Kerr v. Wanderer & Wanderer

211 F.R.D. 625, 2002 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 25099, 2002 WL 31933785
CourtDistrict Court, D. Nevada
DecidedDecember 31, 2002
DocketNo. CV-S-02-0962-LRH-PAL
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 211 F.R.D. 625 (Kerr v. Wanderer & Wanderer) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, D. Nevada primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Kerr v. Wanderer & Wanderer, 211 F.R.D. 625, 2002 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 25099, 2002 WL 31933785 (D. Nev. 2002).

Opinion

ORDER

HICKS, District Judge.

This matter is before the court on the motions and responses filed by the parties in this case, to wit: Defendant Law Offices of Wanderer & Wanderer’s (“Wanderer”) motion to quash service of process (# 4); Plaintiffs Thomas and Barbara Kerr’s (“Plaintiffs”) motion to strike Wanderer’s motion to quash (# 11); Plaintiffs’ application for default judgment against Wanderer (#20); Wanderer’s motion to set aside entry of default (# 21); Defendant MBNA America [627]*627Bank’s (“MBNA”) motion to dismiss (# 16); Defendants Metris Companies, Inc., (“Me-tris”) and Magnus Services, Inc.’s, (“Mag-nus”) motion to quash for insufficiency of service (# 22); Plaintiffs’ motion to strike Metris and Magnus’ motion to quash (# 26); Metris, Magnus, and Direct Merchants Credit Card Bank’s (“Direct Merchants”) motion to dismiss (# 38); MBNA’s motion for determination of good faith settlement (#41); Metris and Magnus’ joinder of MBNA’s motion for determination of good faith settlement (# 44); Defendant John Hawley’s (“Hawley”) motion for summary judgment (# 43); and Plaintiffs’ motion for partial summary judgment (# 49).

I. Factual and Procedural Background

Plaintiffs filed a complaint (# 1) on July 18, 2002, against numerous Defendants alleging violations of both the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), 15 U.S.C. § 1692 et seq., and the Truth in Lending Act 15 U.S.C. § 1601 et seq1 Apparently, there is some dispute between the parties regarding an alleged debt owed by the Plaintiffs. A number of the Defendants have issued notices to the Plaintiffs, informing them of the alleged debt outstanding and their respective rights under federal law. In response, Plaintiffs contend that on numerous occasions they have requested “validation” of these debts and other information from the Defendants, but Defendants have failed to respond to their requests.

Soon after Plaintiffs filed their complaint, the parties filed numerous submissions including motions to dismiss, two summary judgment motions, and a motion for default judgment. After reviewing the memoranda, the Court makes the following disposition.

II. Analysis

A. Wanderer’s motion to quash (12(b)(5) Motion to Dismiss) and Plaintiffs’ motion to strike

Wanderer filed a motion to quash service of process pursuant to Fed.R.Civ.P. 12(b)(5), on August 13, 2002. According to the initial service of process affidavit, process server Michael E. Clark attempted to serve Wanderer “by leaving copy with ‘Jane Doe’... on refusal.” (Wanderer Mot. Quash, Ex. 1). Plaintiffs then filed an “Amended Affidavit of Service,” wherein Mr. Clark specifically states he left the summons and complaint on the counter at Wanderer after the administrative assistant refused to accept the service. (Am.Aff.Doc. # 10). Regardless of what transpired, Wanderer argues that Plaintiffs have failed to comply with Fed.R.Civ.P. 4(e) or with Nev. R. Civ. P. 4(d).1 2

Importantly, Plaintiffs did not file an objection to Wanderer’s motion. Instead, Plaintiffs filed a motion to strike Wanderer’s motion to quash, claiming they were never served with Wanderer’s motion. However, as Wanderer points out, the Plaintiffs filed their motion to strike on August 19, 2002, just six days after Wanderer filed the motion to quash, suggesting Plaintiffs had in fact received the motion. Moreover, Wanderer filed an errata certificate of service, certifying service was made upon the Plaintiffs on August 16, 2002. Thus, service of the motion was proper and Plaintiffs’ motion to strike is denied. Since Plaintiffs failed to file an opposition to Wanderer’s motion to quash, it is deemed consented to pursuant to Local Rule 7-2, and the motion is granted.

B. Wanderer’s motion to set aside entry of default and Plaintiffs’ motion for default judgment.

Plaintiffs requested entry of default against Wanderer on August 19, 2002. The clerk of court entered default on August 22, 2002. Subsequently, Plaintiffs filed a motion for default judgment on August 27, 2002. A few hours later, Wanderer filed a motion to set aside the entry of default, arguing that pursuant to Fed.R.Civ.P. 60, the entry of [628]*628default was based upon mistake or inadvertence, as Wanderer had made an appearance in the case through its motion to quash within the 20-day time period for answering the complaint. See Fed.R.Civ.P. 12(a)(1)(A). Specifically, Wanderer’s answer was due on August 13, 2002, or 20 days after the attempted service of process on July 24, 2002. Because Wanderer filed its motion to dismiss on August 13, 2002, entry of default was inappropriate and is set aside. Accordingly, Plaintiffs request for default judgment is denied.

C. MBNA’s motion to dismiss

On November 5, 2002, Plaintiffs and MBNA filed a joint stipulation and release of MBNA. The Court signed the Order dismissing MBNA as a Defendant on November 7, 2002. As a result, MBNA’s motion to dismiss is denied as moot.

D. Metris and Magnus’ motion to quash service of process (12(b)(5) Motion to Dismiss) and Plaintiffs’ motion to strike

On August 28, 2002, Metris and Magnus filed a motion to quash service of process pursuant to Fed.R.Civ.P. 12(b)(5), as Plaintiffs had failed to comply with Fed.R.Civ.P. 4(h)(1), Nev. R. Civ. P. 4(d)(1) or Minn. R. Civ. P. 4.03(c). Again, instead of properly opposing the motion as required by the Federal Rules and Local Rule 7-2, Plaintiffs chose to file a motion to strike the Defendants’ motion to quash on September 3, 2002.

On September 13, 2002, Plaintiffs filed a motion styled “Notice of Mootness of Motions to Quash.” According to the affidavit attached to the notice, process was properly served on Metris, Magnus, and Direct Merchants by Mr. Eric M. Wyman on September 6, 2002. Due to its content, the Court will construe Plaintiffs’ notice as an opposition to Metris and Magnus’ motion to quash, and accordingly find that 'as of September 6, 2002, the motion to quash was moot and is therefore denied. Plaintiffs’ motion to strike is also denied as moot.

E. Metris, Magnus, and Direct Merchants’ 12(b)(6) motion to dismiss

Metris, Magnus, and Direct Merchants filed a motion to dismiss for failure to state a claim on September 26, 2002. Defendants collectively argue (1) that Plaintiffs’ complaint fails to state a claim against them under the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, 15 U.S.C. § 1691

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211 F.R.D. 625, 2002 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 25099, 2002 WL 31933785, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/kerr-v-wanderer-wanderer-nvd-2002.