Woodbury v. Sears, Roebuck & Co.

152 F.R.D. 229, 1993 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 17084, 1993 WL 498867
CourtDistrict Court, M.D. Florida
DecidedNovember 30, 1993
DocketNo. 90-807-CIV-T-17C
StatusPublished
Cited by6 cases

This text of 152 F.R.D. 229 (Woodbury v. Sears, Roebuck & Co.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, M.D. Florida primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Woodbury v. Sears, Roebuck & Co., 152 F.R.D. 229, 1993 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 17084, 1993 WL 498867 (M.D. Fla. 1993).

Opinion

ORDER ON MOTIONS

KOVACHEVICH, District Judge.

This cause is before the Court on the following motions and responses:

1. Plaintiffs motion for clerk to enter an affidavit of amount due upon application for default judgment, filed Oct. 20, 1992. (Dkt. 20)
2. Plaintiffs motion to expedite amount due upon application to clerk for default judgment, filed Nov. 4, 1992. (Dkt. 21)
3. Plaintiffs motion for writ of assistance in obtaining possession of land, bank accounts and tenements in accordance with court’s judgment, filed Dec. 28, 1992. (Dkt. 23)
4. Plaintiffs motion for answers to previously filed motions, filed Jan. 21, 1993. (Dkt. 24)
5. Plaintiffs motion for claims for default, filed Feb. 11, 1993. (Dkt. 26-1)
6. Plaintiffs motion for relief in action for libel and prayer for special damages, filed Feb. 11, 1993. (Dkt. 26-2)
7. Plaintiffs motion for appointment of counsel, filed Mar. 15, 1993. (Dkt. 27)
8. Plaintiffs motion for default judgment against Sears, Roebuck & Co., filed July 29, 1993. (Dkt. 29)
9. Defendant’s motion to quash service of process, filed Sept. 21, 1993. (Dkt. 32)
10. Defendant’s motion to set aside default entered by clerk on Sept. 30, 1992, filed Sept. 21, 1993. (Dkt. 34)
11. Plaintiffs response in opposition to Defendant’s motion to quash service and motion to set aside default, filed Oct. 14, 1993.
12. Defendant’s motion to dismiss plaintiffs complaint, filed Sept. 21, 1993. (Dkt. 36)
[232]*23213. Defendant’s motion to dismiss Plaintiffs first amended complaint or for more definite statement, filed Sept. 21, 1993. (Dkt. 37)
14. Defendant’s motion for continuance of evidentiary hearing set for Sept. 27, 1993, filed

I. PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

On June 28, 1990, Plaintiff, Richard Lee Woodbury, filed a pro se Complaint alleging that the Defendant, Sears, Roebuck & Company, violated his civil rights under Title VII by terminating his employment with Defendant Company as a result of racial discrimination. (Dkt. 1). On October 10, 1991, this Court ordered Plaintiff to show cause why this case should not be dismissed for failure to prosecute. (Dkt. 6). In response to the Order, Plaintiff wrote this Court advising it that he had sent a summons to the Orange County Sheriffs Office for service of process. This summons was issued by the clerk on October 8, 1991 for Mr. B.J. Boozer, a regional manager with Defendant Company. The return of service, which was filed October 25, 1991, states that process was served on October 16, 1991. (Dkt. 7).

On November 12, 1991 this Court issued an Order directing Plaintiff to perfect service by filing proof of service within twenty days from the date of the Order or the case would be dismissed for failure to prosecute. (Dkt. 8). This Court issued another Order explaining that Plaintiff had attempted to serve Defendant by service on a regional operations manager (Mr. B.J. Boozer) and that Plaintiff must file a response to this order within ten days showing that he has obtained service on the Registered Agent. (Dkt. 10). This Order, dated January 7, 1992, further stated that failure to respond will result in the dismissal of this case. In response to this Order, Plaintiff alleges that Sears’ customer service department advised him to send the summons and complaint to its Registered Agent, Mr. B.J. Boozer. (Dkt. 11).

On January 22, 1992, iri an attempt to clarify matters, this Court again issued another Order asking Plaintiff to clarify the signature of J.H. Wimberley that appears on the service of process notice. (Dkt. 12). The Court wanted to know in what capacity service was accepted by J.H. Wimberley or what relationship this person had to B.J. Boozer. In his Response, Plaintiff states that J.H. Wimberley is the officer that served the summons and complaint. (Dkt. 13). Further, Plaintiff states that Doris Kelly (the name which appears under the heading “other service” on the notice of service) is the file maintenance leader for Sears. (Dkt. 13). Plaintiff also asserts that Mr. John T. Foley, a regional manager for Sears (apparently working in the same office with Mr. Boozer) mailed a certified letter to Plaintiff stating that his office had received Plaintiffs summons on October 16, 1991.1 (Dkt. 13). Plaintiff, however, does not directly state that Mr. Boozer did receive service and appears not to know who actually received service at Defendant Company. From his response, it is clear that pro se Plaintiff believes that service was sufficient as long as someone at Defendant Company received the service, no matter who that person was. (Dkt. 13).

Finally, on February 28, 1992, the Court issued an order directing Defendant to show [233]*233cause within ten days why default should not be entered against it for failure to respond. (Dkt. 14). Defendant never responded to this order and contends that it did not respond because it did not receive this Order nor any of the other pleadings in this matter. On May 6,1992, Plaintiff moved for an entry of default against Sears and the Court granted this motion on August 18,1992. (Dkt. 16). The clerk entered default against Defendant on September 30, 1992 pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 55(a).

Thereafter, pro se Plaintiff filed an affidavit (Dkt. 19) and several motions (See Dkts. 20, 21, 23, 26) regarding request for damages pursuant to the default. Subsequently, pro se Plaintiff obtained legal counsel and filed a motion for entry of default judgment against Defendant on July 29, 1993. (Dkt. 29).

Upon Court Order dated August 4, 1993, this Court referred this matter to the United States Magistrate to conduct a Rule 55(b)(2) hearing to determine the amount of damages, and for a report and recommendation. (Dkt. 30). On September 7, 1993 the Magistrate issued a Notice of Hearing for the 55(b)(2) hearing. (Dkt. 31). Defendant alleges that it first received notice of the lawsuit and the hearing after the Court issued this Notice of Hearing. Defendant maintains that upon this notice of the pending lawsuit, it immediately obtained counsel to represent it in this matter. Defendant thereafter filed a motion to quash service of process (Dkt. 32); a motion to set aside default entered by clerk on 9/22/93 (Dkt. 34); a motion to dismiss Plaintiffs complaint (Dkt. 37); and a motion to dismiss Plaintiffs first amended complaint, or for a more definite statement (Dkt. 37). Plaintiff has filed a motion for extension of time in which to file a response to Defendant’s motions. (Dkt. 42). The Court granted that motion allowing Plaintiff until October 15, 1993 to file such responses but as of the date of this Order Plaintiff has not filed such responses. (Dkts. 43).

II. DISCUSSION

A. Motion to Quash Service of Process

In support of its motion to quash Plaintiffs service of process, Defendant asserts the following arguments:

1.

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Bluebook (online)
152 F.R.D. 229, 1993 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 17084, 1993 WL 498867, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/woodbury-v-sears-roebuck-co-flmd-1993.