F I L E D
United States Court of Appeals
Tenth Circuit
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
SEP 7 2000
FOR THE TENTH CIRCUIT
PATRICK FISHER
Clerk
BRUCE M. POLLOCK,
Plaintiff-Appellant,
v. No. 00-1008
(D.C. No. 97-N-2395)
VISTA VILLAGE MOBILE HOME (D. Colo.)
PARK, c/o HARVEY J. MILLER,
INC.,
Defendants-Appellees.
ORDER AND JUDGMENT *
Before BRORBY, PORFILIO, and MURPHY , Circuit Judges.
After examining the briefs and appellate record, this panel has determined
unanimously that oral argument would not materially assist the determination of
this appeal. See Fed. R. App. P. 34(a)(2); 10th Cir. R. 34.1(G). The case is
therefore ordered submitted without oral argument.
*
This order and judgment is not binding precedent, except under the
doctrines of law of the case, res judicata, and collateral estoppel. The court
generally disfavors the citation of orders and judgments; nevertheless, an order
and judgment may be cited under the terms and conditions of 10th Cir. R. 36.3.
Plaintiff, appearing pro se , filed suit in federal district court seeking review
of an amended determination of the Colorado Civil Rights Division, resulting
from a complaint plaintiff filed with that agency. The complaint alleged that
defendants denied plaintiff the opportunity to complete a sale of his mobile home
because of the potential purchasers’ national origin, in violation of state law.
Plaintiff also sought monetary damages resulting from the loss of the sale. On the
magistrate judge’s recommendation, the district court dismissed the claim
challenging the agency decision for lack of subject matter jurisdiction. With
regard to the claim for monetary damages, the court determined that plaintiff had
stated a claim under 42 U.S.C. § 3605(a), but it found that the complaint was
deficient as to the legal status and factual connections of the two possible
defendants on that claim. Consequently, the district court allowed plaintiff ten
days to amend his complaint to identify the defendants against whom the claim
was directed and to allege facts providing a basis for liability of those defendants
under § 3605(a). Plaintiff did not amend his complaint, and, as a result, the
district court dismissed the remaining claim.
On appeal, plaintiff takes issue with defendants’ failure to waive service
under Fed. R. Civ. P. 4(d). Although it is difficult to grasp plaintiff’s argument,
it is clear that he misunderstands the waiver of service rule. Rule 4(d) merely
provides a means by which a defendant can avoid bearing the cost of service of
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the summons. The Rule provides that if a defendant does not waive service after
a plaintiff has so requested in accordance with the Rule, the defendant shall then
be responsible for the costs incurred in effecting service on him, unless the
defendant can show good cause for not complying with the request for waiver of
service. Fed. R. Civ. P. 4(d)(2) & (5).
In any event, defendants did not challenge the validity of the service of the
complaint. In fact, defendants state that they effectively waived any defect in
service. There is simply no merit to the argument plaintiff presents on appeal.
AFFIRMED.
Entered for the Court
Wade Brorby
Circuit Judge
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