Document ID: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_11-cv-02108/USCOURTS-caed-1_11-cv-02108-19/pdf.json

Parties Involved:
CDCR
Defendant
Robin Gillen Starr
Plaintiff

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

ROBIN GILLEN STARR, 

Plaintiff,

v.

CDCR, et al.,

Defendants.

 /

1:11-cv-02108-AWI-GSA-PC 

ORDER DENYING MOTIONS FOR ENTRY

OF DEFAULT AND DEFAULT JUDGMENT

AS PREMATURE

(Docs. 38, 40, 50.)

I. BACKGROUND

Robin Gillen Starr (“Plaintiff”) is a state prisoner proceeding pro se in this civil rights action

filed pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. Plaintiff filed the Complaint commencing this action on

December 22, 2011. (Doc. 1.) The Court screened the Complaint pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915A 

and entered an order on January 23, 2013, dismissing the Complaint for failure to state a claim and

for violations of Rules 8 and 18, with leave for Plaintiff to file a First Amended Complaint within

thirty days. (Doc. 56.)

On August 28, 2012, September 5, 2012, and October 29, 2012, Plaintiff filed motions for

entry of default and default judgment. (Docs. 38, 40, 50.)

II. ENTRY OF DEFAULT AND DEFAULT JUDGMENT

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] defendant must serve an answer within

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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.

Plaintiff argues that default should be entered against Defendants because they were served

and have failed to answer or defend. Plaintiff has not submitted any evidence in support of his

motion, and according to the Court’s record, Plaintiff’s motion is premature. The Court’s record

contains no evidence that any of the Defendants have been served in this action. (Court Record.)

Because Plaintiff is proceeding in forma pauperis, the Court will, sua sponte, direct the

United States Marshal to serve the complaint after the court has screened the complaint and

determined that the complaint contains cognizable claims for relief against the named defendants. 

In this action, the Court screened Plaintiff’s Complaint and issued a separate order dismissing the

Complaint for failure to state a claim and for violation of Rules 8 and 18, with leave for Plaintiff to

file an amended complaint. After Plaintiff files the amended complaint, the Court is required to

conduct another screening pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915A to determine if Plaintiff states any

cognizable claims. Therefore, Plaintiff’s motions for entry of default and default judgment are

premature and shall be denied as such.

III. CONCLUSION

Based on the foregoing, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that Plaintiff’s motions for entry of

default and default judgment, filed on August 28, 2012, September 5, 2012, and October 29, 2012,

are DENIED as premature.

IT IS SO ORDERED. 

Dated: January 29, 2013 /s/ Gary S. Austin 

6i0kij UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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