Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-1_12-cv-02284/USCOURTS-cand-1_12-cv-02284-2/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 820
Nature of Suit: Copyright
Cause of Action: 17:101 Copyright Infringement

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

SERGEI SARYTCHEV,

Plaintiff, No. C 12-2284 PJH

v. ORDER DENYING MOTION FOR 

DEFAULT JUDGMENT AND STRIKING

VICTOR KOROLEV, et al., ANSWER

Defendants.

___________________________________/

Before the court is plaintiff’s motion for default judgment, filed on November 14,

2012. The court notes that default has been entered against all defendants as of July 23,

2012, and that this court’s order of October 3, 2012 permitted plaintiff to file a motion for

default judgment if defendants did not move to set aside the default entered against them. 

Defendants still have not moved to set aside the default. However, defendants have filed

an answer to plaintiff’s amended complaint, and have also filed an opposition (albeit, an

untimely-filed opposition) to plaintiff’s motion for default judgment. Based on these filings, it

does appear that defendants have shown an intent to defend the action. And given the

courts’ strong public policy in favor of deciding cases on the merits, plaintiff’s motion for

default judgment is hereby DENIED.

However, defendants still have not moved to set aside the defaults entered against

them. As a result, their answer was not properly filed, and is hereby STRICKEN under

Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(f). While defendants have shown an intent to defend

the action, they must follow the proper procedures in order to proceed. First, defendants

must move, under Rule 55(c), to set aside the default entered against them. Next,

assuming the default is set aside, defendants may re-file their answer. Defendants must

move to set aside the defaults by January 25, 2013. If defendants file anything other than a

motion to set aside the default, those filings will be stricken. And if defendants miss this

Case 1:12-cv-02284-NJV Document 50 Filed 01/04/13 Page 1 of 2
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second deadline for a motion to set aside the default, they risk default judgment being

entered against them. 

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: January 4, 2013 ______________________________

PHYLLIS J. HAMILTON

United States District Judge

Case 1:12-cv-02284-NJV Document 50 Filed 01/04/13 Page 2 of 2