Case Name: Norman DeJESUS, Plaintiff, v. COMMUNICATIONS WORKERS OF AMERICA, et. al., Defendants
Court: United States District Court for the Southern District of New York
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 1991-07-18
Citations: 137 F.R.D. 213
Docket Number: No. 88 Civ. 3985 (RO)
Parties: Norman DeJESUS, Plaintiff, v. COMMUNICATIONS WORKERS OF AMERICA, et. al., Defendants.
Judges: 
Reporter: Federal Rules Decisions
Volume: 137
Pages: 213–214

Head Matter:
Norman DeJESUS, Plaintiff, v. COMMUNICATIONS WORKERS OF AMERICA, et. al., Defendants.
No. 88 Civ. 3985 (RO).
United States District Court, S.D. New York.
July 18, 1991.
Noah Kinigstein, New York City, for plaintiff.
Ronald G. Burden, Saul Scheier, New York City, for defendants New York Telephone Co., et. al.

Opinion:
MEMORANDUM AND ORDER
OWEN, District Judge:
Plaintiff, alleging unfair discharge and termination of disability benefits, seeks a default judgment against defendant New York Telephone Company (Telco) on the ground that Telco failed to "answer" the amended complaint. On April 4,1989 Telco timely served its answer to the amended complaint upon the attorneys for plaintiff and co-defendant CWA. Plaintiff does not contest that he was properly served with Telco's answer, but rather claims that Telco did not file a copy of its answer with the court shortly thereafter. Plaintiff has proceeded through two years of discovery, Court appearances, motion practice, and preparation for trial without questioning Telco's answer. Indeed, plaintiff only moved for this default when, shortly before the scheduled trial date, plaintiff's counsel looked through the Court files and discovered that Telco had neglected to file its answer. Telco thereupon filed its answer and cured this technical oversight. Under these circumstances, it is inconceivable that any attorney could, in good faith, believe that a Court would enter default judgment against a defendant. Plaintiff's motion is denied and because plaintiff's motion is so patently frivolous I award to defendant its expenses of opposing this motion in the amount of $250.00, to be paid within 30 days or proceedings are thereafter stayed until this is done.
So ordered.