Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-4_07-cv-05040/USCOURTS-cand-4_07-cv-05040-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 555
Nature of Suit: Prisoner - Prison Condition
Cause of Action: 42:1983 Prisoner Civil Rights

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United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

RUSTY ALAN SIMS,

Plaintiff,

 v.

CALIFORNIA DEPT. OF CORRECTIONS, et al.,

Defendants. /

No. C 07-05040 SBA (PR)

ORDER DENYING REQUEST FOR

DEFAULT JUDGMENT

(Docket no. 11)

Plaintiff has filed a document entitled "Notice of Motion for Request for Default Judgment"

(docket no. 11). 

Under Rule 55 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, judgment by default may be entered

"[w]hen a party against whom affirmative relief is sought has failed to plead or otherwise defend as

provided by these rules." Fed. R. Civ. P. 55(a). In the present case, Defendants have not failed to

defend this action, and the facts alleged by Plaintiff do not entitle him to an entry of default against

them. Furthermore, Rule 55(b) contemplates that a default judgment may be sought after default has

been entered against a defendant. See also New York Life Ins. Co. v. Brown, 84 F.3d 137 (5th Cir.

1996) ("After defendant's default has been entered, plaintiff may apply for a judgment based on such

default. This is a default judgment."); Eitel v. McCool, 782 F.2d 1470 (9th Cir. 1986). Here,

Plaintiff has moved for a default judgment prior to seeking entry of default. Therefore, Plaintiff's

request is premature. However, as mentioned above, Plaintiff's request is without merit because he

is not entitled to an entry of default against Defendants.

Accordingly, Plaintiff's request for default judgment (docket no. 11) is DENIED.

This Order terminates Docket no. 11.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

DATED: April 15, 2008 SAUNDRA BROWN ARMSTRONG

United States District Judge

Case 4:07-cv-05040-SBA Document 14 Filed 04/15/08 Page 1 of 1