Monroe v. County of Rockland

District Court, S.D. New York·Decided April 22, 2021·No. 7:21-cv-02472·Unknown

Opinion

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK MICHAEL J. MONROE, Plaintiff, -against- 21-CV-2472 (CS) ‘COUNTY OF ROCKLAND; CORRECTION ORDER OF SERVICE OFFICER JOHN DOE #1, CORRECTION OFFICER JOHN DOE #2, Defendants. CATHY SEIBEL, United States District Judge: Plaintiff, currently detained at Rockland County Correctional Center, brings this pro se action under 42 U.S.C. § 1983. He alleges that Defendants were deliberately indifferent to a risk to him of serious harm from another inmate. By order dated April 2, 2021, the Court granted Plaintiff’s request to proceed without prepayment of fees, that is, in forma pauperis (“IFP”). DISCUSSION A, Service on Rockland County 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. Walker v. Schult, 717 F.3d. 119, 123 n.6 (2d Cir. 2013); see also 28 ULS.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)). Although Rule 4(m) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure generally requires that a summons and complaint be served within 90 days of the date the complaint is filed, Plaintiff is

' Prisoners are not exempt from paying the full filing fee even when they have been granted permission to proceed in forma pauperis, See 28 U.S.C. § 1915(b)(1).

proceeding IFP and could not have served the summons and amended complaint until the Court reviewed the amended complaint and ordered that a summons be issued. The Court therefore extends the time to serve until 90 days after the date the summons is issued. If the amended complaint is not served within that time, 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); see also Murray y. Pataki, 378 F. App’x 50, 52 (2d Cir. 2010) (“As long as the [plaintiff proceeding IFP] provides the information necessary to identify the defendant, the Marshals’ failure to effect service automatically | constitutes ‘good cause’ for an extension of time within the meaning of Rule 4(m).”). To allow Plaintiff to effect service on Defendant County of Rockland 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 the 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 the defendant. Plaintiff must notify the Court in writing if his address changes, and the Court may dismiss the action if Plaintiff fails to do so. B. John Doe Correction Officers Under Valentin y. Dinkins, a pro se litigant is entitled to assistance from the district court in identifying a defendant. 121 F.3d 72, 76 (2d Cir. 1997). In the complaint, Plaintiff supplies sufficient information to permit the Rockland County Corrections Division to identify the two “Tohn Doe” correction officers working in the “IV room” of the Charlie Housing Unit at Rockland County on October 8, 2020, It is therefore ordered that the Rockland County Attorney, who is the attorney for and agent of the Rockland County Corrections Division, must ascertain the identity and badge number of each John Doe whom Plaintiff seeks to sue here and the

address where the defendant may be served. The Rockland County Attorney must provide this information to Plaintiff and the Court within sixty days of the date of this order. Within thirty days after receiving this information, Plaintiff must file a second amended complaint naming the John Doe defendants. The second amended complaint will replace, not supplement, the amended complaint. A second amended complaint form for Plaintiff to complete after receiving this information is attached to this order. Once Plaintiff has filed a second amended complaint, the Court will screen it 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 deliver to the U.S. Marshals Service all documents necessary to effect service. Local Civil Rule 33,2 Local Civil Rule 33.2, which requires defendants in certain types of prisoner cases to respond to specific, court-ordered discovery requests, applies to this action. Those discovery requests are available on the Court’s website under “Forms” and are titled “Plaintiffs Local Civil Rule 33.2 Interrogatories and Requests for Production of Documents.” Within 120 days of service of the complaint, Defendants must serve responses to these standard discovery requests. In their responses, Defendants must quote each request verbatim. CONCLUSION The Clerk of Court is directed to mail a copy of this order to Plaintiff, together with an information package. The Clerk of Court is further instructed to complete the USM-285 form with the address for Defendant County of Rockland and deliver to the U.S. Marshals Service all documents necessary to effect service, The Clerk of Court is directed to mail a copy of this order and the complaint to the Rockland County Attorney at: 1 South Main Street, Suite 500. New City, New York 10956-3549. A Second Amended Civil Rights Complaint form is attached to this order.

Local Civil Rule 33.2 applies to this action. 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 in forma pauperis 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. Dated: White Plains, New York :

United States District Judge

DEFENDANTS AND SERVICE ADDRESSES 1. County of Rockland Rockland County Attorney 1 South Main Street, Suite 500 New City, New York 10956-3549

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK

CV Write the full name of each plaintiff. (include case number if one has been assigned} SECOND AMENDED ragainst- COMPLAINT (Prisoner) Do you want a jury trial? A CLlYes UNo

Write the full name of each defendant. if you 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 above must be identical to those contained in Section IV.

NOTICE The public can access electronic court files. For privacy and security reasons, papers filed with the court should therefore not contain: an individual’s full social security number or full birth date; the full name of a person known to be a minor; or a complete financial account number. A filing may include only: the last four digits of a social security number; the year of an individual’s birth; a minor’s initials; and the last four digits of a financial account number.

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Monroe v. County of Rockland, (S.D.N.Y. 2021).

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Related

Coppedge v. United States
369 U.S. 438 (Supreme Court, 1962)
Murray v. Pataki
378 F. App'x 50 (Second Circuit, 2010)
Meilleur v. Strong
682 F.3d 56 (Second Circuit, 2012)
Walker v. Schult
717 F.3d 119 (Second Circuit, 2013)