McBryde-O'Neal v. Polichetti

District Court, S.D. New York·Decided December 18, 2023·No. 1:23-cv-10113·Unknown

Opinion

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK LAVERNE MCBRYDE-O’NEAL, Plaintiff, 23-CV-10113 (JPC)(RFT) -against- ORDER OF SERVICE DETECTIVE POLICHETTI; and JOHN DOE DEA, Defendants. ROBYN F. TARNOFSKY, UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE: Plaintiff, who is appearing pro se, brings this action under the Court’s federal question jurisdiction, alleging that Defendants violated her federal constitutional rights. By order dated December 1, 2023, the Court granted Plaintiff’s request to proceed in forma pauperis (“IFP”), that is, without prepayment of fees. DISCUSSION A. Service on Detective Polichetti Because Plaintiff has been granted permission to proceed IFP, she is able to rely on the Court and the U.S. Marshals Service to effect service. 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

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. To allow Plaintiff to effect service on Defendant New York City Police Department Detective Polichetti, Shield #7182, through the U.S. Marshals Service, the Clerk of Court is respectfully requested to fill out a U.S. Marshals Service Process Receipt and Return form

(“USM-285 form”) for this Defendant. The Clerk of Court is further requested to issue a summons and deliver to the Marshals Service all the paperwork necessary for the Marshals Service to effect service upon this 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 her address changes, and the Court may dismiss the action if Plaintiff fails to do so. B. Valentin Order Under Valentin v. Dinkins, a pro se litigant is given assistance from the district court in identifying a defendant. 121 F.3d 72, 76 (2d Cir. 1997). In the complaint, Plaintiff supplies

enough information to permit the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”) to identify the DEA agent or agents that participated in the search of her apartment on January 4, 2023. It is therefore ordered that the United States Attorney’s Office, which is the attorney for and agent of the DEA, must find out the identity and badge number of each John Doe whom Plaintiff seeks to sue and the address where each John Doe may be served. The United States Attorney’s Office must provide this information to Plaintiff and the Court by February 13, 2024,

which is sixty days from the date of this order. 2 Within thirty days of being told the identities of the Doe Defendant(s), Plaintiff must file an amended complaint naming them in the amended complaint. The amended complaint will be a replacement for and not an addition to the original complaint. This means that any

information in the original complaint, but not the amended complaint will not be considered part of the amended complaint. An amended complaint form that Plaintiff should complete is attached to this order. Once Plaintiff has filed the amended complaint, the Court will screen the amended complaint and, if necessary, issue an order directing the Clerk of Court to complete the USM-285 forms

with the addresses for the named John Doe Defendants and to deliver all documents necessary to effect service to the U.S. Marshals Service. CONCLUSION The Clerk of Court is respectfully requested to issue a summons for Defendant New York City Police Department Detective Polichetti, Shield #7182, complete the USM-285 forms 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 respectfully requested to mail a copy of this order and the complaint to the United States Attorney’s Office at: 86 Chambers Street, New York, New York 10007. An “Amended Civil Rights Complaint” form is attached to this order. Plaintiff may choose to receive Court documents by email by completing the attached form, Consent to Electronic Service, but she is not required to do so. If Plaintiff consents to

receive court documents by email, Plaintiff will no longer receive Court documents by regular mail. The Clerk of Court is respectfully requested to mail an information package to Plaintiff. If the Plaintiff has questions about the following order or any procedural matters, she should contact the Court’s Pro Se Intake Unit at (212) 805-0175, or the independent NYLAG Legal Clinic for Pro Se Litigants in the SDNY at (212) 659 -6190. DATED: December 18, 2023 New York, NY SO ORDERED. Wow ROBYN F. TARNOFSKY United States Magistrate Judge

DEFENDANT AND SERVICE ADDRESS

Detective Polichetti, Shield #7182 New York City Police Department, 25th Precinct 120 E. 119th Street New York, NY 10035

5 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK

Civ. (i)

(In the space above enter the full name(s) of the plaintiff(s).) AMENDED COMPLAINT -against- Jury Trial: O Yes oO No ee (check one)

(dn the space above enter the full name(s) of the defendant(s). Ifyou cannot fit the names of all of the defendants in the space provided, please write “see attached” in the space above and attach an additional sheet of paper with the full list of names. The names listed in the above caption must be identical to those contained in Part I. Addresses should not be included here.)

I. Parties in this complaint: A. List your name, address and telephone number. If you are presently in custody, include your identification number and the name and address of your current place of confinement. Do the same for any additional plaintiffs named. Attach additional sheets of paper as necessary. Plaintiff Name Street Address ee County, City. State& ZipCode Telephone Number eee B. List all defendants. You should state the full name of the defendant, even if that defendant is a government agency, an organization, a corporation, or an individual. Include the address where each defendant may be served. Make sure that the defendant(s) listed below are identical to those contained in the above caption. Attach additional sheets of paper as necessary.

Rev. 12/2009

Street Address _______________________________________________________ County, City _________________________________________________________ State & Zip Code ____________________________________________________ Telephone Number ____________________________________________________ Defendant No.

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Related

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