Cheng v. Austin
Cheng v. Austin
Trial Court Opinion
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK SHENG-WEN CHENG ALSO KNOWN AS JUSTIN CHENG, Plaintiff, 24-CV-8100 (JPC) (JW) -against- ORDER OF SERVICE EUGENE AUSTIN ALSO KNOWN AS HUGH AUSTIN, Defendant. JENNIFER E. WILLIS, United States Magistrate Judge: Plaintiff, who currently is incarcerated in Rochester, Minnesota, brings this action pro se under the Court’s diversity jurisdiction. By order dated February 24, 2025, the Court granted Plaintiff’s request to proceed in forma pauperis (“IFP”), that is, without prepayment of fees.1 DISCUSSION Because Plaintiff has been granted permission to proceed IFP, he is entitled to rely on the Court and the U.S. Marshals Service with assistance in effecting service.2 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)).
1 Prisoners are not exempt from paying the full filing fee even when they have been granted permission to proceed IFP. See
28 U.S.C. § 1915(b)(1). 2Although 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 effected service until the Court reviewed the complaint and ordered that a summons be issued. The Court therefore extends the time to serve until 90 days after the date the summons issues. To allow Plaintiff to effect service on Defendant through the U.S. Marshals Service, the Clerk of Court is instructed to fill out a U.S. Marshals Service Process Receipt and Return form (“USM-285 form’) for Defendants. The Clerk of Court is further instructed to issue summonses 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 is 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 instructed to issue a summons for Eugene Austin, also known as Hugh Austin, complete the USM-285 form with the address for 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. SO ORDERED. Dated: 3/13/2025 New York, New York Wy
United States Magistrate Judge
SERVICE ADDRESS FOR DEFENDANT Eugene Austin, also known as Hugh Austin No. 66824-510 Metropolitan Detention Center P.O. Box 329002 Brooklyn, New York 11232
Reference
- Status
- Unknown