Court Opinion

ID: 2665868
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2014-04-04 08:12:18.123516+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:21:39.009295
License: Public Domain

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
                            FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

__________________________________________
                                          )
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA,                     )
                                          )
                  Plaintiff,              )
                                          )
                  v.                      )                  Civil Action No. 09-2225 (ESH)
                                          )
MICHELLE BUTLER,                          )
                                          )
                  Defendant.              )
__________________________________________)

                                 MEMORANDUM OPINION

       In this case brought under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, 20 U.S.C. §

1400 et seq. (“IDEA”), plaintiff District of Columbia challenges the decision of a District of

Columbia Public Schools (“DCPS”) Hearing Officer. The Clerk of Court has entered a default

against defendant, and before the Court is plaintiff’s motion for entry of a default judgment

pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 55(b)(2). For the reasons stated herein, that motion

will be granted and a default judgment entered.

                                        BACKGROUND

       On September 5, 2009, a DCPS Hearing Officer issued a decision ordering DCPS to

place and fund defendant Michelle Butler’s child, M.B., at the Kingsbury School for the 2009-

2010 and 2010-2011 school years. (Compl. ¶ 16, Nov. 24, 2009.) On November 24, 2009,

plaintiff timely filed a complaint challenging the Hearing Officer’s decision. (Id.) According to

the complaint, the Hearing Officer erred by ordering a two-year placement because (1) defendant

only requested and submitted evidence to support a one-year placement (id. ¶¶ 15, 17, 27); and/or
(2) the decision “violates 20 U.S.C. § 1414(d)(4) because it prevents the IEP team from

reviewing and updating the placement of M.B. at Kingsbury Day School . . . for the next two

years.”1/ (Id. ¶¶ 23-24.) Thus, plaintiff seeks “an order modifying the September 5, 2009

Hearing Officer’s Determination to the extent it requires placement and funding of M.B. at

Kingsbury Day School beyond one school year.” (Id. at 6.)

       On March 8, 2010, plaintiff filed a motion to extend the time for service of process by 90

days and for permission to serve by alternative means. (Pl’.s Mot. for Ext. of Time and Mem. in

Support, Mar. 8, 2010 [dkt #3].) Plaintiff’s motion detailed numerous failed attempts at service

and described actions by defendant that suggested she was trying to evade service. (Id. at 4-6.)

The Court granted plaintiff’s motion, extending the time to effect service until June 23, 2010,

and authorizing plaintiff, after three more unsuccessful attempts at service, to “effect service by

knocking on the door of Plaintiff’s residence and then, if there is no response or Defendant or a

person of suitable age in her household refuses to accept service, affixing a copy of the Summons

and Complaint in this matter to her door.” (Minute Order, Mar. 8, 2010.)

       On March 18, 2010, plaintiff filed an affidavit from the process server showing that on

March 10, 2010, after four more unsuccessful attempts at personal service, service was effected

by posting the complaint and summons on defendant’s door. (Affidavit of Process Server, Mar.

28, 2010 [dkt. # 4]; Pl.’s Mem. of Points and Authorities in Support of Mot. for Default

Judgment Against Michelle Butler [“Pl.’s Mem.”] ¶ 1, May 24, 2010 [dkt #10].) In addition, on

April 5, 2010, plaintiff notified the Court that defendant had faxed plaintiff a signed Waiver of

       1/
        Section 1414(d)(4) provides that the “local educational agency shall ensure that . . . the
IEP team . . . reviews the child’s IEP periodically, but not less frequently than annually, to
determine whether the annual goals for the child are being achieved.” 20 U.S.C. § 1414(d)(4).

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Service of a Summons on March 31, 2010. (Notice to Court, Apr. 5, 2010 [dkt. #5]; Declaration

of C. Vaughn Williams in Support of Request for Entry of Default Against Michelle Butler ¶ 4,

May 3, 2010 [dkt. #7-1].) Based on plaintiff’s service by alternative means, defendant’s response

to the complaint was due on March 31, 2010. Based on defendant’s signed waiver of service, her

response was due on May 1, 2010. Even assuming the later date applies, defendant failed to

plead or otherwise respond to the complaint in a timely manner.

        On May 3, 2010, pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 55(a), plaintiff requested

that the Clerk of Court enter a default against defendant.2/ (Request for Entry of Default Against

Michelle Butler, May 3, 2010 [dkt. #7].) The Clerk entered default on May 4, 2010. (Clerk’s

Entry of Default as to Michelle Butler, May 4, 2010 [dkt. #8].) Plaintiff has now moved for entry

of a default judgment pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 55(b)(2). As of the date of this

Memorandum Opinion, defendant has not entered an appearance nor filed any pleadings in this

case.

                                          DISCUSSION

        Plaintiff asks the Court to enter a default judgment “revers[ing] the September 5, 2009

Hearing Officer’s Decision to the extent that it impedes the ability of the District of Columbia

Public Schools to annually review and update the individualized educational program and

placement of M.B.” (Pl.’s Mem. at 2.) After a default has been entered by the Clerk, a court

        2/
          Rule 55(a) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure provides that “[w]hen a party against
whom a judgment for affirmative relief is sought has failed to plead or otherwise defend and that
failure is shown by affidavit or otherwise, the clerk must enter the party’s default.” Fed. R. Civ.
P. 55(a).

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may enter a default judgment pursuant to Rule 55(b)(2). Fed. R. Civ. P. 55(b)(2).3/ “The

determination of whether default judgment is appropriate is committed to the discretion of the

trial court.” Jackson v. Beech, 636 F.2d 831, 836 (D.C. Cir. 1980); see also Int’l Painters &

Allied Trades Indus. Pension Fund v. Auxier Drywall, LLC, 531 F. Supp. 2d 56, 57 (D.D.C.

2008). Courts strongly favor resolution of disputes on their merits, but default judgment is

available “when the adversary process has been halted because of an essentially unresponsive

party. . . . The diligent party must be protected lest he be faced with interminable delay and

continued uncertainty as to his rights.” Jackson v. Beech, 636 F.2d at 835-36 (internal quotations

omitted). A default judgment is warranted if defendant is a “totally unresponsive” party and its

default is plainly willful, as reflected by its failure to respond “either to the summons and

complaint, the entry of default, or the motion for default judgment.” Gutierrez v. Berg

Contracting Inc., No. 99-3044, 2000 WL 331721, at *1 (D.D.C. March 20, 2000) (citing

Jackson, 636 F.2d at 836).

       Where, as here, there is a complete “absence of any request to set aside the default or

suggestion by the defendant that it has a meritorious defense, it is clear that the standard for

default judgment has been satisfied.” Auxier Drywall, LLC, 531 F. Supp. 2d at 57 (internal

       3/
            Rule 55(b)(1) provides that the Clerk can enter a default judgment:

       If the plaintiff’s claim is for a sum certain or a sum that can be made certain by
       computation, the clerk--on the plaintiff’s request, with an affidavit showing the
       amount due--must enter judgment for that amount and costs against a defendant
       who has been defaulted for not appearing and who is neither a minor nor an
       incompetent person.

Fed. R. Civ. P. 55(b)(1). “In all other cases, the party must apply to the court for a default
judgment.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 55(b)(2).

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quotation marks omitted). Nor is this a case where the application for default should be denied

because “the allegations of the complaint, even if true, are legally insufficient to make out a

claim.” Gutierrez, 2000 WL 331721, at *2. Finally, no hearing is needed to “(A) conduct an

accounting; (B) determine the amount of damages; (C) establish the truth of any allegation by

evidence; or (D) investigate any other matter.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 55(b)(2). Accordingly, plaintiff

is entitled to a default judgment against defendant.

                                         CONCLUSION

       For the reasons set forth above, the Court will grant plaintiff’s motion for default

judgment.

                                                           /s/
                                              ELLEN SEGAL HUVELLE
                                              United States District Judge

DATE: May 26, 2010

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