Enomen Okogun v. Luke Miller

• Court: Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
• Decided: September 20, 2024
• Docket: 24-1511
• Status: Unpublished

Opinion

NOT PRECEDENTIAL

UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE THIRD CIRCUIT ___________

No. 24-1511 ___________

ENOMEN JOHN OKOGUN, Appellant

v.

LUKE MILLER; DAVID TRICOCHE; ALI ALI; SEAN RYDER; KEVIN CREEGAN; MARTIN KRYWICKI; AL FLANDERS; KENNETH STROTHER, JR.; TRUSTEES OF PRINCETON UNIVERSITY ____________________________________

On Appeal from the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey (D.C. Civil Action No. 3-23-cv-02640) District Judge: Honorable Michael A. Shipp ____________________________________

Submitted Pursuant to Third Circuit LAR 34.1(a) September 18, 2024

Before: KRAUSE, MATEY, and CHUNG, Circuit Judges

(Opinion filed: September 20, 2024) ___________

OPINION * ___________

PER CURIAM

* This disposition is not an opinion of the full Court and pursuant to I.O.P. 5.7 does not constitute binding precedent. Enomen Okogun appeals pro se from an order of the District Court dismissing his

civil complaint. For the following reasons, we will vacate the District Court’s judgment

and remand for further proceedings.

Okogun filed his initial complaint seeking redress for various “malicious

statements made and kept on the record” by defendants, associates of Princeton

University. In an order entered August 22, 2023, the District Court granted Okogun’s

motion to proceed in forma pauperis (IFP), and sua sponte dismissed the complaint

without prejudice, but with leave to amend within 30 days, for failure to state a claim

pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B). Okogun timely filed an amended complaint. In

January 2024, the District Court issued a notice advising that, absent proof of service or a

showing of good cause, the complaint would be dismissed within 14 days pursuant to

Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 4(m), for failure to effect service. By order entered

February 21, 2024, the District Court dismissed the complaint without prejudice, citing

Rule 4(m). Okogun appealed. 1

The District Court abused its discretion in dismissing the complaint under Rule

4(m). See Ayres v. Jacobs & Crumplar, P.A., 99 F.3d 565, 568 (3d Cir. 1996) (noting the

standard of review). Pursuant to Rule 4(m), where proper service is not effected upon a

defendant within 90 days of filing of the complaint, the District Court, “on motion or on

1 We have jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1291. See Welch v. Folsom, 925 F.2d 666, 668 (3d Cir. 1991) (recognizing that a dismissal without prejudice for failure to serve is a final order for purposes of § 1291 when the plaintiff is proceeding IFP). 2 its own after notice to the plaintiff – must dismiss the action without prejudice as to that

defendant or order that service be made within a specified time.” However, when a

plaintiff is authorized to proceed IFP under § 1915, a United States Marshal must be

appointed to effect service. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 4(c)(3). Because Okogun had IFP status,

and no federal marshal was appointed to effect service, dismissal for failure to serve was

improper. See Welch v. Folsom, 925 F.2d 666, 669-70 (3d Cir. 1991).

Based on the foregoing, we will vacate the order of dismissal and remand the

matter to the District Court.