Not Be Dismissed From This Action For Failure To Provide Sufficient
3 Information To Effectuate Service. (Doc. 32.) Plaintiff responded to the OSC on July 10, 2023,
4 providing an address for Defendant Swafford. (Doc. 34.)
5 On July 13, 2023, the Court issued its Order Directing United States Marshal to Serve
6 Defendant Albert R. Swafford at the address provided by Plaintiff. (Doc. 35.) On July 18, 2023,
7 the United States Marshal filed notice that service of process efforts were unsuccessful. (Doc. 36.)
8 Specifically, the United States Marshall reported that service was attempted at Adventist Health
9 in Bakersfield on July 17, 2023. (Id.) The deputy was advised that Defendant Swafford was no
10 longer employed at the hospital and was provided an address of 2731 H Street, Suite A, in
11 Bakersfield1 for Swafford. (Id.) That same date, the deputy went to the location on H Street and
12 observed Suite A to be unoccupied and “its previous signs removed.” (Id.) No forwarding address
13 was listed. (Id.) The deputy contacted an employee in Suite B next door and was advised that
14 Swafford had retired and closed his office approximately four to six months ago. (Id.) The
15 occupants of Suite B did not have a forwarding address for Swafford. (Id.)
16 II. DISCUSSION
17 A. Legal Standard
18 Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 4 provides:
19 If a defendant is not served within 90 days after the complaint is filed, the court—
on motion or on its own after notice to the plaintiff—must dismiss the action
20 without prejudice against that defendant or order that service be made within a
specified time. But if the plaintiff shows good cause for the failure, the court must
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extend the time for service for an appropriate period.
22 Fed. R. Civ. P. 4(m).
23 In cases involving plaintiffs proceeding in forma pauperis, the Court routinely orders the
24 United States Marshal to serve the summonses and complaints on the defendants. Fed. R. Civ. P.
25 4(c)(3). “[A]n incarcerated pro se plaintiff proceeding in forma pauperis is entitled to rely on the
26 U.S. Marshal for service of the summons and complaint, and . . . should not be penalized by
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1 As noted in this Court’s Order issued June 20, 2023, this is the address of record for Albert R. Swafford
on the California Medical Board’s website. (See Doc. 32 at 2, n.2.)
1 having his or her action dismissed for failure to effect service where the U.S. Marshal or the court
2 clerk has failed to perform the duties required.” Puett v. Blandford, 912 F.2d 270, 275 (9th Cir.
3 1990). “So long as the prisoner has furnished the information necessary to identify the defendant,
4 the marshal’s failure to effect service is automatically good cause.” Walker v. Sumner, 14 F.3d
5 1415, 1422 (9th Cir. 1994) (internal quotation marks & citation omitted), abrogated on other
6 grounds by Sandin v. Connor, 515 U.S. 472, 115 (1995). However, where a pro se plaintiff fails
7 to provide the United States Marshal with sufficient information to effect service on a defendant,
8 the Court may dismiss that defendant. Id. at 1421-22.
9 B. Service Deadline
10 To date, Plaintiff has failed to provide the United States Marshal with sufficient
11 information to effect service on Defendant Swafford. Walker v. Sumner, 14 F.3d at 1421-22.
12 Specifically, Plaintiff has been unable to provide a valid address for Albert R. Swafford, M.D.
13 Service at two addresses has been attempted, to wit: 2731 H Street, Suite A in Bakersfield and
14 2615 Chester Avenue in Bakersfield. Both attempts have been unsuccessful.
15 Plaintiff will be afforded one final opportunity to provide the Court with a valid and
16 current address for Defendant Swafford. Pursuant to Rule 4(m) of the Federal Rules of Civil
17 Procedure, the Court will order that service be made no later September 1, 2023. Assuming
18 Plaintiff can provide further information concerning a current address for Swafford, if possible,
19 Plaintiff should provide this Court with that information in advance of the deadline to allow for
20 issuance of an order directing the United States Marshal to attempt service of Defendant
21 Swafford.
22 Plaintiff is advised that in the event he fails to provide a valid address for Defendant
23 Swafford by September 1, 2023, or if subsequent service efforts are unsuccessful, the undersigned
24 will issue findings and recommendations to dismiss Defendant Swafford, without prejudice, from
25 this action.
26 III. CONCLUSION AND ORDER
27 For the reasons given above, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that:
1 Swafford no later than September 1, 2023; and
2 2. Plaintiff is ADVISED that should he fail to provide a current address for Defendant
3 Swafford by the September 1, 2023 deadline, the undersigned will recommend
4 Defendant Swafford be dismissed from this action for Plaintiff's failure to effect
5 service of process as to Defendant Swafford.
6 | IT IS SO ORDERED.
Dated: _ July 19, 2023 | hr
8 UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE
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