Court Opinion

ID: 146331
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2010-05-12 20:10:51+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:24:01.494263
License: Public Domain

NOT PRECEDENTIAL
        UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
             FOR THE THIRD CIRCUIT
                  _____________

                      No. 09-2733
                     _____________

              FIRSTBANK PUERTO RICO,
                                   Appellant

                            v.

        JAYMO PROPERTIES, LLC; FRED JAY
         BENDER; MELISSA MARY BENDER
                 _____________

                      No. 09-2951
                     _____________

           In re: FIRSTBANK PUERTO RICO,
                                     Petitioner
                    _______________

  On Appeal from the District Court of the Virgin Islands
                 (D.C. No. 08-cv-00070)
             District Judge: Curtis V. Gomez
                    _______________

       Submitted Under Third Circuit LAR 34.1(a)
                     May 7, 2010

Before: SMITH, CHAGARES and JORDAN, Circuit Judges.

                  (Filed: May 12, 2010)
                    _______________

               OPINION OF THE COURT
                   _______________
JORDAN, Circuit Judge.

       FirstBank Puerto Rico (“FirstBank”) appeals from a May 15, 2009 order of the

District Court of the Virgin Islands of the United States denying its motion for entry of

default judgment against Jaymo Properties, LLC, Fred Jay Bender, and Melissa Mary

Bender. For the following reasons, we will vacate the District Court’s order and remand

for proceedings consistent with this opinion.

I.     Background

       On February 18, 2005, the Benders, individually and as Members/Managers of

Jaymo Properties, executed a Power of Attorney authorizing Roger Harland to act as their

“true and lawful attorney-in-fact,” and “to execute and deliver any contracts, loan

commitments, closing statements, notes, loans, mortgages, and other related documents

which may be necessary and proper in order for [them] to obtain a mortgage loan ... .”

(App. at 50.) On February 24, 2005, in return for a loan from FirstBank, the Benders,

through Harland, executed and delivered a promissory note to FirstBank, in which they

promised to pay FirstBank the principal sum of $211,250.00, plus interest on unpaid

principal at a yearly rate of seven percent, to be paid in monthly installments beginning on

April 1, 2005. As security for the repayment of the promissory note, Jaymo Properties

and the Benders, through Harland, executed a mortgage in favor of FirstBank, on a

property known as “Parcel No. 3-5B Estate Pastory, No. 5A Cruz Bay Quarter, St. John,

Virgin Islands, as shown on PWD No. D9-7749-T004.” (Id. at 5.)

                                                2
       When the Benders defaulted on their payments to FirstBank,1 the bank filed an

action for debt and foreclosure in the District Court on May 7, 2008. After the Benders

and Jaymo Properties failed to defend the action, FirstBank filed a motion for entry of

default under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 55(a). The Clerk of Court entered default

against the Benders and Jaymo Properties on October 9, 2008. Thereafter, on January 26,

2009, FirstBank filed a motion for default judgment under Rule 55(b). Among its moving

papers, FirstBank included signed affirmations from FirstBank’s attorney, Justin K.

Holcombe, stating that “upon information and belief, the Benders are not under the age of

eighteen nor are they incompetent persons” (Id. at 93), and from Paula N. Edwards, Vice

President of FirstBank, stating that “[b]ased on FirstBank’s record, the Benders are above

the age of eighteen [and based u]pon information and belief, the Benders are not mentally

incompetent persons.” 2 (Id. at 68.)

       On May 15, 2009, the District Court entered an order denying FirstBank’s motion

for default judgment, because “[t]he averments in ... the affirmation[s] ... regarding the

Benders’ status as competent adults are not based on personal knowledge and therefore

  1
   FirstBank produced documentation showing that, as of January 26, 2009, the Benders
owed FirstBank $168,447.74 in principal, plus $13,662.76 in accrued interest, plus late
charges of $1,471.60.
  2
    The affirmation from Ms. Edwards was titled “declaration” rather than “affirmation,”
a distinction to which no one has attached legal significance. “An affirmation, like an
oath, is a declaration of the truth of a statement ... .” 58 A M. J UR. 2 D Oath and
Affirmation § 2 (2010).

                                              3
are not competent evidence.” (Id. at 97.) FirstBank timely appealed from the District

Court’s denial of its motion for entry of default judgment.3

II.    Jurisdiction

       Pursuant to 48 U.S.C. § 1612(a), the District Court of the Virgin Islands has “the

jurisdiction of a District Court of the United States, including, but not limited to, the

diversity jurisdiction provided for in [28 U.S.C. § 1332.]” Here, the District Court

possessed diversity jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1332.4

       Regarding our appellate jurisdiction, an order of a District Court “is ordinarily

considered final and appealable under [28 U.S.C.] § 1291 only if it ends the litigation on

the merits and leaves nothing for the court to do but execute the judgment.” United States

v. Scarfo, 263 F.3d 80, 87 (3d Cir. 2001) (citations and quotations omitted). As a general

matter, therefore, denials of motions for default judgment are not considered appealable

final orders. See, e.g., Bird v. Reese, 875 F.2d 256, 256 (9th Cir. 1989) (“[An] order

  3
  FirstBank also filed a petition for a writ of mandamus (No. 09-2951) on July 6, 2009,
which was consolidated with the present appeal.
  4
    The parties appear to meet the diversity requirements of 28 U.S.C. § 1332. With
regard to diversity of citizenship, FirstBank is a banking institution incorporated under
the laws of Puerto Rico with its principal place of business in Puerto Rico. The Benders
are residents of the State of North Carolina. Jaymo Properties is a North Carolina limited
liability corporation (“LLC”). The record suggests that the Benders are the only members
of Jaymo Properties, and “the citizenship of an LLC is determined by the citizenship of
each of its members.” See Zambelli Fireworks Mfg. Co., Inc. v. Wood, 592 F.3d 412, 418
(3d Cir. 2010).
        There is no question that the amount in controversy exceeds $75,000, as required
by 28 U.S.C. § 1332.

                                               4
denying his motion for a default judgment ... is not a final appealable order.”); Adult Film

Ass’n of Am., Inc. v. Thetford, 776 F.2d 113, 115 (5th Cir. 1985) (“[A] denial of [a]

motion for default judgment was not appealable as a final order.”); McNutt v. Cardox

Corp., 329 F.2d 107, 108 (6th Cir. 1964) (“An order denying a motion for a default

judgment is not an appealable order.”). However, pursuant to the collateral order

doctrine, “an otherwise non-final order can be appealed if it finally and conclusively

determines the disputed question, resolves an important issue separate from the

underlying merits, and is effectively unreviewable after final judgment.” Scarfo, 263
F.3d at 87; cf. Rivas v. City of Passaic, 365 F.3d 181, 191 (3d Cir. 2004) (“Under certain

circumstances, orders denying a motion for summary judgment fall within the scope of

the collateral order doctrine.”).

       The District Court’s May 15, 2009 order denying entry of default judgment fits

within the scope of the collateral order doctrine, in the circumstances of this case.

FirstBank’s appeal presents an issue separate from the underlying merits, because the

District Court’s denial of FirstBank’s motion for entry of default judgment was based

solely on its interpretation of the procedural requirements of Rule 55. As a result, the

District Court’s order conclusively determines the disputed issue as to the meaning of

Rule 55, and as to whether the entry of default judgment was proper. Second, absent our

review, the District Court can continue to deny motions for entry of default judgment,

based on its interpretation of Rule 55, and those denials will continue to evade review.

                                              5
Following a denial of a motion for entry for default judgment, a case will either remain

open and permanently stalled, or, if the non-responsive party appears, the case will be

litigated on the merits or default judgment will be granted, but the District Court’s

interpretation of Rule 55 will never come to the fore. Indeed, the District Court has

repeatedly denied motions for entry of default judgment, and those denials have evaded

review.5 Accordingly, we have jurisdiction to review the District Court’s order under the

collateral order doctrine.

  5
   See, e.g., FirstBank Puerto Rico v. Lockhart, Civil No. 2008-28, 2009 U.S. Dist.
LEXIS 60305, at *3 (D.V.I. July 15, 2009) (“The affidavit that Firstbank has submitted is
not based on [the] Attorney[’s] personal knowledge that Lockhart is not an infant,
incompetent, or serving in the military. As such, it cannot be considered competent
evidence for default.”); Island Yacht Charters, Inc. v. Malgaglio, Civil No. 2006-210,
2009 WL 1507406, at *1 (D.V.I. May 28, 2009) (“Plaintiffs have failed to meet their
burden of showing that default judgment is appropriate [because t]hey have not provided
competent evidence that [the defendant] is not an infant or an incompetent person.”);
Flagstar Bank, FSB v. Deducca, Civil No. 2007-26, 2009 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 43403, at *3
(D.V.I. May 21, 2009) (rejecting an attorney’s declaration that an investigation did not
reveal any adjudication as to a party’s incompetency as insufficient evidence, and
therefore denying the motion for default judgment); Nunez v. Lovell, Civil No. 2005-7,
2009 WL 943277, at *1 (D.V.I. April 3, 2009) (“[T]he Plaintiffs have failed to meet their
burden of showing that default judgment is appropriate [because t]hey have not provided
competent evidence that [defendants] are not infants or incompetent persons.”); U.S.
Dept. of Agriculture v. David, Civil No. 2005-141, 2008 WL 3101799, at *2 (D.V.I.
2008) (denying entry of default judgment because there was no “competent evidence
anywhere else in the USDA’s moving papers establishing that David is not an infant or
incompetent.”).

                                             6
III.   Discussion 6

       Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 55 provides that, after the clerk’s entry of default

against a defendant, a court may enter default judgment against that defendant. F ED. R.

C IV. P. 55(b). However, “[a] default judgment may be entered against a minor or

incompetent person only if represented by a general guardian, conservator, or other like

fiduciary who has appeared.” Id. Accordingly, FirstBank, as the party moving for entry

of default judgment, provided the District Court with affirmations from its attorney,

stating that “upon information and belief, the Benders are not under the age of eighteen

nor are they incompetent persons,” and from the Vice President of FirstBank, stating that

“[b]ased on FirstBank’s record, the Benders are above the age of eighteen [and based

u]pon information and belief, the Benders are not mentally incompetent persons.” (App.

at 93; 68.) The District Court denied FirstBank’s motion, because it decided that these

“averments [are] not based on personal knowledge and therefore are not competent

evidence.” (Id. at 97.)

       While there has been little guidance from our Court, a review of case law from

several district courts shows that, in the context of a motion for entry of default judgment,

an affidavit or affirmation from the moving party or its attorney, indicating that the

defendant is a competent adult, is routinely treated as sufficient for a court to enter default

  6
   Because the issue on appeal is the meaning of Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 55, our
review is plenary. See Artway v. Attorney Gen. of State of N.J., 81 F.3d 1235, 1245 (3d
Cir. 1996) (legal questions are “subject to plenary review.”).

                                              7
judgment against that defendant, assuming that the other requirements for entry of default

judgment contained in Rule 55 have been met. See, e.g., William Consalo & Sons Farms,

Inc. v. Mex-Produce Sales, LLC, Civil No. 08-348, 2008 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 89424, at *5

(D. Ariz. Oct. 22, 2008) (relying on the attorney’s affidavit to conclude that

“[d]efendants are not infants [or] incompetent persons” for purposes of entering default

judgment); Prudential Ins. Co. of Am. v. Bare, Civil No. 06-4131, 2007 U.S. Dist. LEXIS
72600, at *5-6 (D.N.J. Sept. 28, 2007) (“Plaintiff submitted [] an affidavit certifying that

the Nonresponsive Defendants are neither incompetent, nor infants [, and thus we] find[]

that default judgment is appropriate, under [Rule 55].”); Lincoln. Gen. Ins. Co. v.

Grossbard, Civil No. 05-1602, 2006 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 33466, at *2 (M.D. Pa. May 25,

2006) (relying on attorney’s declaration that non-responsive party is not an infant or

incompetent person). That treatment is correct. To require more is to go beyond the Rule

and, in a case like this, to impose an unnecessary burden on ordinary business

transactions.

       In short, we hold that, at the time a party moves for entry of default judgment

under Rule 55(b), an affidavit or affirmation from that party or its attorney stating in good

faith that the non-responsive defendant is a competent adult is not less than competent

evidence of that fact merely because it is founded upon information and belief rather than

an assertion of personal knowledge. Cf. Kulhawik v. Holder, 571 F.3d 296, 298 (2d Cir.

2009) (“[W]hen an attorney makes statements under penalty of perjury in an affidavit or

                                              8
an affirmation, th[ose] statements do constitute part of the evidentiary record and must be

considered.”); 2A C.J.S. Affidavits § 46 (“Affidavits on information and belief are

permitted in certain circumstances, but may be expressly precluded by statute.”).

IV.    Conclusion

       The District Court erred as a matter of law in deciding that the evidence submitted

by FirstBank in support of its motion for entry of default judgment was not competent.

We thus will vacate the District Court’s order and will remand for proceedings consistent

with this opinion.7

  7
   Given our holding here, FirstBank’s petition for a writ of mandamus in the
consolidated case (No. 09-2951) will be denied as moot.

                                             9