Tulk v. Cavender et al, No. 2:2015cv11653 - Document 40 (S.D.W. Va. 2016)
Court Description: MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER adopting and incorporating the 9 Proposed Findings and Recommendations by Magistrate Judge; denying without prejudice the defendants' 7 Motion to dismiss; this matter is recommitted to the magistrate judge under the original reference to take all such further steps and proceedings herein as shall be appropriate. Signed by Judge John T. Copenhaver, Jr. on 7/27/2016. (cc: plaintiff; counsel of record) (taq)
Download PDF
<![CDATA[
Tulk v. Cavender et al Doc. 40 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF WEST VIRGINIA AT CHARLESTON SHERRY A. TULK, Plaintiff, v. Civil Action No. 2:15-cv-11653 RIC CAVENDER, EAST END MAIN STREET, CHARLESTON MAIN STREETS, AFFILIATE ORGANIZATIONS, AMY MCLAUGHLIN, MARY BETH HOOVER, MARYANNE CRICKARD, ROB THOMAS, MIKE PUSHKIN, MARY JEAN DAVIS, MARC WEINTRAUB, DICKINSON GOULD, JIM EDWARDS, LORI BRANNON, SARAH HALSTEAD, WEST END MAIN STREET, JOSH DODD, and MESH DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT, Defendants. MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER Pending is defendants’ motion to dismiss, filed January 13, 2016. This action has been referred to Dwane L. Tinsley, United States Magistrate Judge, who has submitted his Proposed Findings and Recommendations (“PF&R”) on the motion to dismiss pursuant to the provisions of 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)(B). Plaintiff’s complaint in this action, which was filed on July 30, 2015, makes claims related to copyright infringement and unfair trade practices. Defendants moved to dismiss on January Dockets.Justia.com 13, 2016, because of plaintiff’s failure to serve defendants with a copy of the complaint within the allotted time. The magistrate judge filed his PF&R regarding defendants’ motion to dismiss on May 20, 2016. The court has reviewed the PF&R entered by the magistrate judge on the aforementioned date. Defendants had moved to dismiss because plaintiff did not serve them with process within 120 days. The magistrate judge noted, however, that pro se plaintiffs proceeding in forma pauperis – that is, without prepayment of costs or fees - are entitled to rely on court officers to complete service of process. And, in an in forma pauperis case, the magistrate judge typically orders service of the defendants only after he has screened the complaint pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B). In the present case, the magistrate judge had not completed his screening of the complaint at the time of defendants’ motion, and so service had not been ordered or completed. The magistrate judge stated that “where a plaintiff has demonstrated reasonable efforts to assist in obtaining . . . service [through officers of the court], he or she should not be penalized by dismissal for untimely service.” Consequently, the magistrate judge recommended that defendants’ motion to dismiss 2 be denied without prejudice, and he noted, also, that he had completed his screening and would soon order service. Neither party has filed an objection to the PF&R.1 Inasmuch as neither party has objected, and following a de novo review, it is ORDERED that the PF&R be, and it hereby is, adopted and incorporated herein. It is further ORDERED that defendants’ motion be, and it hereby is, denied without prejudice. The court also ORDERS that this matter be, and it hereby is, recommitted to the magistrate judge under the original reference to take all such further steps and proceedings herein as shall be appropriate. Plaintiff did file a document labeled an “Objection” on June 3, 2016, but it was an objection to defendants’ motion to dismiss, not to the PF&R. In that “objection,” plaintiff also requested “an extension of 30 days from the date of this request . . . for service of summons upon defendants and disposition, to allow for determination of proceeding with complicated and additional complaints and parties,” and “to allow time . . . to seek counsel for an evident, complicated, extensive, and lengthy complaint.” Inasmuch as the Clerk issued summons to defendants on June 3, there is no need for the court to extend the time for service. Beyond the additional time requested for service, plaintiff does not state what deadlines she wishes to be delayed. To the extent that she seeks additional modification of the scheduling order, that request is best directed to the magistrate judge, to whom the case will continue to be committed. 3 1 The Clerk is directed to send a copy of this written opinion and order to counsel of record and plaintiff. ENTER: January 2016 DATED: July 27, 5, 2016 John T. Copenhaver, Jr. United States District Judge 4
]]>
Some case metadata and case summaries were written with the help of AI, which can produce inaccuracies. You
should read the full case before relying on it for legal research purposes.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google
Privacy Policy and
Terms of Service apply.
