Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_00-cv-05817/USCOURTS-caed-1_00-cv-05817-10/pdf.json

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

---

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

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

JOSH THOMAS, )

)

Plaintiff, )

)

v. )

)

D.L. STEPHENS, et al., )

)

Defendants )

____________________________________)

CV F 00-5817 AWI SMS P

ORDER DENYING MOTION

FOR DEFAULT

(Document #174)

This action proceeds on Plaintiff Josh Thomas’ Amended Complaint, filed

October 30, 2000. On October 3, 2005, the Magistrate Judge issued the second scheduling order

that set trial in this matter for February 22, 2006. In the order, Plaintiff was ordered to file his

pretrial statement by December 2, 2005, and Defendants were ordered to file their pretrial order

by December 27, 2005.

On December 29, 2005, Plaintiff filed a motion for default. Plaintiff contends

that he is entitled to default judgment because Defendants did not timely file their pretrial

statement. On January 3, 2006, Defendants filed an opposition.

A defendant is in default if he or she fails to plead or otherwise defend a

complaint within the time period permitted by the Federal Rules. Fed. R. Civ. Pro. 55(a). A

court has the discretion to enter default judgment against one who is not an infant, incompetent,

or member of the armed services where the claim is for an amount that is not certain on the face

Case 1:00-cv-05817-LJO-SMS Document 179 Filed 01/10/06 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

of the claim and where 1) the defendant has been served with the claim; 2) the defendant’s

default has been entered for failure to appear; 3) if the defendant has appeared in the action, the

defendant has been served with written notice of the application for judgment at least three days

before the hearing on the application; and 4) the court has undertaken any necessary and proper

investigation or hearing in order to enter judgment or carry it into effect. Fed. R. Civ. P. 55(b);

Alan Neuman Productions, Inc. v. Albright, 862 F.2d 1388, 1392 (9th Cir. 1988).

In this action, Defendants filed answers to Plaintiff’s Amended Complaint in 2002

and 2003. Thus, all Defendants filed responses to the Amended Complaint, and Defendants are

not in default. Rule 55 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure does allow a court to grant

default and default judgment if a defendant is late in filing a pretrial statement. Such late filings

can be addressed by other sanctions. Here, Defendants did not file their pretrial statement late. 

A review of the court’s own docketing system reveals that Defendants filed their pretrial

statement on December 27, 2005. Because Defendants were not required to file their pretrial

statement until December 27, 2005, Defendants are not in violation of the court’s second

secluding order. Thus, Plaintiff is not entitled to default, default judgment, or any other

sanctions.

Accordingly, Plaintiff’s motion for default is DENIED.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: January 10, 2006 /s/ Anthony W. Ishii 

0m8i78 UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

Case 1:00-cv-05817-LJO-SMS Document 179 Filed 01/10/06 Page 2 of 2