Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-akd-3_20-cv-00087/USCOURTS-akd-3_20-cv-00087-1/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 790
Nature of Suit: Other Labor Litigation
Cause of Action: 28:2201 Declaratory Judgment (Insurance)

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE DISTRICT OF ALASKA

ALASKA LABORERS EMPLOYERS 

RETIREMENT TRUST, et al.,

Plaintiffs,

v.

OLHAUSEN CONSTRUCTION AND 

MANAGEMENT, LLC,

Defendant.

Case No. 3:20-cv-00087-SLG

ORDER DIRECTING SERVICE

Before the Court at Docket 1 is Plaintiffs’ Application for Entry of Judgment 

on Confession. On May 5, 2020, the Court informed Plaintiffs of its intent to 

dismiss this action for failure to comply with the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, 

which do not specifically address the entry of judgments on confession.1 Plaintiffs

responded to the Court’s May 5 order at Docket 3, maintaining that entry of 

judgments on confession is proper under the Federal Rules and that their

Application was consistent with the District of Alaska’s prior practice regarding this 

type of action.

2

 The Court appreciates Plaintiffs’ thoughtful and helpful response. 

The Court no longer intends to dismiss this action; however, after reviewing the 

1 Docket 2.

2 Plaintiffs also informed the Court that they had paid the appropriate filing fee by check, contrary 

to the Court’s understanding in its May 5, 2020 order, and attached a scanned copy of the check 

to their response. Docket 3 at 1; Docket 3-2.

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cases cited in Plaintiffs’ response, the Court remains convinced that service of 

process (or an explicit written waiver by Defendant) is necessary before it may act 

on Plaintiffs’ application for entry of judgment on confession.

The Supreme Court has held that a judgment on confession is not facially 

invalid and may be enforced where there is “‘clear and convincing evidence’ that 

the written waiver [of the right to procedural due process] was ‘voluntary, knowing, 

and intelligently made.’”3 The document at issue in D.H. Overmyer Co., Inc. v. 

Frick Co. stated that “[t]he undersigned hereby authorize any attorney designated 

by the Holder hereof to appear in any court of record in the State of Ohio, and 

waive this issuance and service of process, and confess a judgment against the 

undersigned . . . .”4 But the confession of judgment in this case contains no 

provision explicitly waiving service of process.5 The Court disagrees with 

Plaintiffs’ assertion that an executed confession of judgment that does not contain 

an express waiver of service nonetheless constitutes a waiver of a defendant’s 

right to constitutional due process.

6

3 Fed. Deposit Ins. Corp. v. Aaronian, 93 F.3d 636, 640 (9th Cir. 1996) (quoting D.H. Overmyer 

Co., Inc. v. Frick Co., 405 U.S. 174, 185–86 (1976)).

4 Overmyer, 405 U.S. at 180–81 (emphasis added).

5 Compare Dockets 1-2, 1-3, with Overmyer, 405 U.S. at 180–81. 

6 See Docket 3 at 3. 

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In its response to the Court’s May 5 order, Plaintiffs provided what they 

indicated was a “partial list” of applications for judgment by confession filed in the 

District of Alaska. In each of the nine cases, Plaintiffs assert that “the Plaintiffs 

were not required to file a complaint to initiate the proceeding.”

7

 That is correct. 

However, in the majority of these cases, a summons was issued and service was 

made on the defendants.8 And in each of the cases in which the undersigned 

presided, judgment on confession was not entered until the defendants had been 

served with the application, had failed to make an appearance, and the Clerk of 

Court had entered their default.9

In light of the foregoing, and consistent with the Court’s prior practice, the 

Court will accept the Application to initiate this case in lieu of a complaint. Plaintiffs 

shall seek the issuance of a summons and file proof of service with the Court

pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 4.

10

 Thereafter, if Defendant does not 

7 Docket 3 at 3.

8 See Dockets for Trs. of the Alaska Laborers Constr. Indus. Health & Sec., Training & Legal 

Servs. Tr. Funds v. Magic Brite Janitorial, Inc., No. 3:13-cv-00163-TMB; Alaska Laborers-Emp’rs 

Ret. Fund v. HCC, LLC, No. 3:13-cv-00014-HRH; Alaska Trowel Trades Pension Fund v. HCC, 

LLC, No. 3:13-cv-00015-SLG; Trs. of Alaska Ironworkers Pension Tr. v. Nw. Steel Works, LLC,

No. 3:12-cv-00117-JWS; Trs. of Local 262 of the Plumbers and Pipefitters Union v. Harbor 

Plumbing & Heating Co., Inc., No. 3:12-cv-00046-SLG. In one of these cases, the Court ordered 

plaintiffs to file proof of service. See No. 3:12-cv-00046 at Dockets 6, 7, 8.

9 See Dockets for Nos. 3:13-cv-00015-SLG, 3:12-cv-00046-SLG; see also Docket for No. 3:13-

cv-00014-HRH (judgment on confession entered upon defendant’s default); cf. Dockets for Nos. 

3:13-cv-00163-TMB, 3:12-cv-117-JWS (judgment on confession entered after defendants failed 

to appear but without formal entry of default).

10 Plaintiffs note that “the Application for Entry of Judgment on Confession was served on 

Defendant . . . by mail,” but it appears from the docket that no summons has been issued. Docket 

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appear, Plaintiffs may move for entry of default and the entry of judgment on 

confession.

DATED this 2nd day of June, 2020 at Anchorage, Alaska.

/s/ Sharon L. Gleason 

UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

3 at 3 n.1. Alternatively, Plaintiffs may file a written waiver of Rule 4 service of a summons and 

the application by Defendant. 

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