Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_11-cv-00068/USCOURTS-caed-1_11-cv-00068-12/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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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

BRYAN E. RANSOM,

 Plaintiff,

v.

DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS AND 

REHABILITATION, et al., 

 Defendants.

Case No. 1: 11-cv-00068-AWI-MJS (PC)

ORDER ENTERING DEFAULT AGAINST 

DEFENDANT PUNT

(ECF No. 39)

Plaintiff is a state prisoner proceeding pro se and in forma pauperis in this civil 

rights action brought pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1983. The action proceeds against 

Defendants Greaves, Bondoc, Punt, Madina, Swingle, Neubarth, Corea and Dhah on 

Plaintiff’s Eighth Amendment medical indifference claims. (ECF Nos. 21 & 26.)

Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 55(a) requires the Clerk of Court to enter default 

against a party when that party has “failed to plead or otherwise defend, and that failure 

is shown by affidavit or otherwise.” The docket for this case shows that the United 

States Marshal sent a waiver of service form to Defendant Punt on June 26, 2014, and 

she returned the form on July 10, 2014. (ECF No. 33.) The waiver is signed by 

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Defendant Punt and states that she understands that judgment may be entered against 

her if she does not file an answer or a motion under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12 

within sixty days of June 26, 2014. (ECF No. 33.)

On February 10, 2015, Defendant Punt was ordered to show cause why default 

should not be entered against her. (ECF No. 39.) On February 23, 2015, the order was 

returned as undeliverable. On March 19, 2015, the Court directed the Clerk’s Office to 

re-serve the order to show cause on Defendant Punt at the address where service was 

effectuated. (ECF No. 48.) 

To date, Defendant Punt has failed to respond to the order to show cause, file a 

responsive pleading or otherwise defend within the requisite 21-day time period. Rule

55(a) mandates that the Clerk enter default against Defendant Punt. Accordingly, the 

Clerk of Court will be directed to enter default against Defendant Punt.

Once default has been entered, the burden shifts back to the plaintiff to move for 

the entry of default judgment. Fed. R. Civ. P. 55(b)(2). The entry of default against a 

defendant does not necessarily entitle a plaintiff to a default judgment. Aldabe v. 

Aldabe, 616 F.2d 1089, 1092 (9th Cir. 1980). A court may consider numerous factors in 

deciding whether to exercise its discretion to enter a default, including “the merits of 

plaintiff's substantive claim,” the possibility of disputed material facts, “whether 

[defendant's] default was due to excusable neglect,” and the strong policy favoring 

decisions on the merits. Eitel v. McCool, 782 F.2d 1470, 1471-72 (9th Cir.1986).

If Plaintiff chooses to file a motion for default judgment against Defendant Punt, 

he must prove the specific amount of damages to which he is entitled under the sworn 

allegations in the first amended complaint. Fed. R. Civ. P. 55(b)(2). He should submit a 

sworn declaration, along with any other supporting documentation, outlining his 

damages with sufficient particularity so as to allow the Court to determine from it and 

the First Amended Complaint whether default judgment is appropriate and, if so, in what 

amount. Plaintiff is warned that he is limited to the damages sought in his First

Amended Complaint. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 54(c).

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Based on the foregoing, it is HEREBY ORDERED that:

The Clerk of Court is directed to enter default against Defendant Punt and serve 

a copy of this order on Defendant Punt at the address where service of the First 

Amended Complaint was effectuated.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: April 28, 2015 /s/Michael J. Seng 

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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