Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-casd-3_14-cv-02540/USCOURTS-casd-3_14-cv-02540-7/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 840
Nature of Suit: Trademark
Cause of Action: 15:1125la Trademark Infringement (Lanham Act)

---

1

14cv2540

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

GINA CHAMPION-CAIN, an individual; 

LUV SURF, LP, a California limited 

partnership; ANI COMMERCIAL CA I, 

LLC, a California limited liability 

company; and ANI COMMERCIAL CA 

II, LP, a California limited partnership,

Plaintiffs,

v.

BRIAN MACDONALD, an individual; 

LOVESURF, INC., a Delaware 

corporation; and DOES 1-10, inclusive,

Defendants.

Case No.: 14-cv-2540-GPC-BLM

ORDER:

VACATING CLERK’S ENTRY OF 

DEFAULT AS TO LOVESURF, INC. 

(ECF Nos. 140, 141);

VACATING ORDER ON 

PLAINTIFFS’ MOTION TO STRIKE 

ANSWER AND DISMISS 

COUNTERCLAIM OF DEFENDANT 

LOVESURF, INC. (ECF No. 139); 

AND

RESETTING HEARING FOR 

FEBRUARY 17, 2017 AT 1:30 P.M. 

ON PLAINTIFFS’ MOTION TO 

STRIKE ANSWER AND DISMISS 

COUNTERCLAIM OF DEFENDANT 

LOVESURF, INC. (ECF Nos. 132.)

I. Order on Motion to Strike Answer and Dismiss Counterclaim of 

Defendant Lovesurf, Inc. (Dkt. No. 139)

On January 17, 2017, Plaintiffs and Counter-Defendants Gina Champion-Cain, 

Case 3:14-cv-02540-GPC-BLM Document 143 Filed 02/02/17 PageID.<pageID> Page 1 of 4
2

14cv2540

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

Luv Surf, L.P., ANI Commercial CA I, LLC, and ANI Commercial CA II, L.P.’s 

(collectively, “Plaintiffs”) filed a motion to strike the answer of Defendant Lovesurf, Inc., 

strike the counterclaim of Defendant Lovesurf, Inc., and enter default as to Defendant 

Lovesurf, Inc. on the grounds that Lovesurf, Inc. cannot proceed in the instant litigation 

without counsel. (Dkt. No. 132.) A hearing was scheduled for February 17, 2017 at 1:30 

p.m. The Court directed any response to be filed on or by January 27, 2017, and any 

reply to be filed on or by February 3, 2017. (Dkt. No. 133.)

On January 27, 2017, the Court conducted a status hearing regarding the upcoming 

trial.1 (Dkt. No. 139.) Defendant Brian MacDonald failed to appear or otherwise 

respond. (Id.) Based on Mr. MacDonald’s failure to respond and appear, and based on 

Plaintiffs’ representations to the Court that Defendant Lovesurf, Inc. had not been 

represented by counsel since Defendants’ counsel of record withdrew on October 14, 

2016, (Dkt. Nos. 123, 132), the Court granted Plaintiff’s motion prior to the hearing 

scheduled for February 17, 2017, thereby striking the answer of Defendant Lovesurf, Inc. 

and dismissing the counterclaim of Defendant Lovesurf, Inc, (Dkt. No. 139). (Id.) The 

Court concluded that Lovesurf, Inc. may not appear in this Court proceeding pro se. See 

CivLR 83.3 (“All other parties, including corporations, partnerships and other legal 

entities, may appear in court only through an attorney permitted to practice pursuant to 

Civil Local Rule 83.3.”).

II. Clerk’s Entry of Default (Dkt. Nos. 140, 141.)

In accordance with the above, and pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 

55(a), the Court directed the Clerk of the Court to enter default as to Defendant Lovesurf, 

Inc. on January 27, 2017. (Dkt. No. 140.) The Clerk of the Court entered default as to 

Defendant Lovesurf, Inc. on January 27, 2017. (Dkt. No. 141.)

 

1 The Court set the January 27, 2017 status hearing on October 14, 2016, with all parties present, 

including Mr. MacDonald. (Dkt. No. 123.)

Case 3:14-cv-02540-GPC-BLM Document 143 Filed 02/02/17 PageID.<pageID> Page 2 of 4
3

14cv2540

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

III. Order to Show Cause Hearing

As detailed above, Defendant Brian MacDonald failed to appear at a status hearing 

on January 27, 2017. (Dkt. No. 139.) On January 27, 2017, the Court ordered Mr.

MacDonald to show cause why his individual counterclaim should not be dismissed, and 

why his individual answer should not be stricken. (Dkt. No. 140.) The Court set a 

hearing regarding the Order to Show Cause on February 2, 2017 at 9:00 a.m. and directed

Mr. MacDonald to appear at this hearing.

On February 2, 2017, the Court conducted the Order to Show Cause hearing. (Dkt. 

No. 142.) Mr. MacDonald appeared telephonically, and Steven Cologne, Esq. appeared 

on behalf of Plaintiffs. (Id.) At the hearing, Mr. MacDonald advised the Court that he 

has presently procured counsel, and that he was unaware of the January 27, 2017 status 

hearing. Mr. MacDonald also represented orally at the hearing that Lovesurf, Inc. has 

filed a petition for bankruptcy.2 The Court confirmed the jury trial set for February 21, 

2017 at 9:00 a.m.

As of February 2, 2017, and Mr. MacDonald has confirmed, no counsel has yet 

made an appearance in this Court on Defendants’ behalf. As Lovesurf, Inc., a 

corporation, may not appear in Court without an attorney, Defendants are advised that 

counsel must enter an appearance according to proper procedure. See CivLR 83.3. 

Defendants are further advised that a Notice of Bankruptcy must be filed according to 

proper procedure with the Court, and that Defendants must properly serve opposing 

counsel for Plaintiffs according to the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and this Court’s 

Civil Local Rules. 

In light of Mr. MacDonald’s representation that the address on file with the Court 

is not accurate, the Court directed Mr. MacDonald to file a Notice of Change of Address 

 

2 Plaintiffs’ counsel represented at the hearing that Plaintiffs have not received notice of any relevant 

bankruptcy filings from Defendants.

Case 3:14-cv-02540-GPC-BLM Document 143 Filed 02/02/17 PageID.<pageID> Page 3 of 4
4

14cv2540

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

with the Court according to proper procedure.

3

 The Court reminds Mr. MacDonald that 

pursuant to Civil Local Rule 83.11, 

A party proceeding pro se must keep the court and opposing parties advised as to 

current address. If mail directed to a pro se plaintiff by the clerk at the plaintiff's 

last designated address is returned by the Post Office, and if such plaintiff fails to 

notify the court and opposing parties within 60 days thereafter of the plaintiff's 

current address, the court may dismiss the action without prejudice for failure to 

prosecute.

CivLR 83.11(b) (emphasis added).

Pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 60(a), the Court VACATES the Clerk 

of the Court’s entry of default as to Defendant Lovesurf, Inc. (Dkt. Nos. 140, 141) and 

VACATES the Court’s Order granting Plaintiffs’ motion to strike Defendant Lovesurf, 

Inc.’s answer and dismiss Defendant Lovesurf Inc.’s counterclaim (Dkt. No. 139). The 

Court RESETS the hearing on Plaintiffs’ motion to strike Defendant Lovesurf, Inc.’s 

answer and dismiss Defendant Lovesurf, Inc.’s counterclaim (Dkt. No. 132) on February 

17, 2017 at 1:30 p.m.

IT IS SO ORDERED. 

Dated: February 2, 2017

cc:

Brian MacDonald

32158 Camino Capistrano #104-501

San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675-3720

 

3 A courtesy copy of this Order is being mailed to the address that Mr. MacDonald provided orally at the 

hearing.

Case 3:14-cv-02540-GPC-BLM Document 143 Filed 02/02/17 PageID.<pageID> Page 4 of 4