McClain v. American Credit Resolution, Inc.

Opinion

ALBRA McCLAIN, No. 2:18-cv-1599 TLN AC Plaintiff, v. ORDER INC., Defendant. Plaintiff, who is proceeding pro se, has filed motions for default judgment. ECF No. 16, 18. These motions will be construed as a request for entry of default by the Clerk, pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 55(a). Plaintiff is informed below of the procedures to be followed in pursuing a default judgment. Procedure for Default A party seeking default judgment must first request entry of default from the Clerk’s Office under Fed. R. Civ. P. 55(a). The court Clerk determines whether entry is appropriate by reviewing the requesting party’s request and accompanying documentation. If the Clerk finds that the facts establish a failure to plead or otherwise defend, the Clerk will enter a default without any need for a judicial order. A default entry is not a judgment, but it is a necessary precondition for judgment. If the plaintiff is granted entry of default by the Clerk of the Court, plaintiff may then apply to the court to obtain a default judgement. Fed. R. Civ. Proc. 55(b)(2). Plaintiff must file a motion for entry of default judgment and notice the motion for hearing before the undersigned pursuant to Local Rule 230. The motion may be made any time after entry of defendant’s default. However, “[a] defendant’s default does not automatically entitle the plaintiff to a court- ordered judgment.” PepsiCo, Inc. v. Cal. Sec. Cans, 238 F. Supp. 2d 1172, 1174 (C.D. Cal. 2002) (citing Draper v. Coombs, 792 F.2d 915, 924-25 (9th Cir. 1986)); see Fed. R. Civ. P. 55(b) (governing the entry of default judgments). Instead, the decision to grant or deny an application for default judgment lies within the district court’s sound discretion. Aldabe v. Aldabe, 616 F.2d 1089, 1092 (9th Cir. 1980). In making this determination, the court will consider the following factors: (1) the possibility of prejudice to the plaintiff; (2) the merits of plaintiff's substantive claim; (3) the sufficiency of the complaint; (4) the sum of money at stake in the action; (5) the possibility of a dispute concerning material facts; (6) whether the default was due to excusable neglect; and (7) the strong policy underlying the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure favoring decisions on the merits. Eitel v. McCool, 782 F.2d 1470, 1471-72 (9th Cir. 1986). Default judgments are ordinarily disfavored. Id. at 1472. As a general rule, once default is entered by the Clerk, well-pleaded factual allegations in the operative complaint are taken as true, except for those allegations relating to damages. TeleVideo Sys., Inc. v. Heidenthal, 826 F.2d 915, 917-18 (9th Cir. 1987) (per curiam). Although well-pleaded allegations in the complaint are admitted by a defendant’s failure to respond, “necessary facts not contained in the pleadings, and claims which are legally insufficient, are not established by default.” Cripps v. Life Ins. Co. of N. Am., 980 F.2d 1261, 1267 (9th Cir. 1992). Any motion for default judgment under Fed. R. Civ. Proc. 55(b)(2) should address the factors set forth in Eitel v. McCool, above. For the reasons set forth above, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that: 1. Plaintiff’s motions for default judgment (ECF No. 16, 18) are construed as requests for Clerk’s Entry of Default and as such are GRANTED IN PART as follows; 2. The Clerk of the Court is directed to make the determination required under Fed. R. Civ. Proc. 55(a). DATED: October 30, 2020 ~ Attten— ALLISON CLAIRE UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE