Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-casd-3_08-cv-01798/USCOURTS-casd-3_08-cv-01798-6/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 220
Nature of Suit: Foreclosure
Cause of Action: 18:241 Conspiracy Against Citizen Rights

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08cv1798

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

WARREN BRAD JOHNSON,

Plaintiff,

v.

TIMOTHY WENNES, et al.,

Defendants.

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Civil No. 08cv1798-L(JMA)

ORDER DENYING MOTION FOR

ENTRY OF DEFAULT JUDGMENT

[doc. #33]

After plaintiff Warren Brad Johnson’s original complaint was dismissed without

prejudice for failure to state a claim and for violation of Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 8, he

filed a first amended complaint (“FAC”) on December 17, 2008. The certificate of service

indicates that he mailed the FAC to defendants’ counsel of record on December 17, 2008. See

Docket No. 28. On January 5, 2009, defendants filed a motion to dismiss the FAC or

alternatively, for a more definite statement. See Docket No. 29. 

Plaintiff now moves for entry of default judgment under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure

55 contending that defendants’ motion to dismiss is untimely. 

The Court first notes that plaintiff’s motion for default judgment is premature because

default has not been entered as required under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 55(a):

When a party against whom a judgment for affirmative relief is sought has failed

to plead or otherwise defend, and that failure is shown by affidavit or otherwise,

the clerk must enter the party’s default.

Case 3:08-cv-01798-L-JMA Document 35 Filed 01/13/09 Page 1 of 3
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1 Plaintiff incorrectly cites Civil Local Rule 7.1(e)(3) in support of his argument:

“FIVE (5) COURT DAYS TO RESPOND TO AMENDED COMPLAINT.” But Civil Local

Rule 7.1(e)(3) is directed to a reply to a pending motion and not to responding to an amended

complaint. Although plaintiff is appearing without counsel, citations to clearly inapplicable law

is disingenuous at best.

2 Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 6(a)(4) sets forth that Christmas Day and New

Year’s Day are legal holidays. 

2 08cv1798

A motion for default judgment may not be considered prior to entry of default. For this reason,

plaintiff’s motion for default judgment will be denied. 

Even if the Court construes plaintiff’s motion for default judgment as a request for entry

of default, it would be denied because defendants have a timely motion to dismiss pending.

If a motion to dismiss is granted but with leave to amend, the time to respond by way of a

motion to dismiss or answer to the amended complaint is 10 days from service of the amended

pleading unless otherwise specified by the court or by stipulation. FED. R. CIV. P. 15(a)(3).1

Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 6(a) provides the rules to apply in computing any time period

specified in the federal or local rules, court orders, or statutes. Because the time to respond to an

amended complaint is 10 days, the Court “[e]xclude[s] intermediate Saturdays, Sundays, and

legal holidays” in determining the due date. FED. R. CIV. P. 6(a)(2). The day the amended

complaint is mailed to defendants or their counsel is excluded from the computation. See FED.

R. CIV. P. 6(a)(1). “When a party may or must act within a specified time after service and

service is made under Rule 5(b)(2)(C), (D), (E), or (F), 3 days are added after the period would

otherwise expire under Rule 6(a).” FED. R. CIV. P. 6(d). As noted above, plaintiff served the

FAC by mail; therefore, service was made under Rule 5(b)(2)(C) and an additional three days is

added to the 10-day response period.

Under the facts of this case, plaintiff mailed the FAC to defendants’ counsel on December

17, 2008; therefore, the counting of the 10 days for a response to the FAC commences on

December 18, 2008. The following days are excluded from the count because they are either

Saturdays, Sundays or legal holidays2

: December 20, 21, 25, 27, 28 and January 1, 3 and 4. As

discussed above, three additional days are provided to defendants because plaintiff mailed the

amended complaint to them. Based on these computational rules, defendants’ answer or motion

Case 3:08-cv-01798-L-JMA Document 35 Filed 01/13/09 Page 2 of 3
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to dismiss was due for filing on January 7, 2009. Defendants’ motion to dismiss was filed on

January 5, 2009. Because defendants’ response to the FAC was timely, entry of default is not

warranted. 

Accordingly, plaintiff’s motion for default judgment is DENIED. To the extent

plaintiff’s motion for default judgment is intended to be a request for entry of default, the request

is DENIED.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

DATED: January 13, 2009

M. James Lorenz

United States District Court Judge

COPY TO: 

HON. JAN M. ADLER

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

ALL PARTIES/COUNSEL

Case 3:08-cv-01798-L-JMA Document 35 Filed 01/13/09 Page 3 of 3