Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-casd-3_10-cv-02638/USCOURTS-casd-3_10-cv-02638-1/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 625
Nature of Suit: Drug Related Seizure of Property
Cause of Action: 21:881 Forfeiture Property-Drugs

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10cv2638

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

Plaintiff,

v.

$3,063.00 IN U.S. CURRENCY,

Defendant.

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Civil No. 10cv2638 L(JMA)

ORDER GRANTING CLAIMANT’S

MOTION TO SET ASIDE DEFAULT

[doc. #18]

On January 5, 2011, Merrill Dennis Harvey, Jr., appearing pro se, filed a verified claim in

this forfeiture action and a motion to dismiss under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6).

Plaintiff United States opposed the motion and Harvey did not file a reply to plaintiff’s

opposition. The Court considered the motion on the papers submitted and without oral argument

pursuant to Civil Local Rule 7.1(d)(1). On June 2, 2011, the Court denied Harvey’s motion to

dismiss the complaint and ordered Harvey to file an answer within 21 days of the filing of the

Order. [doc. # 14]

Harvey failed to file an answer. The United States therefore requested and was granted

entry of default on July 13, 2011. [doc. #16]. Plaintiff’s motion for default judgment was filed on

July 18, 2011 and a hearing date was set for September 6, 2011. [doc. #17]

On August 11, 2011, the Clerk of the Court received a document from Harvey entitled

“DECLARATION OF AND REQUEST FOR CLERK’S ENTRY OF DEFAULT AS TO

Case 3:10-cv-02638-L-JMA Document 21 Filed 09/22/11 Page 1 of 3
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2 10cv2638

(ALLEGED) PLAINTIFF’S CLAIM AS THE (ALLEGED) PLAINTIFF HAS, inter alia,

FAILED TO STATE A CLAIM UPON WHICH RELIEF MAY BE GRANTED.” Claimant

Harvey’s filing appeared to be an opposition to plaintiff’s motion for default judgment:

“Claimant is writing this as a rebuttal to the “Declaration” of one Michael P. Running, Jr. filed 

(to the best of Claimant’s knowledge) on 7.12.11.” (Harvey Declaration at 1.) In the filing,

Harvey stated, under penalty of perjury: “Claimant received a waiver of Oral’s from the

AUSA’s office dated 1.24.11" . . . “Claimant received NO further communication, no court date,

no dismissal, and NO “Order” as Mr. Running alleges in paragraph 6.” (Harvey Declaration at

2.) 

The Court construed claimant Harvey’s filing as a motion to set aside default and ordered

plaintiff United States to file a response to claimant’s motion to set aside default on or before

August 29, 2011. See Order filed August 19, 2011. [doc. #19] 

In response to Harvey’s filing, the United States noted that it was unable to dispute his

allegation that he did not receive the Court’s June 2, 2011 Order directing him to file an answer

within 21 days of the filing of that Order. (Response at 2.) The United States therefore

acknowledges that the Clerk’s Entry of Default as to Claimant should be set aside but requests

that entry of default as to all other potential claimants should not be set aside as no other

individuals have filed a verified claim or answer in this matter. (Id.) The Court concurs. 

Based on the foregoing, claimant Harvey’s motion to set aside default is GRANTED.

The entry of default as to all other potential claimants shall remain in effect.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

DATED: September 22, 2011

M. James Lorenz

United States District Court Judge

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COPY TO: 

HON. JAN M. ADLER

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

ALL PARTIES/COUNSEL

MERRILL DENNIS HARVEY, JR.

#17246-298, Unit A4B

TAFT CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION

P.O. BOX 7110

TAFT, CA 93268-7001

Case 3:10-cv-02638-L-JMA Document 21 Filed 09/22/11 Page 3 of 3