Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_14-cv-00129/USCOURTS-caed-1_14-cv-00129-26/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 555
Nature of Suit: Prisoner - Prison Condition
Cause of Action: 42:1983 Prisoner Civil Rights

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

PERRY WASHINGTON, et al,

Plaintiffs,

v.

FRESNO COUNTY SHERIFF, et al.,

Defendants.

Case No. 1:14-cv-00129-AWI-SAB

ORDER DENYING PLAINTIFF’S MOTION 

FOR DEFAULT AND MOTION FOR 

DEFAULT JUDGMENT

(ECF Nos. 71, 72)

On June 5, 2015, Defendant Velos filed an answer to Plaintiff’s first amended complaint. 

(ECF No. 67.) On June 10, 2015, Plaintiff filed a motion for default and a motion for default 

judgment. (ECF Nos. 71, 72.) 

Pursuant to Federal Rules of Civil Procedure 55, obtaining a default judgment is a twostep process. Yue v. Storage Technology Corp., No. 3:07-cv-05850, 2008 WL 361142, *2 

(N.D.Cal. Feb, 11, 2008). Entry of default 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 fact is made to appear by affidavit or 

otherwise. Fed. R. Civ. P. 55(a). After entry of default, the plaintiff can seek entry of default 

judgment. Fed. R. Civ. P. 55(b)(1) and (2). “Default judgments are generally disfavored, and 

whenever it is reasonably possible, cases should be decided upon their merits.” In re Hammer, 

Case 1:14-cv-00129-SAB Document 73 Filed 06/11/15 Page 1 of 2
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940 F.2d 524, (9th Cir. 1991) (internal punctuation and citations omitted).

In this instance, Plaintiff filed an answer to the amended complaint on June 5, 2015, and 

is defending this action. Accordingly, Plaintiff is not entitled to entry of default.

Based on the foregoing, Plaintiff’s motion for entry of default and motion for default 

judgment, filed June 9, 2015 is HEREBY DENIED.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: June 11, 2015 

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

Case 1:14-cv-00129-SAB Document 73 Filed 06/11/15 Page 2 of 2