Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_14-cv-00921/USCOURTS-caed-1_14-cv-00921-14/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 560
Nature of Suit: Prisoner Petitions - Civil Detainee - Conditions of Confinement
Cause of Action: 42:1983 Prisoner Civil Rights

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

Plaintiff Archie Cranford is a civil detainee proceeding pro se in this civil rights action 

pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. Individuals detained pursuant to California Welfare and Institutions 

Code § 6600 et seq. are civil detainees and are not prisoners within the meaning of the Prison 

Litigation Reform Act. Page v. Torrey, 201 F.3d 1136, 1140 (9th Cir. 2000). 

On July 11, 2016, Plaintiff filed a motion requesting the entry of default judgment against 

Defendant Antonia Okpala, pursuant to California Civil Procedure §§ 585, 989. 

Plaintiff is advised that Rule 55(a) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure governs the entry of 

default in actions brought in this Court under 42 U.S.C. § 1983. Rule 55(a) of the Federal Rules of 

Civil Procedure requires the Clerk of the Court to enter default “when a party against whom a 

judgment for affirmative relief is sought has failed to plead or otherwise defend, and that failure is 

shown by affidavit or otherwise.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 55(a).

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ARCHIE CRANFORD,

 Plaintiff,

v.

ANTONIA OKPALA,

Defendant.

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Case No.: 1:14-cv-00921-LJO-SAB (PC)

ORDER DENYING PLAINTIFF’S REQUEST

FOR ENTRY OF DEFAULT 

[ECF No. 41]

Case 1:14-cv-00921-LJO-SAB Document 43 Filed 07/12/16 Page 1 of 2
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Inasmuch as Defendant Okpala has filed an answer to the complaint on January 19, 2016, there 

is simply no basis for entry of default judgment. Accordingly, Plaintiff’s motion is DENIED. 

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: July 12, 2016 

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

Case 1:14-cv-00921-LJO-SAB Document 43 Filed 07/12/16 Page 2 of 2