Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_23-cv-01597/USCOURTS-caed-1_23-cv-01597-1/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 360
Nature of Suit: Other Personal Injury
Cause of Action: 28:1332 Diversity-(Citizenship)

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

FRANK K MUBIRU,

Plaintiff,

v.

WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A.,

Defendant.

Case No. 1:23-cv-01597-SAB

ORDER DENYING PLAINTIFF’S MOTION 

FOR ENTRY OF DEFAULT

(ECF No. 10)

Plaintiff Frank K. Mubiru filed this action on November 13, 2023, against Defendant Wells 

Fargo Bank, N.A. (ECF No. 1.) On February 21, 2024, Plaintiff filed proof of service on 

Defendant. (ECF No. 6.) On February 27, 2024, Defendant filed an answer to Plaintiff’s 

complaint including proof of service. (ECF Nos. 8, 9.) On March 8, 2024, Plaintiff filed a motion 

for entry of default. (ECF No. 10.) 

Pursuant to Federal Rules of Civil Procedure 55, obtaining a default judgment is a two-step 

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. 

Case 1:23-cv-01597-KES-SAB Document 11 Filed 03/11/24 Page 1 of 2
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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, 940 F.2d 524, (9th Cir. 1991) 

(internal punctuation and citations omitted).

In this instance, Defendant filed an answer to the complaint on February 27, 2024, and is 

defending this action. Additionally, the proof of service shows that a copy of the answer was 

mailed to Plaintiff at his address of record on February 27, 2024. Accordingly, Plaintiff is not 

entitled to entry of default.

Based on the foregoing, Plaintiff’s motion for entry of default, filed March 8, 2024, is 

HEREBY DENIED.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: March 11, 2024 

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

Case 1:23-cv-01597-KES-SAB Document 11 Filed 03/11/24 Page 2 of 2