Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-ared-4_06-cv-00546/USCOURTS-ared-4_06-cv-00546-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 110
Nature of Suit: Insurance
Cause of Action: 28:2201 Declaratory Judgement

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS

WESTERN DIVISION

THE HANOVER INSURANCE COMPANY PLAINTIFF

v. CASE NO. 4:06-CV-546 GTE

ETC ENGINEERS, INC.; ETC CONSTRUCTION 

CO., INC.; FRESHOUR CONSTRUCTION CO., INC.;

FRANK PAUL PETRIK, Individually and as Special 

Administrator of the Estate of LYNETTE M. PETRIK, 

Deceased; ANTHONY BALCER; and DANIEL

ENOCH BALCER, Individually and as Personal 

Representative and Administrator of the Estate of 

DOUGLAS ANTHONY BALCER, Deceased; 

COLLEEN MARILYN BALCER, Deceased; and 

ASHTYN AGNES BALCER, Deceased; 

and DON WHITE DEFENDANT

ORDER

Plaintiffs Motion for Default Judgment is before the Court. Fed. R. Civ. P. 55 contemplates

a two-step process for the entry of default judgments. First, pursuant to Rule 55(a), the party seeking

a default judgment must have the Clerk enter the default by submitting the required proof that the

opposing party has failed to plead or otherwise defend. Second, pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 55(b),

the moving party may seek entry of judgment on the default under either subdivision (b)(1) or (b)(2)

of the rule. See Dahl v. Kanawha Inv. Holding Co., 161 F.R.D. 673, 683 (N.D. Iowa 1995). 

“Entry of default under Rule 55(a) must precede grant of a default judgment under Rule

55(b).” See Johnson v. Dayton Elec. Mfg. Co., 140 F.3d 781, 783 (8th Cir. 1998); see also Hagen

v. Sisseton-Wahpeton Community College, 205 F.3d 1040, 1042 (8 th Cir. 2000) (citing Johnson for

Case 4:06-cv-00546-GTE Document 17 Filed 09/29/06 Page 1 of 2
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www.sosweb.state.ar.us/corps/index.html

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The Court was unable to locate the information for service of process for ETC

Construction Co., Inc. However, since the same agent for service of process is listed on the

summons for ETC Construction, it is possible that the same error occurred with regard to ETC

Construction Co., Inc. 

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this requirement). In this case, there has been no entry of default. In the event a clerk’s default is

entered, Plaintiff will have to seek a default judgment as provided for in Fed. R. Civ. P. 55(b). 

It appears, however, that the name and address for ETC Engineers, Inc.’s agent for service

of process on the summons may be incorrect. While the summons lists “Mizran Rahman, at 1510

S. Broadway, Little Rock, AR,” the name and address of the agent for ETC Engineers, Inc. listed on

the Arkansas Secretary of State’s website1

 is “Mizanur Rahman” at “1516 S. Broadway, Little Rock,

AR 72202.” While the Court would normally treat this as a Motion for a Clerk’s Default, the Court

will deny this motion without prejudice to allow the parties to inquire into this matter further.2

IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED THAT Plaintiff’s Motion for Default Judgment (# 10), be,

and is hereby, DENIED without prejudice.

Dated this 29th day of September, 2006.

_/s/ G. Thomas Eisele______________

UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

Case 4:06-cv-00546-GTE Document 17 Filed 09/29/06 Page 2 of 2