Brown v. Woods

United States District Court, Eastern District of Arkansas, Central Division · February 3, 2025 · No. 4:24-cv-00671

Summary

This is a procedural order from the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas addressing the failure to properly serve defendants in a pro se civil rights action brought under 42 U.S.C. § 1983. Citing Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 4(m) and relevant Eighth Circuit precedent, the court reminds the plaintiff of his obligation to provide valid service addresses for the named defendants. The order grants the plaintiff until March 7, 2025, to comply, warning that failure to do so may result in the dismissal of claims against the unserved defendant.

Court
United States District Court, Eastern District of Arkansas, Central Division
Writing for the Court
United States Magistrate Judge
Jurisdiction
United States District Court, Eastern District of Arkansas
Decision date
February 3, 2025
Docket number
4:24-cv-00671
Procedural posture
Pro se plaintiff filed a 42 U.S.C. §1983 action; the court ordered the plaintiff to provide a valid service address for Defendant Brown within the statutory period or face dismissal.
Precedential value
nonprecedential
Disposition
other

Topics

service of processcivil procedurecivil rights

Practice areas

civil rightscivil procedure

Questions Presented

  1. Whether the plaintiff must provide a valid service address for the defendant within 90 days or have the claims dismissed.

Holdings

  1. Plaintiff must provide a valid service address for Defendant Woods by March 7, 2025, or the claims may be dismissed.

Key quotations

Mr. Brown has until March 7, 2025, to provide a valid service address for Defendant Brown. If he fails to provide a valid service address by that date, Mr. Brown’s claims against Defendant Brown may be dismissed. SO ORDERED 3 February 2025. (0)

Factual background

Plaintiff Kuron Lavell Brown, incarcerated at the W.C. Brassell Adult Detention Center, filed a civil rights lawsuit under 42 U.S.C. §1983. Two summonses issued to Defendant Woods were returned unexecuted, indicating a failure to provide a proper service address.

Procedural history

Plaintiff Kuron Lavell Brown, an inmate, filed the suit and served two summonses that were returned unexecuted; the court issued this order directing compliance with service requirements.

Remand instructions

Provide a valid service address for Defendant Woods by March 7, 2025; failure to do so may result in dismissal of the claims.

Court Document

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