Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_23-cv-00054/USCOURTS-caed-1_23-cv-00054-6/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

DURRELL ANTHONY PUCKETT,

Plaintiff,

v.

J. BARRIOS, FNU HERNANDEZ, FNU 

WHITE, and FNU GUTIERREZ,

Defendants.

Case No. 1:23-cv-00054-HBK (PC)

ORDER DENYING PLAINTIFF’S MOTION 

FOR DEFAULT 

(Doc. No. 30)

Plaintiff Durrell Anthony Puckett is a state prisoner proceeding pro se and in forma 

pauperis in this civil rights action brought under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 as screened under 28 U.S.C. §

1915A. (Doc. Nos. 1, 17). On June 3, 2023, Plaintiff filed a motion for entry of default 

judgment. (Doc. No. 30). Plaintiff claims that Defendants FNU Hernandez, FNU White, and 

FNU Gutierrez have failed to timely respond to his Complaint, and he seeks a default judgment

and punitive damages. (Id. at1). 

Entry of default by the Clerk of Court 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 failure is shown by affidavit or otherwise. 

See Fed. R. Civ. P. 55(a). The entry of default by the Clerk is a prerequisite for an entry of 

judgment upon that default. Fed. R. Civ. P. 55(b). Procedurally, no default was entered by the 

Clerk in this case. See docket. Thus, no default judgment may be entered. Further, Defendants 

Case 1:23-cv-00054-HBK Document 32 Filed 06/08/23 Page 1 of 2
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FNU Hernandez, FNU White, and FNU Gutierrez have not failed to timely file a response to 

Plaintiff’s Complaint. Waiver of Service of Summons were returned executed on Defendants 

FNU Hernandez and FNU White on May 3, 2023, and their responses to the Complaint are not 

due until July 3, 2023. See Doc. Nos. 26, 27, 29. Further, on May 5, 2023, the United States 

Marshal returned the summons on Defendant Gutierrez as unexecuted. (Doc. No. 25). Thus, the 

Clerk properly withheld entry of default. Fed. R. Civ. P. 55(a). 

Accordingly, it is ORDERED:

Plaintiff’s motion for entry of default (Doc. No. 30) is DENIED.

Dated: June 8, 2023 

HELENA M. BARCH-KUCHTA

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

Case 1:23-cv-00054-HBK Document 32 Filed 06/08/23 Page 2 of 2