Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_11-cv-01536/USCOURTS-caed-1_11-cv-01536-9/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 440
Nature of Suit: Other Civil Rights
Cause of Action: 28:1983 Civil Rights

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

MICHAEL J. PIAZZA, 

 Plaintiff, 

 v. 

D. R. BRACKETT and DEREK PERRY,

 Defendants.

1:11-CV-01536-AWI-BAM

ORDER DENYING PLAINTIFF’S 

MOTION FOR DEFAULT JUDGMENT

(Doc. 48.) 

On May 2, 2013, Plaintiff, a prisoner proceeding pro se and informa pauperis, filed a motion

for default judgment. (Doc. 48.) Plaintiff argues Rule 12 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure 

requires Defendants to file an answer within 21 days of being served with a summons and complaint, 

and that neither Defendant has filed an answer. 

Plaintiff’s Motion for Default Judgment is procedurally and substantively misguided. First, 

both Defendants filed motions to dismiss under Rule 12. (Doc. 26, 36.) Because Defendants’ Motions 

to dismiss were filed before an answer was due, “the time for filing an Answer is tolled until after 

resolution of that Motion.” Azeltine v. Bank of America, 2010 WL 6511710 (D. Ariz. 2010), citing 

Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(a)(4). Consequently, Defendants properly have responded to Plaintiff’s Complaint 

and Defendants are not in default. 

Case 1:11-cv-01536-BAM Document 50 Filed 05/24/13 Page 1 of 3
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Second, Plaintiff has not obtained a clerk’s entry of default. On the contrary, Plaintiff’s request 

for a clerk’s entry of default was denied. (Doc. 44.) Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 55 governs the 

entry of default by the clerk and the subsequent entry of default judgment by either the clerk or the 

district court. In relevant part, Rule 55 provides:

(a) Entering a Default. When a party against whom a judgment for affirmative relief is 

sought has failed to plead or otherwise defend, and that failure is shown by affidavit or 

otherwise, the clerk must enter the party's default.

(b) Entering a Default Judgment.

(1) By the Clerk. If the plaintiff's claim is for a sum certain or a sum that can be made 

certain by computation, the clerk-on the plaintiff's request, with an affidavit showing the 

amount due-must enter judgment for that amount and costs against a defendant who has 

been defaulted for not appearing and who is neither a minor nor an incompetent person.

(2) By the Court. In all other cases, the party must apply to the court for a default 

judgment ....

Fed.R.Civ.P. 55(a)-(b). Defendants have appeared in this action and therefore any default, even 

if entered, would be defective procedurally. 

Moreover, as the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals has stated, Rule 55 requires a “twostep process” consisting of: (1) seeking a clerk's entry of default, and (2) filing a motion for the 

entry of default judgment. See Eitel v. McCool, 782 F.2d 1470, 1471 (9th Cir.1986) (“Eitel 

apparently fails to understand the two-step process required by Rule 55.”); accord Symantec 

Corp. v. Global Impact, Inc., 559 F.3d 922, 923 (9th Cir.2009) (noting that Rules 55(a) and (b) 

provide a two-step process for obtaining a default judgment); Cramer v. Target Corp., No. 

1:08–cv–01693–OWW–SKO, 2010 WL 2898996, at *1 (E.D. Cal. July 22, 2010) 

(unpublished) (“Obtaining a default judgment in federal court is a two-step process.”)

Plaintiff did not obtain a clerk's entry of default from the Clerk of Court and could 

not obtain entry of default. Accordingly, plaintiff's motion for default judgment is not properly 

before this Court. 

/././

Case 1:11-cv-01536-BAM Document 50 Filed 05/24/13 Page 2 of 3
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CONCLUSION

Based on the foregoing, Plaintiff’s Motion for Default Judgment is DENIED. 

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: May 23, 2013 /s/ Barbara A. McAuliffe _

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE DEAC_Signature-END:

10c20kb8554

Case 1:11-cv-01536-BAM Document 50 Filed 05/24/13 Page 3 of 3