Mercer v. VIACOMCBS/PARAMOUNT
- Lorna Schofield
- 1:22-cv-06322
- U.S. District Court · Southern District of New York
- 3
Mercer v. VIACOMCBS/PARAMOUNT: Judge Schofield ordered Marshals Service assistance with serving the discrimination complaint.
Amirah Mercer and VIACOMCBS/PARAMOUNT; the Clerk of Court and U.S. Marshals Service were directed to take steps to serve the defendant.
What happened
In Mercer v. VIACOMCBS/PARAMOUNT, Amirah Mercer, representing herself, alleges that VIACOMCBS/PARAMOUNT discriminated against her. The court had already allowed her to proceed without paying filing fees upfront.
The court directed the Clerk of Court to issue a summons, complete the required service form, and send the necessary documents to the U.S. Marshals Service. The deadline for service was extended to 90 days after the summons is issued. Mercer must ask for more time if service is not completed by then and must notify the court in writing if her address changes.
Judge Lorna G. Schofield issued this service order. The order addresses how the defendant will be served and does not decide whether Mercer’s discrimination allegation is valid.
The detailed version
- Mercer v. VIACOMCBS/PARAMOUNT · No. 1:22-cv-06322
- Lorna Schofield
- Sept. 12, 2022
Background
Amirah Mercer, who is representing herself, alleges that VIACOMCBS/PARAMOUNT discriminated against her. The court had previously granted her permission to proceed without prepaying court fees.
Service of the Complaint
Because Mercer was allowed to proceed without prepaying fees, the court explained that she could rely on the court and the U.S. Marshals Service to serve the defendant. The Clerk of Court was instructed to issue a summons for VIACOMCBS/PARAMOUNT, complete the required U.S. Marshals Service Process Receipt and Return form, and deliver the necessary documents to the Marshals Service.
The court stated that service must be completed within 90 days after the summons is issued. If service is not completed within that period, Mercer should request an extension of time. She must also notify the court in writing if her address changes; the court stated that it may dismiss the action if she fails to do so.
Disposition
Judge Lorna G. Schofield ordered the Clerk of Court to take the steps needed for Marshals Service to serve VIACOMCBS/PARAMOUNT and directed that an information package be mailed to Mercer. This order concerns service and does not rule on the merits of Mercer’s discrimination allegation.
Read the full 3-page opinion on CourtListener, the free public archive maintained by the Free Law Project.