Block v. Brar

Opinion

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

HENDRIK BLOCK, Case No. 1:22-cv-01317-SAB

Plaintiff, ORDER VACATING JANUARY 17, 2023 SCHEDULING CONFERENCE AND v. REQUIRING PLAINTIFF TO FILE A MOTION FOR DEFAULT JUDGMENT FORTY-FIVE-DAY DEADLINE Defendant.

Hendrik Block (“Plaintiff”) filed this action on October 14, 2022, against Jaskirat Kaur Brar (“Defendant”). On December 22, 2022, Plaintiff filed a request for entry of default; the Clerk of the Court entered default against Defendant the following day. (ECF Nos. 5, 6.) Pursuant to Federal Rules of Civil Procedure 55, obtaining a default judgment is a two- step process. Yue v. Storage Technology Corp., No. 3:07-cv-05850, 2008 WL 361142, *2 (N.D. Cal. Feb. 11, 2008). Entry of default is appropriate as to any party against whom a judgment for affirmative relief is sought that has failed to plead or otherwise defend as provided by the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and where that fact is made to appear by affidavit or otherwise. Fed. R. Civ. P. 55(a). After entry of default, the plaintiff can seek entry of default judgment. Fed. R. Civ. P. 55(b)(1) and (2). “Default judgments are generally disfavored, and whenever it is reasonably possible, cases should be decided upon their merits.” In re Hammer, 940 F.2d 524, (9th Cir. 1991) (internal punctuation and citations omitted). As the only defendant in this matter is in default, the Court shall vacate the mandatory scheduling conference and set a deadline for a motion for default judgment to be filed. Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that: 1. Within forty-five (45) days from the date of service of this order, Plaintiff shall file a motion for default judgment; 2. The scheduling conference set for January 17, 2023, is VACATED; and 3. Plaintiff is advised that the failure to comply with this order shall result in a recommendation that this action be dismissed for failure to prosecute. IT IS SO ORDERED. DAM Le Dated: _January 9, 2023 _ Of UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE