Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-casd-3_07-cv-00884/USCOURTS-casd-3_07-cv-00884-1/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 190
Nature of Suit: Other Contract Actions
Cause of Action: 28:1332 Diversity-Contract Dispute

---

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

- 1 - 07cv0884

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

EXECUTIVE INFORMATION SERVICES

& INVESTMENT GROUP, LLC, a

Nevada Limited Liability Company,

Plaintiff,

CASE NO. 07cv0884-LAB (WMc)

ORDER SUA SPONTE DENYING

PLAINTIFF'S MOTION FOR

ENTRY OF DEFAULT JUDGMENT

AND GRANTING MOTION TO

STRIKE ANSWERS, WITH LEAVE

TO AMEND

[Dkt No. 18]

vs.

AMERICAN RELIEF AND

DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION, an

Utah corporation; PAUL NORTHCOTT,

an individual;. JUDITH NORTHCOTT, an

individual; and DOES 1 through 50

inclusive,

Defendants.

It has come to the court's attention the docket in this matter reflects no contact

information for the named defendants, who have filed defective Answers to the Complaint,

appearing pro se. Plaintiff has filed a Motion To Strike The Answers as a sanction for failure

to appear at the Early Neutral Evaluation Conference ("ENE") and also moves for Entry Of

Default Judgment predicated on defendants' technically defective pleadings, failure to

appear at the ENE, failure to serve their Answers, and failure to file proofs of services as this

court directed, as well as correctly arguing a corporation must appear through an attorney.

The Motion is GRANTED IN PART and DENIED IN PART. 

By Order entered October 10, 2007, the Magistrate Judge assigned to this case

withdrew an oral representation made at the ENE suggesting he would entertain a motion

for sanctions against defendants for failure to appear at the ENE, on grounds of a likelihood

Case 3:07-cv-00884-LAB-WMC Document 20 Filed 10/15/07 Page 1 of 2
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

- 2 - 07cv0884

defendants never received notice of the ENE. For the same reasons as notice of the ENE

was likely not conveyed to defendants, they likely did not receive notice of the court's order

with respect to defects in their Answers. In these circumstances, the requested entry of

default judgment or other court action as a sanction is inappropriate. However, the Answers

accepted for filing via Discrepancy Orders with instructions regarding service are ordered

stricken, but without prejudice. 

Plaintiff's Proofs of Service in this case indicate it has contact information for the

named defendants. Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED:

1. Plaintiff shall forthwith serve a copy of this Order on each named defendant

as well as a copy of the docket in this action.

2. Plaintiff's Motion To Strike defendants' defective Answers (Docket Nos. 12, 14,

and 16) is GRANTED, without prejudice.

3. Within twenty (20) days of the date of service of this Order, defendants and

each of them shall file an Amended Answer in compliance with the Federal Rules of Civil

Procedure and the Civil Local Rules of this district, in particular but not limited to providing

the required contact information for communications from the court, causing the corporate

defendant to appear through an attorney licensed to practice in this district, effectuating

proper service of the Amended Answers on Plaintiff, and following the pleading caption,

formatting, and other technical rules of court identified in plaintiff's Motion.

4. Plaintiff's Motion For Default Judgment is DENIED.

5. The hearing of the Motion is rendered moot by this Order, and the hearing date

is accordingly vacated.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

DATED: October 15, 2007

HONORABLE LARRY ALAN BURNS

United States District Judge

Case 3:07-cv-00884-LAB-WMC Document 20 Filed 10/15/07 Page 2 of 2