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DENTREMONT v. ATLAS HEALTH CARE LINEN SERVICES CO., LLC, 1:12-CV-060 (LEK/RFT). (2013)

Court: District Court, N.D. New York Number: infdco20130702c95 Visitors: 3
Filed: Jul. 01, 2013
Latest Update: Jul. 01, 2013
Summary: ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE RANDOLPH F. TREECE, Magistrate Judge. On January 12, 2012, Plaintiff initiated the instant Americans with Disabilities Act action, pursuant to 42 U.S.C. 21101, et seq., by filing a Complaint with the Clerk of the Court. Dkt. No. 1, Compl. Shortly thereafter, pursuant to an Order dated January 20, 2012, Dkt. No. 7, the Clerk of the Court issued Summonses for the named Defendants as well as the District Court's General Order 25. Dkt. Nos. 8 & 9. The Clerk further set an
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ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE

RANDOLPH F. TREECE, Magistrate Judge.

On January 12, 2012, Plaintiff initiated the instant Americans with Disabilities Act action, pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 21101, et seq., by filing a Complaint with the Clerk of the Court. Dkt. No. 1, Compl. Shortly thereafter, pursuant to an Order dated January 20, 2012, Dkt. No. 7, the Clerk of the Court issued Summonses for the named Defendants as well as the District Court's General Order 25. Dkt. Nos. 8 & 9. The Clerk further set an Initial Rule 16 Conference before the undersigned for May 16, 2012, at 9:30 a.m. Dkt. No. 9. That Rule 16 Conference was adjourned without date pending the resolution of a Motion to Dismiss. See Dkt. Nos. 25, Mot. to Dismiss, & 27, Order, dated May 1, 2012. Pursuant to a Memorandum-Decision and Order, Dkt. No. 42, an Amended Complaint was filed on May 20, 2013, Dkt. No. 56.

On June 3, 2013, Defendants sought an extension of time to respond to the Complaint principally because Victoria Sanalvia, previously named as "Jane Doe," was recently identified as a Defendant, but could not be located. Dkt. No. 57. That Letter-Request was granted and Defendants' time to respond was extended until June 26, 2013. Dkt. No. 58, Order, dated June 3, 2013. And, on June 26, 2013, Defendants filed an Answer to the Amended Complaint. Dkt. No. 60. However, the Defendants did not Answer for Victoria Sanalvia. Id.

On that same day, Defendants filed yet another Letter-Motion advising the Court that Ms. Sanalvia has not been located, yet bringing to the Court's and Plaintiff's attention that more than 120 days have elapsed since the filing of the Complaint, and Ms. Sanalvia had not been served. Dkt. No. 61. Defendants note that Plaintiff did not identify Ms. Sanalvia as a Defendant, until May 20, 2013, more than one year after filing the Complaint. Id. In light of these developments, Defendants ask the Court to dismiss the claims against Ms. Sanalvia. Id.

Under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 4(c)(1), the Plaintiff is responsible for service of the Summons and Complaint for each Defendant within a specified time period. Specifically, the Plaintiff must effectuate service of process within 120 days of the filing of the Complaint. FED. R. CIV. P. 4(m).1 Failure to properly serve any Defendant in accordance with the Federal Rules will result in the Court, upon motion or on its own initiative, to dismiss the case without prejudice as to that Defendant. Id. Thus, no later than July 17, 2013, Plaintiff shall file an affidavit showing cause why this Court should not recommend a dismissal of this action for violation of the Federal and Local Rules. Plaintiff's failure to establish good cause for failing to timely effectuate service of process will result in the Court recommending dismissal of this action.

WHEREFORE, based upon the foregoing, it is hereby

ORDERED, that the Initial Rule 16 Conference is adjourned without date; and it is further

ORDERED, that no later than July 17, 2013, Plaintiff shall electronically file an affidavit showing cause why this Court should not recommend a dismissal of this action for violation of the Federal and Local Rules. Plaintiff's failure to establish good cause for failing to timely effectuate service of process will result in the Court recommending dismissal of this action; and it is further

ORDERED, that the Clerk of the Court shall serve a copy of this Order on the Plaintiff in accordance with the Local Rules.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

FootNotes


1. The Local Rules of the Northern District of New York further provide that service of process must be completed within sixty (60) days of the filing of the complaint. See N.D.N.Y.L.R. 4.1(b). "This expedited service requirement is necessary to ensure adequate time for pretrial discovery and motion practice." Id. "In no event shall service of process be completed after the time specified in Fed. R. Civ. P. 4." Id.
Source:  Leagle

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