Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-alsd-1_14-cv-00294/USCOURTS-alsd-1_14-cv-00294-1/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 110
Nature of Suit: Insurance
Cause of Action: 28:1332 Diversity-Insurance Contract

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF ALABAMA

SOUTHERN DIVISION

ZURICH AMERICAN INSURANCE )

COMPANY, )

 )

Plaintiff, )

 )

v. ) CIVIL ACTION 14-0294-WS-N

 )

BULLDOG MARINE, INC., et al., )

 )

Defendants. )

ORDER

This matter is before the Court on the plaintiff’s motion for entry of default 

under Rule 55(a). (Doc. 41). The motion is directed against all defendants except 

Pedro Baez. All of the defendants have filed an answer, (Doc. 10), and entry of 

default against a defendant is not permitted under Rule 55(a) so long as an answer 

remains pending as to that defendant. The report and recommendation (“R&R”) 

of the Magistrate Judge recommends that the answer be stricken as to these 

defendants and that the motion for entry of default then be granted. (Doc. 49 at 5). 

The Federal Rules of Civil Procedure provide for such a sequence. E.g., Eagle 

Hospital Physicians, LLC v. SRG Consulting, Inc., 561 F.3d 1298, 1302-03, 1307 

(11th Cir. 2009); Chudasama v. Mazda Motor Corp., 123 F.3d 1353, 1366 (11th

Cir. 1997).

The parties declined the opportunity to object to the R&R. After due and 

proper consideration of all portions of the file deemed relevant to the issues raised, 

the R&R made under 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(3) and dated November 20, 2014, 

including the entirety of the previous order discussed therein, (Doc. 45), is 

adopted as the opinion of the Court.

Accordingly, it is ordered that:

1. The plaintiff’s motion for entry of default is granted; 

Case 1:14-cv-00294-WS-N Document 54 Filed 12/16/14 Page 1 of 2
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2. The answer, (Doc. 10), is stricken as to all defendants except Pedro E. 

Baez; and

3. The Clerk is directed to enter default against defendants Bulldog 

Marine, Inc.; Bulldog Marine, LLC; Blacktip Partners, Inc.; Blacktip Marine 

Partners, LLC; Brian Hall; and Brenda Hall.

DONE and ORDERED this 16th day of December, 2014.

s/ WILLIAM H. STEELE

CHIEF UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

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