Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_13-cv-00853/USCOURTS-caed-1_13-cv-00853-2/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 560
Nature of Suit: Prisoner Petitions - Civil Detainee - Conditions of Confinement
Cause of Action: 42:1983 Prisoner Civil Rights

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

ARCHIE CRANFORD,

 Plaintiff,

 vs.

SAMANTHA PERRYMAN, et al.,

 Defendants.

1:13-cv-00853-GSA-PC

ORDER DENYING PLAINTIFF=S 

MOTION FOR DEFAULT JUDGMENT

(Doc. 9.)

I. BACKGROUND

Archie Cranford (APlaintiff@) is a civil detainee proceeding pro se and in forma pauperis 

with this civil rights action filed pursuant to 42 U.S.C. ' 1983. Plaintiff filed the Complaint 

commencing this action on June 5, 2013. (Doc. 1.) On August 9, 2013, Plaintiff consented to 

Magistrate Judge jurisdiction in this action pursuant to 28 U.S.C. ' 636(c), and no other parties 

have made an appearance. (Doc. 8.) Therefore, pursuant to Appendix A(k)(4) of the Local 

Rules of the Eastern District of California, the undersigned shall conduct any and all 

proceedings in the case until such time as reassignment to a District Judge is required. Local 

Rule Appendix A(k)(3). 

On January 16, 2014, Plaintiff filed a motion for default judgment against all of the 

defendants to this action. (Doc. 9)

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II. ENTRY OF DEFAULT AND DEFAULT JUDGMENT

Plaintiff argues that default judgment should be entered against all of the defendants, 

because they have not responded to the Complaint, and “well over 20 days have passed since 

the date of service.” (Motion, Doc. 9 at 2:9-10.) 

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 failure is shown by affidavit or otherwise. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 

55(a). Rule 12 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure provides, A[A] defendant must serve an 

answer within 21 days after being served with the summons and complaint; or if it has timely 

waived service under Rule 4(d), within 60 days after the request for a waiver was sent.@ Fed. 

R. Civ. P. 12(a)(1)(A). Under Rule 4(d), a defendant may waive service of a summons by 

signing and returning a waiver of service. Fed. R. Civ. P. 4(d). If a defendant fails to plead or 

otherwise defend an action after being properly served with a summons and complaint, a 

default judgment may be entered pursuant to Rule 55(a) of the Federal Rules of Civil 

Procedure.

Discussion

Court records do not reflect Plaintiff’s assertion that the defendants have been served 

with process in this case. (Court Record.) In fact, service of process has not yet been initiated. 

To date, the court has not directed the United States Marshal to serve the defendants in this 

action. (Id.) 

The court will, sua sponte, direct the United States Marshal to serve the complaint only 

after the court has screened the Complaint and determined that it contains cognizable claims for 

relief against the named defendants. Plaintiff’s Complaint presently awaits the court’s requisite 

screening. 28 U.S.C. § 1915A. Plaintiff will be notified when the Complaint is screened and 

the Marshal proceeds with process. Based on these facts, Plaintiff’s motion for default 

judgment is premature and must be denied.

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III. CONCLUSION

Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that Plaintiff=s motion for default judgment, 

filed on January 16, 2014, is DENIED. 

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: January 17, 2014 /s/ Gary S. Austin 

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE DEAC_Signature-END:

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