Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_06-cv-01413/USCOURTS-caed-2_06-cv-01413-6/pdf.json

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

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

HARVEY EUGENE LARSON, No. CIV S-06-1413-MCE-CMK-P

Plaintiff, 

vs. ORDER

RUNNELS, et al.,

Defendants.

 /

Plaintiff, a state prisoner proceeding pro se, brings this civil rights action pursuant

to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. Pending before the court are: (1) plaintiff’s “Motion for Default

Judgment” filed on May 30, 2007 (Doc. 29); and (2) defendants’ request for an extension of time

to file a responsive pleading (Doc. 30). 

As to plaintiff’s May 30, 2007, motion, plaintiff has not obtained entry of default

by the Clerk of the Court, which is a prerequisite for default judgment under Federal Rule of

Civil Procedure 55. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 55(a). Therefore, the court construes plaintiff’s motion

as a request for entry of default. So construed, the request will be denied. Entry of default is

appropriate only when it appears “by affidavit or otherwise” that a defendant has failed to plead

in response to a complaint. See id. At the time plaintiff filed his motion, the time for defendants

Case 2:06-cv-01413-ALA Document 31 Filed 06/27/07 Page 1 of 2
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to respond to the complaint had not passed. Therefore, it is impossible for the plaintiff to satisfy

Rule 55(a). Moreover, as discussed below, defendants have shown good cause for an extension

of time to respond to the complaint.

As to defendants’ request for an extension of time, defendants have shown good

cause for an extension to July 25, 2007. The request, therefore, will be granted.

Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that:

1. Plaintiff’s motion for entry of default (Doc. 29) is denied; 

2. Defendants motion for an extension of time (Doc. 30) is granted; and

3. Defendants shall file a responsive pleading by July 25, 2007.

DATED: June 26, 2007.

______________________________________

CRAIG M. KELLISON

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

Case 2:06-cv-01413-ALA Document 31 Filed 06/27/07 Page 2 of 2