Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-arwd-4_24-cv-04088/USCOURTS-arwd-4_24-cv-04088-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 440
Nature of Suit: Other Civil Rights
Cause of Action: 42:1983 Civil Rights Act

---

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 

WESTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS 

TEXARKANA DIVISION 

KARANYA MARQUIS DUDLEY PLAINTIFF 

 v. Civil No. 4:24-cv-04088 

 

AMY FREEDMAN, Prosecuting Attorney; 

MATT STEPHENS, Public Defender; JUDGE 

C. JONES, Miller County District Court; JUDGE 

B. HALTOM, Miller County District Court; 

JUDGE W. AUTREY, Miller County District Court; 

STATE OF ARKANSAS; and MILLER COUNTY 

DISTRICT COURT DEFENDANTS 

ORDER

 Karanya Marquis Dudley (“Plaintiff”) filed this case pro se pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983 

on August 26, 2024. ECF No. 1. Before the Court is Plaintiff’s Motion for Default Judgment 

against all Defendants. ECF No. 10. In the motion Plaintiff states: 

I, Karanya-Marquis: Dudley, Plaintiff is asking the court to enter a default against 

the defendant(s). 

AFFIDAVIT...I Karanya-Marquis: Dudley is essentially asking the court to note 

the defendant(s) failure to respond according to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 

(55). The basis for my request. (Summons Returned Executed) REFUSED certified 

mail... 

ECF No. 10. 

 A party is in default when the party “has failed to plead or otherwise defend”. Fed. R. Civ 

P. 55(a). Ordinarily, a defendant has 21 days to file an answer after being served with a complaint. 

See Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(a)(1)(A)(i). However, if a motion is served under Rule 12, the answer is due 

“within 14 days after notice of the court’s action” on the motion. Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(a)(4)(A). See 

Sunshine Kitchens, Inc. v. Alanthus Corp., 66 F.R.D. 15, 17 (S.D. Fla 1975) (“In view of the fact 

Case 4:24-cv-04088-SOH-BAB Document 21 Filed 12/06/24 Page 1 of 2 PageID #:

<pageID>
that no responsive pleading is due until the court disposes of pending motions to dismiss, the 

motion for entry of a default is not well-founded”). 

 The Court’s docket reveals all Defendants filed a timely responsive pleading to the 

Complaint in the form of a Motion to Dismiss on October 2, 2024, which is currently pending 

before the Court. ECF No. 6. Thus, the time for Defendants to file an answer is extended until 

the Court rules on the Motion to Dismiss. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(a)(4)(A). In the event the Court 

denies the Motion to Dismiss, Defendants will have 14 days to file an answer. 

 Accordingly, Plaintiff’s Motion for Default Judgment (ECF No. 10) is DENIED. 

 IT IS SO ORDERED this 6th day of December 2024. 

 /s/ Barry A. Bryant 

 HON. BARRY A. BRYANT 

 UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE 

 

Case 4:24-cv-04088-SOH-BAB Document 21 Filed 12/06/24 Page 2 of 2 PageID #:

<pageID>