MCCOY v. BIOMAT USA, INC.

CourtDistrict Court, S.D. Indiana
DecidedJuly 31, 2024
Docket1:23-cv-02282
StatusUnknown

This text of MCCOY v. BIOMAT USA, INC. (MCCOY v. BIOMAT USA, INC.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, S.D. Indiana primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
MCCOY v. BIOMAT USA, INC., (S.D. Ind. 2024).

Opinion

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF INDIANA INDIANAPOLIS DIVISION

KEITH MCCOY, ) ) Plaintiff, ) ) vs. ) No. 1:23-cv-02282-JMS-MKK ) BIOMAT USA, INC., now known as ) GRIFOLS PLASMA, MS. APRIL, Nurse, and ) MS. JAN, Nurse, ) ) Defendants. )

ORDER

Pro se Plaintiff Keith McCoy filed this lawsuit on December 18, 2023 against Defendants BioMat USA, Inc., now known as Grifols Plasma ("Biomat"), "Ms. April, Nurse," and "Ms. Jan, Nurse," relating to "[t]he current federal policy on gay and bisexual men donating" blood. [Filing No. 1 at 2.] On April 24, 2024, Mr. McCoy filed a Motion for Default Judgment against the Defendants. [Filing No. 11.] On April 30, 2024, Biomat filed a Motion to Dismiss Plaintiff's Complaint under Rule 12(b)(1) and 12(b)(6). [Filing No. 16.] Both Motions are now ripe for the Court's consideration. I. DEFAULT JUDGMENT

A. Standard of Review

Rule 55 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure sets forth a two-step process for a party seeking default judgment. VLM Food Trading Int'l, Inc. v. Illinois Trading Co., 811 F.3d 247, 255 (7th Cir. 2016) (default judgment is a "two-step process . . . clearly outlined in Rule 55(a) (entry of default) and Rule 55(b) (default judgment) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure"); see also Lowe v. McGraw–Hill Companies, Inc., 361 F.3d 335, 339 (7th Cir. 2004) ("The Federal Rules of Civil Procedure make a clear distinction between the entry of default and the entry of a default judgment"). First, the plaintiff must obtain an entry of default from the Clerk. Fed. R. Civ. P. 55(a). Second, after obtaining that entry, the plaintiff may seek an entry of default judgment. Fed. R. Civ. P. 55(b); VLM Food Trading Int'l, Inc., 811 F.3d at 255.

B. Discussion Mr. McCoy has moved for default judgment against Defendants on the grounds that Defendants have not filed an answer.1 [Filing No. 11.] Biomat opposes the motion, arguing that Mr. McCoy has not obtained proper service and so the Court lacks personal jurisdiction over it. [Filing No. 15 at 1.] Biomat notes that Mr. McCoy mailed a copy of his Complaint and a summons to an address that was previously, but no longer, affiliated with Biomat and to an attorney who had previously represented Biomat in a different case brought by Mr. McCoy. [Filing No. 15 at 2.] In reply, Mr. McCoy argues that Biomat has been properly served and highlights that he served Attorney Blake Burgan at Mr. Burgan's law firm and Biomat at one of its Indianapolis

locations. [Filing No. 19 at 1.] He also notes that he called Biomat's customer service phone number and notified them of the summons and Complaint. [Filing No. 19 at 1.] He asserts that although Mr. Burgan is not a registered agent for Biomat, "he is the attorney for [Biomat] and is deemed by law to have been appointed to receive service." [Filing No. 19 at 1.] He argues that it does not matter that the Biomat location he mailed the summons and Complaint to is no longer active because he served Biomat in the other ways. [Filing No. 19 at 2.]

1 Mr. McCoy only references Indiana's default judgment rule in his Motion, but the Court construes Mr. McCoy's arguments as made under the federal rules for default judgment, just as Biomat did, [see Filing No. 15], and because "[t]he Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, not state procedural rules, govern . . . in federal-question [ ] cases," Fidelity Nat'l Title Ins. Co. of New York v. Intercounty Nat'l Title Ins. Co., 412 F.3d 745, 750 (7th Cir. 2005). First, Mr. McCoy has filed a Motion for Default Judgment without first obtaining a Clerk's entry of default against Defendants. Accordingly, Mr. McCoy's Motion for Default Judgment, [Filing No. 11], is DENIED because he has not satisfied the first step of Rule 55 by first obtaining a Clerk's entry of default.

Second, in any event, the Court notes that default judgment, even if properly sought by first obtaining a Clerk's entry of default, would likewise be denied because Mr. McCoy has not perfected service against the Defendants. Defendants must be properly served in order for the Court to exercise personal jurisdiction and to enter a valid judgment against them. United States v. Ligas, 549 F.3d 497, 500 (7th Cir. 2008) ("A district court may not exercise personal jurisdiction over a defendant unless the defendant has been properly served with process, and the service requirement is not satisfied merely because the defendant is aware that he has been named in a lawsuit or has received a copy of the summons and the complaint.") (citing Murphy Bros., Inc. v. Michetti Pipe Stringing, Inc., 526 U.S. 344, 350 (1999) and McMasters v. United States, 260 F.3d 814, 817 (7th Cir. 2001)); see also Mid-Continent Wood Products, Inc. v. Harris, 936 F.2d 297,

300-01 (7th Cir. 1991). "Acceptable methods for service of process are specified in Rule 4 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure; the preferred approach is for the plaintiff to mail the defendant a copy of the complaint and summons . . . ." Ligas, 549 F.3d at 500-01. When the defendant is a corporation (as is Biomat), service must be made on "an officer, a managing agent or general agent, or any other agent authorized by appointment or by law to received service of process." Fed. R. Civ. Pro. 4(h)(1); see also Ind. R. Trial P. 4.6(A). According to Mr. McCoy's Motion for Default Judgment, he mailed the summons and his Complaint to Biomat at 502 North Capitol Avenue, Indianapolis, IN 46204 and to Mr. Burgan, and called Biomat's customer service line. [Filing No. 9; Filing No. 10; Filing No. 11; see Filing No. 15 at 2.] However, none of Mr. McCoy's methods are appropriate for service on Biomat. Fed. R. Civ. Pro. 4(h)(1); Ind. R. Trial P. 4.6. The Court takes note that Biomat's registered agent in Indiana, as reflected on the Indiana Secretary of State's Business Search Website and as provided by Biomat in its response, is C T Corporation System, 334 North Senate Avenue, Indianapolis, IN

46204. Business Search, IN.Gov, https://bsd.sos.in.gov/publicbusinesssearch (last visited July 25, 2024) (search for Biomat USA, Inc.). [Filing No. 15 at 2; Filing No.

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MCCOY v. BIOMAT USA, INC., Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/mccoy-v-biomat-usa-inc-insd-2024.