Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_06-cv-00122/USCOURTS-caed-2_06-cv-00122-11/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

ANDONAI EL-SHADDAI a.k.a. WILKERSON

Plaintiff,

vs. No. CIV S-06-0122 DFL CMK P

WOODFORD, et al., 

Defendant. ORDER

 /

Currently before the court is plaintiff’s motion for default judgment as to

Defendant Runnels. This case was removed to this court on January 17, 2006. Given that the

action had been proceeding in state court, the court assumed that both defendants had been

served. It later became clear that, due to a glitch in service of process of the state action, only

defendant Woodford had been served. Accordingly, the court ordered plaintiff to provide service

information so that defendant Runnels could be served. 

Because defendant Runnels has not entered an answer in this action, plaintiff

moves for a default judgment. The court finds that a default judgment is not appropriate. In

seeking default judgment, plaintiff ignores the fact that prosecution of this action, including

service is ultimately his responsibility. If he was aware that defendant Runnels had not been

served due to an error of the state process server, it was plaintiff’s duty to correct that defect. 

Case 2:06-cv-00122-RRB-CMK Document 37 Filed 12/07/06 Page 1 of 2
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The court finds that default judgment is not appropriate in this instance. 

Plaintiff’s motion for default judgment against defendant Runnels (doc. 35) is denied. 

IT IS SO ORDERED. 

DATED: December 6, 2006.

______________________________________

CRAIG M. KELLISON

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

Case 2:06-cv-00122-RRB-CMK Document 37 Filed 12/07/06 Page 2 of 2