Coffey v. CNR Holdings LLC et al

Filing 8

ORDER vacating 7 Clerk's Default. Coffey's complaint will be dismissed without prejudice. This is not the correct Court to address the alleged violation of the automatic stay; rather it is a matter for the Bankruptcy Court. Signed by Judge D. P. Marshall Jr. on 10/27/2016. (jak)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
EASTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS
JONESBORO DIVISION
PLAINTIFF

LESLIE D. COFFEY

v.

No. 3:16-cv-222-DPM

CNR HOLDINGS LLC,
WILLIAM HANK RANDOLPH, and
TRENT C. GAINES

DEFENDANTS

ORDER
In early August 2013, Leslie Coffey filed a Chapter 13 bankruptcy
petition in United States Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of
Arkansas. Case No. 3:13-bk-14405. The petition was dismissed a month later.
NQ 17 in No. 3:13-bk-14405. But other papers were filed in the case, including

an adversary proceeding alleging that two days after the Chapter 13 petition

was filed the defendants had some of Coffey's antiques and other things
removed from the family home and set out in the rain. N2 20 in No. 3:13-bk14405; No. 3:13-ap-1135. Coffey recently filed a complaint in this Court
alleging that those same actions violated the automatic stay. He seeks
$2,500,000. He served the defendants, and obtained a Clerk's default because
they never answered. Coffey also seeks a default judgment, Ng 5, which this
Court, not the Clerk, must address.

FED.

R. CIV. P. 55(b)(2).

There's a subject matter jurisdiction problem. The Bankruptcy Court
has jurisdiction over this case. 28U.S.C.§157; LOCAL RULE 83.1. And though
the bankruptcy case was closed in December 2013, papers were still being
filed in the adversary proceeding as recently as July of this year. NQ 34 in No.
3:13-ap-01135. It's true the defendants didn't answer the complaint here, but
they didn't have to: This isn't the correct Court to address the alleged
violation of the automatic stay. That's a matter for the Bankruptcy Court.
The Clerk's default, NQ 7, is vacated. Coffey's complaint will be dismissed
without prejudice.
So Ordered.

D.P. Marshall Jr.(/
United States District Judge
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