Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_14-cv-01351/USCOURTS-caed-1_14-cv-01351-2/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 550
Nature of Suit: Prisoner - Civil Rights (U.S. defendant)
Cause of Action: 42:1983 Prisoner Civil Rights

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

RORY C. MOSER,

 Plaintiff,

 vs.

NORTH KERN STATE PRISON,

 Defendant.

1:14-cv-01351-GSA-PC

ORDER DENYING PLAINTIFF=S 

REQUEST FOR ENTRY OF DEFAULT 

(Doc. 12.)

I. BACKGROUND

Rory C. Moser (APlaintiff@) is a state prisoner proceeding pro se and in forma pauperis 

with this civil rights action filed pursuant to 42 U.S.C. ' 1983. Plaintiff filed the Complaint 

commencing this action on August 25, 2014, at the Sacramento Division of the United States 

District Court, Eastern District of California. (Doc. 1.) On August 29, 2014, the case was 

transferred to the Fresno Division of the Eastern District. (Doc. 4.) 

On September 15, 2014, Plaintiff consented to Magistrate Judge jurisdiction in this 

action pursuant to 28 U.S.C. ' 636(c), and no other parties have made an appearance. (Doc. 7.) 

Therefore, pursuant to Appendix A(k)(4) of the Local Rules of the Eastern District of 

California, the undersigned shall conduct any and all proceedings in the case until such time as 

reassignment to a District Judge is required. Local Rule Appendix A(k)(3). 

Case 1:14-cv-01351-SAB Document 14 Filed 04/08/15 Page 1 of 3
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On April 6, 2015, Plaintiff filed a request for entry of default against defendant North 

Kern State Prison. (Doc. 12.)

II. ENTRY OF DEFAULT 

Entry of default is appropriate as to any party against whom a judgment for affirmative 

relief is sought that has failed to plead or otherwise defend as provided by the Federal Rules of 

Civil Procedure and where that failure is shown by affidavit or otherwise. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 

55(a). Rule 12 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure provides, A[A] defendant must serve an 

answer within 21 days after being served with the summons and complaint; or if it has timely 

waived service under Rule 4(d), within 60 days after the request for a waiver was sent.@ Fed. 

R. Civ. P. 12(a)(1)(A). Under Rule 4(d), a defendant may waive service of a summons by 

signing and returning a waiver of service. Fed. R. Civ. P. 4(d). If a defendant fails to plead or 

otherwise defend an action after being properly served with a summons and complaint, a 

default judgment may be entered pursuant to Rule 55(a) of the Federal Rules of Civil 

Procedure.

Plaintiff’s Request

Plaintiff requests entry of default against defendant North Kern State Prison. Plaintiff 

asserts that court records indicate that on September 22, 2014, the defendant was served with 

copies of a summons and complaint by the United States Marshal. Plaintiff argues that default 

should be entered against the defendant because more than twenty days have elapsed since 

service was completed, and the defendant failed to plead or otherwise defend in this action. 

Discussion

Plaintiff is mistaken. Court records do not reflect that the defendant was served with 

process by the United States Marshal on September 22, 2014. (Court Record.) There is no 

evidence that defendant North Kern State Prison was properly served with process and failed to 

plead or otherwise defend pursuant to Rule 55(a). Fed. R. Civ. P. 55(a). 

It is not time for service in this case. With respect to service, the court will, sua sponte, 

direct the United States Marshal to serve the complaint only after the court has screened the 

complaint and determined that it contains cognizable claims for relief against the named 

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defendant. Here, Plaintiff’s Complaint awaits the court’s requisite screening under 28 U.S.C. § 

1915A. Therefore, at this stage of the proceedings, entry of default is not appropriate, and 

Plaintiff’s request must be denied.

III. CONCLUSION

Based on the foregoing, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that Plaintiff=s request for entry of 

default against defendant North Kern State Prison, filed on April 6, 2015, is DENIED. 

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: April 8, 2015 /s/ Gary S. Austin 

 UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

Case 1:14-cv-01351-SAB Document 14 Filed 04/08/15 Page 3 of 3