Levine v. Greenberg

District Court, S.D. New York

Levine v. Greenberg

Trial Court Opinion

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK RICHIE FOSTER LEVINE, Plaintiff, -against- 23-CV-1500 (LJL) KATHERINE ANN GREENBERG, in her ORDER OF SERVICE individual and official capacity as Assistant Commissioner of the New York City Commission on Human Rights, Defendant. LEWIS J. LIMAN, United States District Judge: Plaintiff, who is appearing pro se, brings this action under

42 U.S.C. § 1983

, alleging that Defendant violated his rights. By order dated March 29, 2023, the Court granted Plaintiff’s request to proceed in forma pauperis (“IFP”), that is, without prepayment of fees. DISCUSSION Because Plaintiff has been granted permission to proceed IFP, he is entitled to rely on the Court and the U.S. Marshals Service to effect service.1 Walker v. Schult,

717 F.3d. 119

, 123 n.6 (2d Cir. 2013); see also

28 U.S.C. § 1915

(d) (“The officers of the court shall issue and serve all process . . . in [IFP] cases.”); Fed. R. Civ. P. 4(c)(3) (the court must order the Marshals Service to serve if the plaintiff is authorized to proceed IFP)). To allow Plaintiff to effect service on Defendant Katherine Ann Greenberg, Assistant Commissioner of the New York City Commission on Human Rights, through the U.S. Marshals

1 Although Rule 4(m) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure generally requires that a summons be served within 90 days of the date the complaint is filed, Plaintiff is proceeding IFP and could not have served the summons and the complaint until the Court reviewed the complaint and ordered that the summons be issued. The Court therefore extends the time to serve until 90 days after the date the summons is issued. Service, the Clerk of Court is instructed to fill out a U.S. Marshals Service Process Receipt and Return form (“USM-285 form”) for Defendant. The Clerk of Court is further instructed to issue a summons and deliver to the Marshals Service all the paperwork necessary for the Marshals Service to effect service upon Defendant. If the complaint is not served within 90 days after the date the summons 1s issued, Plaintiff should request an extension of time for service. See Meilleur v. Strong,

682 F.3d 56, 63

(2d Cir. 2012) (holding that it is the plaintiff’s responsibility to request an extension of time for service). Plaintiff must notify the Court in writing if his address changes, and the Court may dismiss the action if Plaintiff fails to do so. CONCLUSION The Clerk of Court is further instructed to issue a summons for Katherine Ann Greenberg, Assistant Commissioner of the New York City Commission on Human Rights, complete the USM- 285 form with the address for this Defendant, and deliver all documents necessary to effect service to the U.S. Marshals Service. The Clerk of Court is directed to mail an information package to Plaintiff. The Court certifies under

28 U.S.C. § 1915

(a)(3) that any appeal from this order would not be taken in good faith, and therefore IFP status is denied for the purpose of an appeal. Cf Coppedge v. United States,

369 U.S. 438, 444-45

(1962) (holding that an appellant demonstrates good faith when he seeks review of a nonfrivolous issue). SO ORDERED.

° é Arde ay LEWISJ.LIMAN United States District Judge

DEFENDANT AND SERVICE ADDRESS

Katherine Ann Greenberg, Assistant Commissioner New York City Commission on Human Rights 23 Reade Street, 3rd Floor New York, New York 10007

Reference

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