Kotze v. NBCUniversal Media, LLC, 1:25-cv-04703

Plaintiff Emile Petrus Kotze, proceeding pro se and in forma pauperis (IFP), filed suit against NBC Universal Media LLC and several other media-related defendants.
The legal claims are brought under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, the Ending Forced Arbitration of Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment Act, the Jones Act, and state law.
The Court granted the plaintiff's request to proceed IFP, entitling him to certain procedural assistance for serving process.
Plaintiff supplied a service address only for NBC Universal Media LLC, not for the other defendants.
The Court addressed the procedural requirements for serving the complaint on corporate and individual defendants under the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, particularly in IFP cases.
The order extends relevant deadlines and instructs both the Clerk of Court and Plaintiff on steps necessary to ensure service on all defendants.

Issue	Plaintiff's Argument	Defendant's Argument	Held
Entitlement to service assistance as IFP litigant	Kotze is entitled to assistance in effecting service	N/A	Plaintiff entitled to court and U.S. Marshals Service assistance
Requirement for providing service addresses	Kotze can proceed without providing all addresses	N/A	Plaintiff must provide addresses for Marshals to serve other defendants
Extension of service deadline due to IFP status	Additional time needed to serve after IFP determination	N/A	Court grants 90 days from issuance of summons for service
Procedural steps for effecting service on all parties	Service should be effected by Marshals once addresses given	N/A	Outlines steps for Plaintiff and Clerk for service on all defendants

Walker v. Schult, 717 F.3d 119 (2d Cir. 2013) (holding that plaintiffs proceeding IFP are entitled to assistance of the court and Marshals Service for service)
Meilleur v. Strong, 682 F.3d 56 (2d Cir. 2012) (plaintiff must request extension of time if unable to effect service)