Document ID: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_23-cv-00163/USCOURTS-caed-1_23-cv-00163-11/pdf.json

Parties Involved:
Jason Scott Hounihan
Plaintiff
Jose C. Villasenor
Defendant

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

JASON SCOTT HOUNIHAN,

Plaintiff,

v.

JOSE C. VILLASENOR,

Defendant.

No. 1:23-cv-00163-ADA-EPG (PC)

ORDER OVERRULING OBJECTIONS TO 

JULY 25, 2023 ORDER

(ECF Nos. 28, 40)

Plaintiff Jason Scott Hounihan is a prisoner proceeding pro se and in forma pauperis in 

this civil rights action filed pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. This matter was referred to a United 

States Magistrate Judge pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)(B) and Local Rule 302.

On July 25, 2023, the Magistrate Judge denied Plaintiff’s motion for default judgment. 

(ECF No. 28.) Plaintiff had sought default judgment for two reasons. First, he asserted that 

defense attorney Andrew Haller sent him a designation of counsel letter on June 8, 2023, stating 

that he was lead counsel and defense attorney Amy Myers was no longer co-counsel. (ECF No. 

26 at 1.) Defendant’s July 10, 2023 opt-out notice, however, listed attorney Myers as co-counsel 

in the caption. (Id. at 1–2; see also ECF No. 22.) Plaintiff called this “fraud.” (ECF No. 26 at 2.) 

Second, Plaintiff sought default judgment because Defendant filed the opt-out notice one week 

past the 45-day deadline. (Id.) 

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Noting that Plaintiff failed to satisfy any requirement under Federal Rule of Civil 

Procedure 55 for obtaining a default judgment – e.g., obtaining a clerk’s entry of default and 

showing that Defendant failed to plead or otherwise defend the case – the Magistrate Judge 

denied the request for default judgment.1

On September 17, 2023, Plaintiff filed objections to the Magistrate Judge’s order.2 (ECF 

No. 40.) In those objections, Plaintiff complains about not receiving a document noting that 

attorney Myers was added to the case, expresses a distrust of defense counsel, and states that he 

wants some unspecified means to communicate with defense counsel to ensure that his time is not 

wasted. (Id.)

The Court overrules these objections for two reasons. First, under Federal Rule of Civil 

Procedure 72(a), objections are due within fourteen days of service of an order. Here, Plaintiff 

filed his objections about two months after the Magistrate Judge issued the order in question. 

Second, Plaintiff does not address the substance of the Magistrate Judge’s order but instead 

simply complains about defense counsel.

In accordance with the provisions of 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)(A) and Federal Rule of Civil 

Procedure 72(a), the Court has reviewed Plaintiff’s objections. Having carefully reviewed the 

entire file, the Court concludes that the Magistrate Judge’s order was not clearly erroneous or 

contrary to law.

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1 The Magistrate Judge also noted that the record reflected that attorney Myers was terminated as counsel and later 

added to the case again. (ECF No. 28 at 2.) There was no indication that this was done with an intent to deceive 

Plaintiff. (Id.)

2 Plaintiff’s objections were docketed on September 27, 2023 but dated September 17, 2023.

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Accordingly,

1. Plaintiff’s objections, (ECF No. 40), are overruled;

2. To the extent Plaintiff’s objections request any relief, that request is denied; and

3. This matter is referred back to the Magistrate Judge for further proceedings.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: October 25, 2023 

UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

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