Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_10-cv-01925/USCOURTS-caed-1_10-cv-01925-4/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 550
Nature of Suit: Prisoner - Civil Rights (U.S. defendant)
Cause of Action: 42:1983 Prisoner Civil Rights

---

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

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

PAUL C. HAMILTON,

Plaintiff,

v.

J.A. YATES, et al., 

Defendants.

 /

CASE NO. 1:10-cv-1925-LJO-MJS (PC)

ORDER DENYING PLAINTIFF’S REQUEST

FOR AN ENTRY OF DEFAULT

(ECF No. 16)

Plaintiff Paul C. Hamilton (“Plaintiff”) is a state prisoner proceeding pro se in this civil

rights action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983.

Plaintiff initiated this action on July 14, 2008 in Fresno County Superior Court. 

(Notice of Removal, ECF No. 1.) Defendants Yates, Mattingly, Trimble, and Spearman

were served on February 26, 2009. (Id. at 2.) On March 30, 2009, Defendants removed

the Complaint to this Court, but the action was then remanded back to state court. (Id.) 

In state court, Defendants filed a demurrer and in Plaintiff’s opposition he stated that he

was bringing a claim under the United States Constitution. (Id.) The state court found that

Plaintiff was judicially estopped from asserting claims under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 and Plaintiff

sought review at the Fifth District Court of Appeal. (Id.) The Fifth District Court of Appeal

determined that Plaintiff’s statements during the removal proceedings were ambagious and

that he was essentially asserting a claim under § 1983. (Id.) Defendants then removed

this action again to this Court. (Id.) Plaintiff filed another motion to remand, but it was

denied. (ECF Nos. 6, 7, 11, & 15.)

On June 7, 2012, Plaintiff filed a motion, requesting that the Court enter an order

Case 1:10-cv-01925-LJO-MJS Document 20 Filed 08/21/12 Page 1 of 2
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

of default judgment against Defendants. (Mot., ECF No. 16.) Defendants have filed an

opposition. (ECF No. 17.) Plaintiff’s motion is now ready for ruling.

The Court screened Plaintiff’s Complaint on June 29, 2012, and dismissed it for

failure to state a claim but gave leave to amend. (ECF No. 18.) Plaintiff filed a First

Amended Complaint on July 18, 2012. (ECF No.19.) The Court has yet to screen

Plaintiff’s First Amended Complaint.

As Plaintiff was informed in the New Case Documents issued by the Court on

October 15, 2010 (ECF No. 3), the Court is required to screen complaints brought by

prisoners seeking relief against a governmental entity or officer or employee of a

governmental entity. 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(a). The Court must dismiss a complaint or portion

thereof if the prisoner has raised claims that are legally “frivolous or malicious,” that fail to

state a claim upon which relief may be granted, or that seek monetary relief from a

defendant who is immune from such relief. 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(b)(1),(2). Because of its

large caseload of prisoner actions, the Court has yet to screen Plaintiff’s First Amended

Complaint. 

The Court will screen Plaintiff’s First Amended Complaint in due course. 

Defendants are required to answer or otherwise defend against Plaintiff’s First Amended

Complaint only after the Court has determined that it contains cognizable claims for relief

against the named Defendants. (ECF No. 10.) The default provisions of Fed. R. Civ. P.

55(a) are not implicated until after the Court has screened Plaintiff’s First Amendment

Complaint, found cognizable claims, ordered Defendants to respond and Defendants fail

to plead or otherwise defend themselves against Plaintiff’s claims. 

Accordingly, Plaintiff’s motion for default judgment (ECF No. 16) is DENIED.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: August 20, 2012 /s/Michael J. Seng 

ci4d6 UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

-2-

Case 1:10-cv-01925-LJO-MJS Document 20 Filed 08/21/12 Page 2 of 2