Document ID: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_14-cv-00805/USCOURTS-caed-1_14-cv-00805-2/pdf.json

Parties Involved:
CDC Corcoran State Prison
Defendant
Kenneth Ardell Smith
Plaintiff

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

KENNETH ARDELL SMITH,

Plaintiff,

 v.

CDC CORCORAN STATE PRISON, 

 Defendant.

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1:14-cv-00805-BAM

ORDER DENYING PLAINTIFF’S MOTION 

FOR DEFAULT AND DEFAULT

JUDGMENT AS PREMATURE

(ECF No. 9)

Plaintiff Kenneth Ardell Smith (“Plaintiff”) is a former state proceeding pro se and in 

forma pauperis in this civil rights action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. Plaintiff initiated this 

action on May 27, 2014. 

On November 5, 2014, Plaintiff filed an untitled document. Although not entirely clear, 

it appears that Plaintiff is claiming that the defendant, CDC Corcoran State Prison, has defaulted 

and that Plaintiff should be sent money. (ECF No. 9.) The Court construes the document as a 

motion for entry of default and default judgment against Defendant CDC Corcoran State Prison 

for failure to plead or otherwise defend this action. 

Plaintiff’s motion for default and default judgment is premature and shall be denied 

without prejudice. The Court is required to screen complaints brought by prisoners seeking 

relief against a governmental entity and/or against an officer or employee of a governmental 

entity. 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(a). Plaintiff’s complaint, or any portion thereof, is subject to 

dismissal if it is frivolous or malicious, if it fails to state a claim upon which relief may be 

Case 1:14-cv-00805-BAM Document 10 Filed 11/06/14 Page 1 of 2
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granted, or if it seeks monetary relief from a defendant who is immune from such relief. 28 

U.S.C. § 1915A(b)(1), (2); 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B)(ii). The Court will direct the United States 

Marshal to serve Plaintiff’s complaint only after the Court has screened the complaint and 

determined that it contains a cognizable claim for relief against the named defendant. Plaintiff’s 

complaint is currently in the screening stage and has not been served on any defendant. 

Accordingly, Plaintiff’s motion for entry of default and default judgment is HEREBY DENIED, 

without prejudice, as premature. 

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: November 6, 2014 /s/ Barbara A. McAuliffe _

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

Case 1:14-cv-00805-BAM Document 10 Filed 11/06/14 Page 2 of 2