United States District Court for the Northern District of California, 2022

Bynum v. Sweet

Bynum v. Sweet
United States District Court for the Northern District of California · Decided April 29, 2022
Bynum v. Sweet

Trial Court Opinion

8 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 9 NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA JIM CARTER BYNUM, 11 Case No. 21-05833 BLF(PR) Plaintiff, 12 ORDER DIRECTING PLAINTIFF v. TO PROVIDE COURT MORE 13 INFORMATION FOR DEFENDANT MARTIN LAUFIK 14 MARY KAREN SWEET, et. al, 15 Defendants.

18 Plaintiff, a California inmate, filed a civil rights complaint pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 19 1983 against staff at the Correctional Training Facility (“CTF”). Dkt. No. 1. On November 6, 2019, Plaintiff filed an amended complaint, which is the operative complaint in this matter. Dkt. No. 12. On April 7, 2022, the Court ordered service and directed Defendant Martin Laufik to file a dispositive motion or notice regarding such motion. Dkt.

23 No. 22. The Clerk issued a summons to be served by the United States Marshal’s Office.

24 Dkt. No. 23. On April 25, 2022, the United States Marshal’s Office filed the unexecuted summons as to Martin Laufik with the notation, “Dr, Laufik does not work @ this hospital.” Dkt. No. 25.1 Accordingly, Defendant Laufik has not been served.

1 Although a plaintiff who is incarcerated and proceeding in forma pauperis may rely || on service by the Marshal, such plaintiff “may not remain silent and do nothing to || effectuate such service’; rather, “[a]t a minimum, a plaintiff should request service upon || the appropriate defendant and attempt to remedy any apparent defects of which [he] has || knowledge.” Rochon v. Dawson, 828 F.2d 1107, 1110 (Sth Cir. 1987). Here, Plaintiff's || complaint has been pending for over 90 days, and thus, absent a showing of “good cause,” || claims against Defendant Laufik are subject to dismissal without prejudice. See Fed. R. || Civ. P. 4m). Plaintiff must remedy the situation by providing more information regarding g || Defendant Laufik’s current whereabouts or face dismissal of his claims against this || Defendant without prejudice. See Walker v. Sumner, 14 F.3d 1415, 1421-22 (9th Cir. 11 1994) (holding prisoner failed to show cause why prison official should not be dismissed under Rule 4(m) where prisoner failed to show he had provided Marshal with sufficient E 13. || information to effectuate service).

S 14 For the foregoing reasons, the Court orders Plaintiff to file a notice providing the 15 || Court with more information regarding the current whereabouts for Defendant Martin A 16 || Laufik such that the Marshal is able to effect service. If Plaintiff fails to provide the Court 17 || with the information requested within twenty-eight (28) days of the date this order is 18 || filed, Plaintiffs claims against Defendant Laufik shall be dismissed without prejudice || pursuant to Rule 4(m) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure without further notice to || Plaintiff.

21 IT ISSO ORDERED.

22 || Dated: _ April29,2022. Lowe bemner/ 33 BETH LABSON F REEMAN United States District Judge 25 Order Directing Pl. to Provide Court More Info. for Def. Laufik 26 PRO-SE\BLF\CR.21\05833Bynum_more info 27 notation, “No longer works here/cannot accept.” Dkt. No. 25.

Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.