Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-casd-3_13-cv-01576/USCOURTS-casd-3_13-cv-01576-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 220
Nature of Suit: Foreclosure
Cause of Action: 28:2409(a) Quiet Title Action

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

RUDIE THOMAS,

Plaintiff,

CASE NO. 13-cv-1576-LAB

ORDER DENYING PLAINTIFF’S

MOTION FOR DEFAULT

JUDGMENT AND GRANTING

DEFENDANT’S MOTION TO SET

ASIDE THE ENTRY OF DEFAULT

vs.

BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS

SUCCESSOR BY MERGER TO

LASALLE BANK, N.A., AS

TRUSTEE FOR THE MLMI TRUST

SERIES 2006-RM2 AND ALL

PERSONS UNKNOWN CLAIMING

ANY ILLEGAL OR EQUITABLE

RIGHT, TITLE, ESTATE, LIEN, OR

INTEREST IN PROPERTY

DESCRIBED IN THE COMPLAINT

ADVERSE TO PLAINTIFF’S TITLE

OR ANY CLOUD ON PLAINTIFF’S

TITLE, OR ANY CLOUD ON

PLAINTFF’S TITLE THERETO;

DOES 1 to 10, inclusive,

Defendants.

Plaintiff Rudie Thomas filed a complaint against Bank of America on July 5, 2013, and

after BOA failed to respond the clerk entered default and Thomas filed a motion for default

judgment. Later, on September 20, 2013, Bank of America filed a motion to set aside

default, alleging the summons was not properly served. The Court GRANTS that motion.

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Case 3:13-cv-01576-LAB-JLB Document 11 Filed 10/03/13 Page 1 of 2
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There are several factors a court may consider in determining whether to enter default

judgement, one of which is the "strong policy underlying the Federal Ruled of Civil Procedure

favoring decisions on the merits.” Eitel v. McCool, 782 F.2d 1470, 1471 (9th Cir. 1986). 

Furthermore, this court’s discretion to set aside default is broader when only default has

been entered and not default judgment. O’Connor v. State of Nevada, 27 F.3d 357, 364 (9th

Cir. 1994). Bank of America presents a credible case that Thomas’s service was improper,

and it has now appeared and is ready and willing to litigate. That is all that matters in the

Court’s view.

Thomas’s motion for default judgment is DENIED and Bank of America’s motion to

set aside default is GRANTED.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

DATED: October 2, 2013

HONORABLE LARRY ALAN BURNS

United States District Judge

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Case 3:13-cv-01576-LAB-JLB Document 11 Filed 10/03/13 Page 2 of 2