Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_23-cv-00054/USCOURTS-caed-1_23-cv-00054-23/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 550
Nature of Suit: Prisoner - Civil Rights (U.S. defendant)
Cause of Action: 42:1983 Prisoner Civil Rights

---

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

DURRELL ANTHONY PUCKETT,

Plaintiff,

v.

BARAONA, T. CAMPBELL, 

HERNANDEZ and WHITE,

Defendants.

Case No. 1:23-cv-00054-HBK (PC)

ORDER DENYING PLAINTIFF’S MOTION 

FOR DEFAULT JUDGMENT

(Doc. No. 109)

Pending before the Court is Plaintiff’s motion for default judgment filed December 6, 

2024. (Doc. No. 109, “Motion”). Plaintiff’s Motion, which comprises a single paragraph, 

requests the Court to enter a default judgment because Plaintiff claims he has provided “actuality 

of evidence” and demands damages. (Id.). Defendants filed an Opposition on December 27, 

2024. (Doc. No. 114). As more fully set forth below, the Court denies the Motion.

The entry of default by the Clerk is a prerequisite for an entry of judgment upon that 

default. Fed. R. Civ. P. 55(b). Entry of default by the Clerk of Court is appropriate as to any 

party against whom a judgment for affirmative relief is sought that has failed to plead or 

otherwise defend as provided by the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and where that failure is 

shown by affidavit or otherwise. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 55(a). Procedurally, no default was entered 

by the Clerk in this case. See docket. Thus, no default judgment may be entered. Further, 

Defendants have timely responded to Plaintiff’s operative complaint and defended this action. 

Case 1:23-cv-00054-HBK Document 115 Filed 12/30/24 Page 1 of 2
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

2

Accordingly, it is hereby ORDERED:

Plaintiff’s motion for default judgment (Doc. No. 109) is DENIED.

Dated: December 30, 2024 

HELENA M. BARCH-KUCHTA

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

Case 1:23-cv-00054-HBK Document 115 Filed 12/30/24 Page 2 of 2