Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-casd-3_15-cv-02021/USCOURTS-casd-3_15-cv-02021-1/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 625
Nature of Suit: Drug Related Seizure of Property
Cause of Action: 21:0881 Forfeiture Property - Drugs

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

Plaintiff,

CASE NO. 15cv2021-LAB (JLB)

ORDER REQUIRING CLAIMANTS TO

FILE RESPONSE TO MOTION FOR

DEFAULT JUDGMENT

vs.

$10,924.00 IN U.S. CURRENCY,

Defendant.

On October 21, the Clerk entered default as to former claimant David Andrew Perez1

and all other potential claimants. (Docket no. 12.) The government then moved for default

judgment against Perez and all other potential claimants. (Docket no. 13.) The hearing date

on this motion is currently set for Monday, January 9, 2017 at 11:15 a.m. 

Ordinarily an opposition to the motion would be due 14 days before the hearing. See

Civil Local Rule 7.1(e)(1). And the Ninth Circuit has suggested that district courts should hold

hearings even when no there is no opposition has been filed. See Espy v. Independence

Blue Cross, 613 Fed. Appx. 633, 633–34 (9 Cir. 2015). But federal rules direct the Court th

to avoid needless expense and delay. Fed. R. Civ. P. 1. Here, that would include the

Perez filed a claim, but failed to sign it as required by Fed. R. Civ. P. 11. The Court 1

brought the violation to Perez’s counsel’s attention and he failed to correct it as ordered by

filing a properly signed claim. The Court therefore struck his claim (see Docket no. 9), as

required by Fed. R. Civ. P. 11(a), and he has no pending claim to the Defendant currency.

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Case 3:15-cv-02021-LAB-JLB Document 14 Filed 10/27/16 Page 1 of 2
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expense and delay occasioned by preparing for and holding a hearing on a motion no one

intends to oppose. 

The Court is empowered to amend the default deadlines that would ordinarily apply. 

See Civil Local Rules 1.1(d) and 7.1(e)(1). The Court therefore ORDERS Perez or any other

claimant who wishes to oppose the motion to file a written opposition to the motion no later

than December 12, 2016. If they do not oppose entry of default judgment, they need not

file anything, and the Court will construe their non-opposition as consent to the entry of

default judgment. If no oppositions are filed, the hearing will be vacated. See Civil Local Rule

7.1(d)(1). Potential claimants should therefore not expect to be able to appear at the hearing

if they have not filed an opposition.

If no oppositions are timely filed, the Court may deem the motion unopposed and

grant the motion on that basis. See Civil Local Rule 7.1(f)(3)(c).

IT IS SO ORDERED.

DATED: October 26, 2016

HONORABLE LARRY ALAN BURNS

United States District Judge

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Case 3:15-cv-02021-LAB-JLB Document 14 Filed 10/27/16 Page 2 of 2