Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_09-cv-00680/USCOURTS-caed-1_09-cv-00680-6/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

FERDINAND REYNOLDS,

Plaintiff,

v.

K. GERSTEL, et al.,

Defendants.

/

CASE NO. 1:09-cv-00680-AWI-DLB PC

ORDER DENYING MOTION FOR ENTRY

OF DEFAULT

(Doc. 30)

Plaintiff Ferdinand Reynolds (“Plaintiff”) is a state prisoner proceeding pro se and in forma

pauperis in this civil rights action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. This action is proceeding against

Defendant K. Gerstel for violation of the Eighth Amendment.

On January 6, 2010, Plaintiff filed a motion for default against Defendant Gerstel for

failure to reply. Plaintiff contends that the Court, by order filed on November 2, 2009, directed

the United States Marshal to serve Defendant Gerstel within ten days, and Defendant did not file a

reply within twenty days afterwards. Plaintiff thus contends that judgment should be entered

against Defendant.

Plaintiff ignores several other parts of the Court’s November 2, 2009 order. Defendant

has sixty days after being served with the summons and complaint to return a waiver of service.

(Doc. 27, Order 1:26-2:8.) Even assuming Defendant was served by November 12, 2009, that

would still give Defendant until March 5, 2010, to return a waiver of service. For entry of default

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to occur, a party must fail to plead or otherwise defend. Fed. R. Civ. P. 55. Before this can

occur, a party must first be served or return a waiver of service.

Accordingly, the Court HEREBY ORDERS that Plaintiff’s motion for entry of default,

filed on January 6, 2010, is DENIED.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: January 7, 2010 /s/ Dennis L. Beck

3b142a UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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