Harris v. Montefiore Medical Center

District Court, S.D. New York·Decided November 3, 2023·No. 1:23-cv-08307·Unknown

Opinion

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK MONIQUE A. HARRIS, Plaintiff, 1:23-CV-8307 (ALC) -against- ORDER OF SERVICE MONTEFIORE MEDICAL CENTER, Defendant. ANDREW L. CARTER, JR., United States District Judge: Plaintiff Monique A. Harris, of the Bronx, New York, who appears pro se, brings this action under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as well as under the New York State and City Human Rights Laws. She seeks damages and equitable relief, and sues her former employer, the Montefiore Medical Center (“Montefiore”), also of the Bronx. By order dated September 22, 2023, the court granted Plaintiff’s request to proceed in forma pauperis (“IFP”), that is, without prepayment of fees.1 The Court directs service on Montefiore.

1 Rule 5.2(a)(2) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure requires a court submission to refer to a person’s date of birth by referring only to the person’s birth year. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 5.2(a)(2). Rule 5.2(a)(3) requires a court submission to refer to a minor child’s name by referring only to the child’s name’s initials. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 5.2(a)(3). In a document attached to Plaintiff’s IFP application, the date of birth and full name of a minor child are revealed. The full name of that minor child is also revealed in the IFP application itself. Thus, in an abundance of caution, the Court has directed the Clerk of Court to restrict electronic access to Plaintiff’s IFP application to a “case participant–only” basis. DISCUSSION A. Service on Montefiore Because Plaintiff has been granted permission to proceed IFP, she is entitled to rely on the Court and the U.S. Marshals Service to effect service.2 Walker v. Schult, 717 F.3d. 119, 123 n.6 (2d Cir. 2013); see also § 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 Montefiore 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 that defendant. The Clerk of Court is further instructed to issue a summons for Montefiore, and deliver to the Marshals Service all the paperwork necessary for the Marshals Service to effect service upon that defendant. If the complaint is not served on Montefiore within 90 days after the date the summons is issued for that defendant, 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 her address changes, and the Court may dismiss the action if Plaintiff fails to do so.

2 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 a summons and the complaint on Montefiore until the Court reviewed the complaint and ordered that a summons be issued for that defendant. The Court therefore extends the time to serve Montefiore until 90 days after the date that a summons is issued for that defendant. B. New York Legal Assistance Group Plaintiff may consider contacting the New York Legal Assistance Group’s (“NYLAG”) Clinic for Pro Se Litigants in the Southern District of New York, which ts a free legal clinic staffed by attorneys and paralegals to assist those who are representing themselves in civil lawsuits in this court. The clinic is operated by a private organization; it 1s not part of, or operated by, the court. It cannot accept filings on behalf of the court, which must still be made by any pro se party through the court’s Pro Se Intake Unit. A copy of the flyer with details of the NYLAG clinic is attached to this order. CONCLUSION The Court directs the Clerk of Court to mail an information package to Plaintiff. The Court also directs the Clerk of Court to issue a summons for the Montefiore Medical Center, complete a USM-285 form with the address for that defendant, and deliver all documents necessary to effect service on that defendant to the U.S. Marshals Service. A flyer from NYLAG is attached to this order. SO ORDERED. pac’ New York, New York [Ards 7 Ca November 3, 2023 ANDREW L. CARTER, JR. United States District Judge

DEFENDANT AND SERVICE ADDRESS Montefiore Medical Center Wakefield Campus 600 East 233rd Street Bronx, New York 10466 = = eee 14 ESE ° . New York ME Legal Assistance Group District of New York

The NYLAG Legal Clinic for Pro Se Litigants in the Southern District of New York provides free limited legal assistance to individuals who are representing themselves or planning to represent themselves in civil lawsuits in federal court in Manhattan and White Plains. The clinic is staffed by attorneys, law students, and paralegals. Information given to clinic staff is confidential.

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Harris v. Montefiore Medical Center, (S.D.N.Y. 2023).

Harris v. Montefiore Medical Center (Harris v. Montefiore Medical Center) — published by Counsel Stack Legal Research, free access to 12M+ legal documents.

Related

Meilleur v. Strong
682 F.3d 56 (Second Circuit, 2012)
Walker v. Schult
717 F.3d 119 (Second Circuit, 2013)